Environmental Policy Group writes to Forest Secretary, says prolonged attachment of trained personnel to offices weakening field conservation
Bilal Dar
Srinagar, Oct 07 ; The Environmental Policy Group (EPG) has urged the Jammu and Kashmir Government to ensure professional and need-based deployment of qualified wildlife personnel, particularly Assistant Conservators of Forests (Wildlife) and Grade-I Range Officers (Wildlife), to strengthen field-level wildlife and habitat conservation.
In a representation to the Commissioner/Secretary, Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment, EPG Convenor Faiz Bakshi said the Wildlife Department has a valuable pool of professionally trained and experienced personnel whose expertise should be utilised for wildlife protection, habitat management, wetland conservation, enforcement and management of Protected Areas.
The group said officers with qualifications such as a Master’s Degree in Wildlife Science or a Diploma in Wildlife Management, coupled with years of field experience, possess expertise in wildlife monitoring, biodiversity assessment, human-wildlife conflict management, wildlife rescue, anti-poaching operations, wildlife crime prevention, camera-trap, GPS and GIS-based monitoring, Protected Area management and conservation planning.
It said wildlife conservation is inherently field-oriented and requires regular presence of experienced officers in Protected Areas, Wildlife Ranges, Conservation Reserves and ecologically sensitive areas.
EPG particularly stressed the need for stronger field-level protection of wetlands, which, it said, are increasingly coming under pressure from encroachments and other human activities. It said qualified wildlife personnel could play an important role in monitoring wetland boundaries, detecting encroachments, documenting ecological changes and coordinating timely action for protection and restoration.
The group expressed concern over prolonged attachment of technically qualified wildlife personnel to offices, particularly against non-existent or temporary positions. It said such attachments had become more prevalent from January 2024, when a large number of professionals were allegedly attached or placed against positions in Directorate and Regional Offices.
It urged the Government to review such attachments and, wherever there is no genuine continuing administrative requirement, consider field deployment based on officers’ qualifications, specialisation and experience.
Highlighting the growing challenge of human-wildlife conflict, EPG said experienced field officers were required to verify incidents, identify conflict hotspots, coordinate with communities and local administration and formulate preventive and long-term mitigation measures.
It also stressed the importance of experienced personnel in preventing poaching, illegal hunting and wildlife trafficking through surveillance, intelligence gathering, patrolling and coordination with enforcement agencies.
EPG has sought a comprehensive review covering the present place and nature of posting, duration and justification of office attachments, status of positions against which officers are attached, duties being performed, professional qualifications and field experience, and staffing requirements of Wildlife Divisions, Ranges and Protected Areas.
The group also proposed a periodic review mechanism to ensure that qualified personnel are deployed effectively and transparently.
“Wildlife conservation requires professional expertise as well as sustained field presence. The department must ensure that qualified personnel are deployed where their knowledge and experience can directly contribute to protection, conservation and management of wildlife habitats and wetlands,” EPG said.
It urged the Government to take appropriate measures for rational deployment of ACFs (Wildlife), Grade-I Range Officers (Wildlife) and other qualified personnel, saying this would strengthen field conservation, improve protection of vulnerable habitats and wetlands and ensure better utilisation of public resources.
