World Wildlife Crime Report 2024

Why in news?

• The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has released the World Wildlife Crime Report 2024.

Key Findings

• The market for rhino horn (29 percent)constituted the biggest chunk among animal species.
• It was followed by the market forpangolin scales at 28 percent, followed by the market for elephant ivory at 15 percent.
• Other animal speciesmost affected by the global illegal animal trade included eels (5 percent), crocodilians (5 percent), parrots and cockatoos (2 percent), carnivores (2 percent), turtles and tortoises (2 percent), snakes (2 percent), seahorses (2 percent) and others (8 percent).
• The rhino and the cedarwere the animal and plant species most affected by global illegal wildlife trade during 2015-2021.

Factors driving wildlife crime

• Demand for Wildlife Products:Demand for products derived from wildlife, such as ivory, rhino horn, tiger parts, etc. often fueled by cultural beliefs, traditional medicine practices, fashion trends, and status symbols leads to wildlife crime.
• Economic Incentives: Wildlife crimes are highly lucrative, offering significant financial gains for poachers, traffickers, and organized crime syndicates.
• Weak Law Enforcement: Inadequate enforcement of wildlife protection laws, corruption within law enforcement agencies, and limited resources allocated to combat wildlife crime contribute to its persistence.
• Poverty and Lack of Livelihood Alternatives:Poverty and lack of employment options drives people to engage in poaching or trafficking activities.
• Globalization: The globalization of trade and transportation networks has facilitated the illegal movement of wildlife and wildlife products across borders.

Impacts of wildlife crime

• Wildlife crime leads to population declines and even extinctionof endangered species. The loss of biodiversity can disrupt entire ecosystems, affecting their resilience and ability to provide essential services.
• The illegal trade deprives governments of revenuefrom legitimate wildlife-based industries such as ecotourism and sustainable harvesting.
• Theoverexploitation of top predators increases in prey species, which in turn negatively impact vegetation and other wildlife populations further down the food chain, causing a cascade effect.
• Illegal wildlife trade involves the smuggling of live animals or animal products, which carries diseases that pose risks to human health.
• Many indigenous communities rely on wildlife for their cultural and spiritual practices. The loss of key species erodes traditional knowledge and cultural identities, leading to a loss of cultural diversity.

International Conventions to tackle wildlife crimes

• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES): Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of the species.
• International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN): It is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.
• Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS): It is an international agreement that aims to conserve migratory species throughout their ranges.

Steps taken by Government to Protect Wildlife

• The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972provides for stringent punishment for violation of its provisions.
• The Wild Life Crime Control Bureau (WCCB)coordinates with State/UTs and other enforcement agencies to gather intelligence about poaching and unlawful trade in wild animals and animal articles.
• Recovery of Endangered Species has been included in Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitatswhich is a centrally sponsored scheme.
• The enactment of the National Biological Diversity Act (NBA), 2002was done in order to ensure the protection of threatened species and their habitats.

Constitutional Provisions

• Article 48A: The State shall endeavor to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country.
• Article 51A(g): To protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures;

Way Ahead

• Addressing wildlife crime requires a comprehensive approach including strengthening law enforcement, addressing poverty, promoting sustainable livelihoods, raising awareness, and engaging local communities in conservation efforts.
• Governments need to provide training and organize capacity-building programs for law enforcement officials, wildlife managers, and local communities to enhance their skills in wildlife protection, monitoring, and conservation.

50 years of Pokhran-I

Why in news?

• On May 18, 1974,India conducted its first successful nuclear test, code-named “Smiling Buddha,” at the Pokhran test range in Rajasthan.

About

• With Smiling Buddha, India became the first nation to conduct a nuclear test apart from the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. 
• Its code name came from the test’s date being on the same day as Buddha Jayanti, thebirth date of Gautam Buddha.

Criticism faced by India

• After the nuclear test, there were criticisms that it was an attempt to divert people’s attention from the economic crisis the country was facing in the 1970s.
• In1978, the US President signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Act, following which the US ceased exporting nuclear assistance to India.
• Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG): It is a group of nuclear supplier countries established in 1974that seeks to contribute to the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.
  • It would go on to implement agreed rules for exporting nuclear equipment, with a view to controlling the spread of nuclear weapons and where members would be admitted only by consensus.

What is the Pokhran-II test?

• In 1998, under the leadership of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, India conducted a series of nuclear tests in Pokhran once again, code-named Operation Shakti.
• The nuclear test of 1974 was a peaceful nuclear explosion,on the other hand, the nuclear tests of May 1998, were undertaken as part of the nuclear weaponization process. 
• And with Operation Shakti, India declared itself a full-fledged nuclear state.

What is India’s Nuclear Doctrine? 

• Building and maintaining a credible minimum deterrence;
• A posture of “No First Use”nuclear weapons will only be used in retaliation against a nuclear attack on Indian territory or on Indian forces anywhere;
• Nuclear retaliatory attacks can only be authorized by the civilian political leadership through the Nuclear Command Authority.
• Non-use of nuclear weaponsagainst non-nuclear weapon states;
• However, in the event of a major attack against India, or Indian forces anywhere, by biological or chemical weapons, India will retain the option of retaliating with nuclear weapons.

Way Ahead

• After the nuclear test the international reaction was critical, but over the years India has projected itself as a “responsible” owner of these weapons, allowing acceptance among countries and into groups like the NSG.
• No First Use:India has a “no first use” policy, meaning it pledges not to use nuclear weapons first in a conflict but reserves the right to retaliate if attacked with nuclear weapons.