India has asked for a financial assistance of around 30 million US dollar from the World Bank for protection of wildlife and habitat management through regional cooperation with other South Asian neighbours.

The money, requested as a loan will be used in building capacity to tackle illegal trade of animal parts in the region. The Ministry of Environment and Forests has prepared an Environmental and Social Management Framework for the detailed wildlife project, through which the money will be utilised.

The aim of the project is to assist India and other participating countries to build or enhance shared capacity, institutions, knowledge and incentives to collaborate in tackling illegal wildlife trade and other selected regional conservation threats to habitats in border areas.

The government’s Wildlife Crime Control Bureau will be utilising the funds to strengthen itself and also enhance sharing of information and technical expertise with other countries.

The Ministry has also invited suggestions from the public and other stakeholdres on the contents of the proposed project by the end of this month.