towards project snow leopard - Nature Conservation Foundation

48 • Appendix 1
Arunachal). A considerable amount of as yet unsurveyed high-altitude areas in between these PAs
would also get included under this programme.
1. Constraints Faced by Forest Department Staff in Effectively Managing Wildlife in the High
Altitudes (> 3000 M) of Arunachal Pradesh
1.1. Administrative Constraints
1.1.1. Need for expanded mandate for territorial and other departments in biodiversity
conservation: The work of the Territorial Wings of the Forest Department at times
conflicts with the interests of biodiversity conservation. There is a clear need under
the PSL for including wildlife conservation as a priority mandate for the territorial
and other wings of the forest department.
1.1.2. Need for training and capacity development in wildlife management for all Forest
Department officers: The Forest Department has primary control over most areas rich
in biodiversity. Biodiversity conservation often is a specialized task involving skills
in assessing and monitoring biodiversity values, working with communities that
require capacity building. Capacity development of the entire forest department staff
is needed in this regard, including staff serving outside protected areas, as they often
deal with endangered species or human-wildlife conflicts.
1.1.3. Need for posting wildlife trained staff in wildlife departments: As discussed above, there
is a critical need for trained officers to be in charge of the existing Wildlife PAs.
Although the extent of experience and hands-on wildlife management work is vital,
some formal training in Wildlife Management needs to be promoted for all officers
under the PSL.
1.1.4. Intelligence gathering for wildlife offences: no powers with Forest officers, system similar
to that of secret service, police: The police have a system whereby a certain amount is
made available to officers as part of the secret service, which is used to pay informers;
this money is not subject to audit. Such a system is quite effective, but no such
mechanism is as yet available with the Forest Department.
1.1.5. Arms & ammunition-no immunity for forest staff as yet, hampers law enforcement:
The Forest Department usually does not have the required amount of arms and
ammunition; further, whatever is there, is mostly outdated. In areas with serious
poaching problems, this is a major constraint. A related constraint is that the staff is
not trained in handling arms and procedures for legal protection.
1.2. Financial Constraints
1.2.1. Lack of incentives and infrastructure for the staff: The regions are remote, with difficult
working conditions. The problem is exacerbated due to the general lack of proper
infrastructure including adequate housing, equipment and transport. As a result