Participants at the workshop
A two-day capacity building workshop was organized by the Wildlife Conservation Society-India with the Wokha Forest Division, Department of Environment, Forests & Climate Change, Nagaland. The training focused on building capacity of 30 frontline personnel including officers from Forest & Police Department, and Dobashis (in-charge of adjudicating on customary law matters). The inaugural session was attended by Mr. Chonpenthung Ezung, SDO (Civil) HQ Wokha, Mr. Seyiekhrietuo Solo, EAC, Sanis and Ms. Imtinungla Longkumer, EAC, HQ, Ms. Zuthunglo Patton, IFS, DFO Wokha.
On Day 1 of the workshop, frontline staff were introduced to the scale of wildlife trade, impacts of wildlife trafficking, prohibitions, penalties, powers and procedures under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, Search and Seizure procedure, evidence collection techniques and relevant documentation to be submitted along with the forwarding to the court.
Ms. Mridula Vijairaghavan conducting a session on provisions under Wild Life(Protection) Act, 1972