Title: Training GAP analysis of Wildlife enforcement agencies in Sikkim
KeyWords: Wildlife enforcement, transboundary trading, wildlife trade, anti-poaching module, training
Year of Publication: 2020
ISSN No: NA
Author Name: Training GAP analysis of Wildlife enforcement agencies in Sikkim
Details:
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
As the state of Sikkim share its international boundary with China, Nepal and Bhutan and national boundary with West Bengal, it poses a challenge to the state Forest department and threats to the biodiversity of the state. The area is also used as transboundary trading route by poachers and traders dealing in illegal wildlife products. Hence, it is imperative for the state to be well prepared and equipped with necessary tools and technologies to combat the same. The report provides the existing gaps within the current training module particularly with respect to anti-poaching modules which is being used to train the Range Forest Officer and Forest Guard of Sikkim.
Suggestions in the study are in two forms. Topics which were found redundant or outdates in present conditions have been prescribed either for removal or rescheduling of time, while topics which are of greater importance in present scenario have been suggested to be added to the existing module.
While, making these prescriptions care has been taken to keep the overall training period, the current timeline of course works and how the current not so relevant topics can be replaced with a stronger anti- poaching module without disturbing the overall time frame.
For Range Forest Officer training, suggestions are mostly focused on increasing time for use of technologies, forest laws and policies and individual mental and physical strength. These were somehow not given enough coverage in the current syllabus.
For Forest Guard, it was noted that the total duration for training is very short with less emphasis on the practical classes. Hence, for this course the recommendation includes more time on practical classes of the newly suggested topics and on the anti-poaching module.
With changing focus of conservation and increasing involvement of communities it is also very important that enough focus should also be given to the human right issues. This has not been covered sufficiently in the current syllabuses. It has been hence recommended to include this topic in the mainstream course curriculum.
Additionally, the current work has not been left at the level of just identifying the GAPs and suggesting the changes but even the tentative course syllabus for the additional topics has been advised, based on the best curriculum being used at the international levels.
For all the additional topics suggested for inclusion, the concerned agencies who can help in delivery of these have also been suggested to facilitate the work of training schools.