To equip the wildlife wardens of Katala Foundation Incorporated (KFI) with the relevant and appropriate knowledge and skills in responding to the rising cases of poaching and other illegal wildlife practices in Palawan, the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) Staff conducted a five-day training on Wildlife Enforcement and Capacity Building of Bantay Gubat on Protection and Conservation (Flora and Fauna), November 14-18.
Held at Ysidore’s Resort, Barangay 3, Roxas, the five-day training drew the participation of barangay officials and community members of Northern Palawan, staff from PCSD and Environmental Legal Assistance Center (ELAC) along with Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center (PWRCC).
The training expatiated on Strategic Environmental Plan for Palawan (RA 7611); Other Policies and Mandates of PCSD; Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act (RA 9147) and related PCSD Administrative Orders (AO12); Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) provision and Philippine Biodiversity: Its State, values and significance; List of Threatened Species (PCSD Res. 10-413); Wildlife species commonly subject to trafficking—both domestic and international; Techniques wildlife traffickers use to conceal wildlife; and Examples of permits and what to look for when examining permits in situ.
Moreover, the training also coverered the Legal Framework for Wildlife Law Enforcement; Chainsaw Act (RA 9175); Caves Act; Wildlife Species Familiarization and Wildlife Handling Techniques; Photo Documentation of the scene of the crime and evidence with tagging; Arrest, Search, and Seizure (including procedures for the handling of the arrested person and seized items); Steps in Application for Search Warrant, Overview of Judicial Proceedings for Criminal Cases and Administrative Adjudication before the PAB; Documentation with a workshop on the preparation of Affidavits/Judicial Affidavits, Complaints, Inventories, Boarding certificates, Certifications, and Other supporting documents; report writing; Rules on Investigation and Surveillance; Duties and Functions of Wildlife Enforcement Officer (WEO), Wildlife Traffic Monitoring Unit (WTMU), and Wildlife Enforcement Volunteers (WEV).
In collaboration with Katala Foundation Incorporated, the conduct of the five-day training on Wildlife Enforcement and Capacity Building was also hinged on the promotion and enforcement of the government’s push for the attainment of wildlife conservation and protection initiatives in the Philippines.