Background
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Government of India along with UNDP is implementing a Global Environment Facility (GEF) funded project titled SECURE Himalaya (Securing livelihoods, conservation, sustainable use and restoration of high range Himalayan ecosystems) in the Union Territory Administration of Ladakh and the states of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Sikkim. The project aims to support the government in effectively promoting sustainable land and forest management in alpine pastures and forests in high range Indian Himalayan ecosystems that secure sustainable livelihoods and community resilience while ensuring conservation of globally significant biodiversity and threatened species.
The high range Himalayan ecosystem in India is of critical importance as it provides valuable ecosystem services and is an important life-support system for many remote and agro-pastoral communities. Despite the immense biological, socio-cultural and hydrological values of the Himalayan ecosystems, they are under severe threat due to pressures from unsustainable economic development, impacts of climate change including increased frequency and magnitude of natural disasters, lack of alternative livelihoods leading to high dependence of local communities on natural resources, unsustainable removal of medicinal and aromatic plants, illegal wildlife trade and poaching, human wildlife conflict leading to loss of livelihoods and retaliatory killing of wild animals, among others.
Solution to Address?
- Improved management of high range Himalayan landscapes for conservation of Snow Leopard and other endangered species and their habitats and sustaining ecosystem services;
- Improved and diversified livelihood strategies and improved capacities of community and government institutions for sustainable natural resource management and conservation;
- Enhanced enforcement, monitoring and cooperation to reduce wildlife crime and related threats;
- Effective knowledge management and information systems established for promotion of sustainable management practices in the High range Himalayan ecosystems.
Objective
Project intends to enhance the capacities of various agencies currently involved in monitoring and enforcement as well as seek participation of more stakeholders like local communities and armed forces to effectively mitigate wildlife crime and illegal trade in wildlife and plant species. Outcome of the assignment seeks to create innovative and effective communication tools for better awareness among all stakeholders on conservation issues and solutions.
In this vein, this assignment envisages creation of animated videos as knowledge and awareness tools to sensitize government stakeholders, local communities and civil society on issues and solutions pertaining to illegal trade in wildlife.
Requirement of Client/Role of Magic Spangle Studios
Develop a series of 6 animated films of 5-8 minutes each on the following themes:
- Discouraging poaching, wildlife crime, using wildlife contraband/ trophies as ornament /handicraft and Illegal trade in wildlife highlighting the legal penalties and punishment for the same.
- Busting common myths around use of wildlife parts for medicinal purposes.
- How to identify of rare and endangered wildlife and plant species that are illegally hunted/ extracted.
- Legal provisions and penal mechanisms available to mitigate illegal trade in plant and animal species, including but not limited to the Wildlife Protection Act, Biodiversity Act and CITES Appendix.
- Treaties and policies regulating foreign trade of wildlife and plants.
- Films will be made in both English and Hindi languages
Production time: 4 months
Creative approach for the completion of services and
insure quality assurance mechanisms.
Production Phases : To maintain the quality throughout the process, we had divided the production into 3 small phases, Pre-Production, Production and Post-Production. These production phases helped to bring great attention to detail and each step ensured that the visuals created in the production stage reflect the initial concept.
- Pre-Production: Data gathering for concept, script and storyboard development around which 8 videos is developed.
- Production: After the storyboard frames are frozen and approved by client, all the frames where animated to match the voice over and create seamless transitions between the scenes.
- Post-Production: This is the stage, where we add background music, and final feedback from client for final touches to mark the delivery of 8 videos.
Review Process/Reporting : On completion of each production phase, we consulted WCCB & UNDP for review and approval. Once the previous production phase was approved then only, we moved to next. Reporting was done through various physical or online meetings.
