Nepal, China reiterate commitment to curbing wildlife crimes

The governments of Nepal and China on Friday agreed to step up collaborative efforts and enforce a crackdown on illegal wildlife trade at the border region of the two countries. The two countries further expressed commitment to taking fresh measures to enhance trans-boundary cooperation in biodiversity conservation. Such a commitment was made during a three-day workshop, which started on August 28 and concluded Friday in the Nepali capital in coordination with the WWF. In the workshop, Nepali side was represented by Tika Ram Adhikari, the Deputy Director General at the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation. Similarly, the Chinese side was represented by Wan Ziming, the Director of CITES Management Authority, State Forestry Administration of China. "Nepal is a transit point being used by wildlife crime networks for the illegal export and import of wildlife parts and their derivatives," said Megh Bahadur Pandey, Director General of the Government of Nepal's Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation. "By working together, Nepal and China will take concerted measures to help put a complete stop to illegal wildlife trade primarily at the border regions of the two countries," he added. In the workshop, Nepal and China agreed on designating focal points at the national and local levels, especially at the border check points in Jilong, Zhangmu and Pulan in Tibet of China and Tatopani, Rasuwagadi and Darchula in Nepal, to share real-time information on significant seizures. It was agreed that mutual assistance would be provided to investigate trans-boundary wildlife crimes and prosecute perpetrators through official channels such as Interpol National Centre Bureaus. The two countries also decided to increase surveillance on illegal wildlife trade routes and trade hotspots through smart patrolling, wildlife monitoring and research and intelligence networks, while also establishing anti-poaching units and their networks at the local level. "This workshop has been important in terms of the participation of the local front-line officers who have a significant role to play in curbing wildlife crimes," said Wan Ziming. "The recommendations made in this workshop are important pathways for Nepal and China to control illegal trade in our border regions," added Wan. Nepal and China signed a Memorandum of Understanding in June 2010 to promote trans-boundary cooperation to address the issues related to biodiversity conservation and protection of wildlife. Over the years, Nepal and China have strengthened ties by regularly hosting trans-boundary meetings at the central and field level and implementing CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) with a common understanding between the two countries.