Illegal wildlife trade poses threat to global security: Chaurasia

way2barak, September 13: It is the human being and the human civilization as a whole which reap the benefit of efforts for conservation of wildlife on this planet and prevention of wildlife crime across the planet through synergized action is essential for conservation of wildlife and nature.

This was commented by Arvind Kumar Chaurasia, Additional Commissioner ,Indian Revenue Service ( Customs and Indirect Taxes) and the current Deputy Director of Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), Government of India,  as the key-note speaker at the inaugural event of year-long 35^th Anniversary Celebration of pioneer biodiversity conservation non-profit organization Aaranyak (www.aaranyak.org) here today.

Team Aaranyak paid rich tributes at the beginning of the programme to four of its conservationists – Meherun Nesha, Ananta Borah, Salina Sultana and Bipul Das — who had died very young.

Addressing an august gathering comprising senior officials of Assam Forest Department, conservation scientists including Dr Parimal Chandra Bhattacharjee and officials we well as members of Aaranyak, Chaurasia highlighted how human beings’ misadventure with wildlife lead to outbreak of COVID -19 (a zoonotic disease) that threatened to wipe out the human civilization few years back and made a severe dent on global economy.

“Given that the burgeoning illegal wildlife crimes/trade pose grave threat to national and global security because of the intricate link with terrorism, illegal drug trade and arms smuggling, the global chain of this crime must be busted with a suitable global law that will facilitate synergy in action against wildlife crimes across the world so as to ensure certain punishment to wildlife criminals,” Chaurasia said.

The WCCB official further emphasized on use of AI tools for prevention of wildlife crimes. “Investigation officers across the world must be empowered to carry out scientific investigation so that wildlife criminals could be punished with certainty so that it acts as a deterrent,” he said. He congratulated Aaranyak for its enormous sustained efforts that has sustained and matured the organization over the years.

Addressing the programme, which was highlighted by News18 Assam Northeast as the exclusive media partner, the Guest of Honour P L N Raju, Special Secretary to Government of Assam, Science, Technology and Climate Change Department and the Director of Assam State Space Application Centre (ASSAC) and the CEO of Science City, Assam, highlighted how space technology, Geospatial Technology and even drone technology can aid conservation of wildlife and nature effectively and prevention of wildlife crime.

Doyen of nature conservation in the Northeast and a former civil service officer Anwaruddin Choudhury who is known as the “Birdman of Assam” was conferred the Third Lifetime Achievement Award of Aaranyak on the occasion.

The Chief Secretary of Assam Ravi Kota who couldn’t attend the programme as the Chief Guest conveyed a congratulatory message to Aaranyak on completion of its 35-year-long conservation journey.

Founder Secretary General and the CEO of Aaranyak, Dr. Bibhab Kumar Talukdar made a presentation depicting the 35-year-long journey of Aaranyak which, he said, has provided a platform and employment opportunities to young generation of conservationist across the region to pursue their career goals in the field. He also mentioned how PILs filed by Aaranyak over the years could secure landmark judgments from Gauhati High Court in conservation biodiversity and wildlife in the region.

A documentary film produced by Aaranyak on its 35-year-long journey, a photography exhibition and release of a photography book marked today’s programme that was efficiently anchored by Aaranyak official Ivy Farheen Hussain.

Earlier, in his opening remarks, the president of Aaranyak Ranjan Kumar Bhuyan said, “Setting up of an organization is much easier that sustaining it meaningfully for a longtime sticking to its basic goals and Aaranyak has accomplished this Herculean task over the last 35 years because of its spirited team efforts and hoped that it would continue for years to come.

Noted wildlife forensic scientist Udayan Borthakur, an executive committee member of Aaranyak and convenor of the core committee for celebration of 35^th Anniversary, expressed his profound gratitude to the entire team of Aaranyak for relentless efforts to make the event a success. He also explained the road map of the year-long anniversary celebration that was launched today including the plan to confer grassroots conservation award 2024 as part of the celebration.

Giving the vote of thanks senior scientist of Aaranyak Dr Partha Jyoti Das besides expressing gratitude of dignitaries and invited speakers gracing the occasion, thanked the members of Aaranyak, exclusive media partner New18 Assam (NorthEast) for making the event a grand success today.