Final Animated Films
Illegal Trade in Wildlife Awareness And Sensitization
A father and his two children are listening to stories about wildlife while talking amongst themselves. The father tells his children about the importance of wildlife conservation and how illegal hunting and poaching are causing the number of animals and plants to drastically reduce in the forests. He explains that these plants and animals are hunted for a variety of reasons, including their meat, fur, and horns. He also discusses the laws that have been established to protect wildlife, but he notes that these laws are often not enforced. The father then talks about the negative impact that the loss of animals and plants has on humans. He explains that animals and plants play an important role in the ecosystem, and their loss can lead to a number of problems, such as the spread of disease, the decline of agricultural yields, and the disruption of the water cycle. He concludes by calling on everyone to do their part to stop illegal hunting and poaching and to protect wildlife.
Debunking Myths To Curb Illegal Trade in Wildlife
The video opens with a man waiting for his friend. When the friend arrives, the man reveals that he is planning to sacrifice an owl for his prosperity. The friend is shocked and tries to dissuade the man by talking about how many such animals and plant species are under threat all because of myths that cause them to be hunted. He also goes on reveal many different types of endangered animals who are illegally hunted for their body parts which are said to have miraculous properties. Lastly, he says what all steps people can take in helping the government curb illegal hunting and stop the spread of myths.
Wildlife Trade- Legal Provision and Penal Mechanism-Overview
This video shows a conversation between a forest officer and a student journalist talking about the Legal provisions and penal mechanism that the Indian government has put in place to protect the endangered species. The officer in reply to a question from the journalist explains in details the different kinds of laws in place and how they help in the conservation of endangered plants and animals in forest, circuses and zoos. She also explains the penalties that comes with these laws and how they are enacted. Lastly, she explains how it is the responsibility of every person to take care of their ecosystem.
Illegal Wildlife Trade Across Channels
With an ever-increasing number of airports, railway stations and highways in the country keeping checks on illegal wildlife trade have become very difficult. This video focuses on bringing to attention the avenues poaches and smugglers are using to continue illegal wildlife trade and how brutally these plants, animals are being smuggled. The existing gaps between the different government agencies designated to stop the illegal trade of wildlife is also brought to life. The ways in which the agencies can counteract these gaps and stay on the lookout to stop illegal wildlife trade across channel is also being talked about in this video.
Treaties and Policies Regulating Illegal Wildlife Foreign Trade
The video explains the current situation of illegal wildlife trade in India. As most of the illegally hunted and poached animal and plant products are destined for foreign markets the Government has put in place several comprehensive laws, regulations and policies to stop this from happening. The laws are talked about in depth explaining how they help in identifying and stopping illegal wildlife trade. This detailed information on the provisions and laws are targeted towards forest officers and other officials to provide them with correct information so that they are able to perform their duties best.
Legal Provision and Penal Mechanism for Illegal Wildlife Trade- Detailed
This video delves deep into the laws, provisions and penal mechanisms related to illegal wildlife hunting. A forest officer can be seen explaining the background situation of India relating to the wildlife trade and the laws pertaining to them to a younger officer. The details related to the laws, how they are being enforced and what the penalties for being apprehended are discussed in great details. The problems and shortcomings that the government agencies and fellow forest officers face are also talked about in great depth, so that they can be analysed and improved upon to protect stop illegal wildlife trade in India.
Campaign Statistics
Project Duration: Jan 2020-April 2022
Services Rendered: Concept, Script, Storyboard, Illustrations, Animation, Voice-over, Background Music and Sound Effects.
Publishing Channels: UNDP website, Stakeholders websites. Ministry website
Beneficiaries: UNDP, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Wildlife Crime Control Bureau.
Campaign Reach
To enhance the capacities of various agencies currently involved in monitoring and enforcement as well as seek participation of more stakeholders like local communities and armed forces to effectively mitigate wildlife crime and illegal trade in wildlife and plant species
Campaign Response
The treatment of the themes impressed UNDP and Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Wildlife Control Bureau.
The quality of character designs and the attention to details of the backgrounds/landscape and costumes and details of the animals was appreciated greatly by all stakeholders.