The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) has selected the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) and its enforcement officer RS Sharath for 2018 Asia Environmental Enforcement Awards.
They were selected under organization and individual categories respectively for their outstanding contributions in combating the trans-boundary environmental crimes.
The 2018 Awards will be given by the UNEP with
UN Development Programme (UNDP),
UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC),
INTERPOL,
USAID,
Freeland Foundation, and Government of Sweden.
WCCB and its Background
WCCB is a statutory multi-disciplinary body under the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to combat organized wildlife crime in the country.
It was established in June 2007 by amending the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA), 1972.
This is the second time in row that WCCB is awarded by the UN Environment.
Last year it was awarded for its efforts in conducting and coordinating species-specific wildlife enforcement operation codenamed ‘Operation Save Kurma’.
Operation Save Kurma aimed at combating proliferating illegal trade of live turtles and its parts.