Thu, Dec 22, 2022 | Updated 12.20PM IST
- Virendra Tiwari first from Maharashtra to be appointed as WII director
Virendra Tiwari first from Maharashtra to be appointed as WII director
NAGPUR: In news well-received in wildlife circles, Virendra Tiwari, additional principal chief conservator of forests (APCCF) of mangrove cell in Mumbai, will take over as the director of the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), a globally acclaimed premier wildlife research institute of the country based in Dehradun.
Tiwari, an IFS officer of the 1990 batch, will be the first full-fledged PCCF rank director of the WII from Maharashtra since the institute was set up in 1982. Earlier, VB Sawarkar of Pune, was in-charge director between 2002 and 2003.
Tiwari’s appointment on deputation for three years was cleared by the appointments committee of the Cabinet on December 19, 2022. The post was under the additional charge of SP Yadav, who is a member-secretary of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
Greens have welcomed Tiwari’s appointment. Environmentalist Debi Goenka said, “He is obviously the right candidate. Under his leadership, the WII will not rubber stamp all projects cutting through our protected areas.”
President of Wildlife Conservation Trust (WCT) Anish Andheria said, “He has acquired a wealth of experience during his tenures as field director of Tadoba, followed by key administrator in forest ministry and subsequently as ACPCF and head of the mangrove cell. Having interacted with him over the past several years, I am confident that he will be able to do justice to this important post.”
The WII imparts wildlife training to IFS officers, conducts academic courses for MSc and PhD students, and provides advisory in wildlife research and management to the central and state governments.
Tiwari has worked in almost all departments including territorial, wildlife, working plan, budget and planning, and mangroves. He has also had a long stint as joint secretary in the state forest ministry.
Wildlife conservationist Prafulla Bhamburkar said, “Tiwari was a good administrator. His clear vision and decisive intervention will benefit conservation, especially when wildlife is passing through tough times.”
Kishor Rithe, an ex-member of the standing committee of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL), said Tiwari’s “vast experience with wildlife will not only help WII but also the country”.
“At a time when man-animal conflict is at its peak and wildlife is facing the worst-ever crisis in the country, we hope WII under Tiwari will strike a balance between wildlife management and development,” said Bandu Dhotre, president, Eco Pro in Chandrapur.
Tiwari, an IFS officer of the 1990 batch, will be the first full-fledged PCCF rank director of the WII from Maharashtra since the institute was set up in 1982. Earlier, VB Sawarkar of Pune, was in-charge director between 2002 and 2003.
Tiwari’s appointment on deputation for three years was cleared by the appointments committee of the Cabinet on December 19, 2022. The post was under the additional charge of SP Yadav, who is a member-secretary of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
Greens have welcomed Tiwari’s appointment. Environmentalist Debi Goenka said, “He is obviously the right candidate. Under his leadership, the WII will not rubber stamp all projects cutting through our protected areas.”
President of Wildlife Conservation Trust (WCT) Anish Andheria said, “He has acquired a wealth of experience during his tenures as field director of Tadoba, followed by key administrator in forest ministry and subsequently as ACPCF and head of the mangrove cell. Having interacted with him over the past several years, I am confident that he will be able to do justice to this important post.”
The WII imparts wildlife training to IFS officers, conducts academic courses for MSc and PhD students, and provides advisory in wildlife research and management to the central and state governments.
Tiwari has worked in almost all departments including territorial, wildlife, working plan, budget and planning, and mangroves. He has also had a long stint as joint secretary in the state forest ministry.
Wildlife conservationist Prafulla Bhamburkar said, “Tiwari was a good administrator. His clear vision and decisive intervention will benefit conservation, especially when wildlife is passing through tough times.”
Kishor Rithe, an ex-member of the standing committee of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL), said Tiwari’s “vast experience with wildlife will not only help WII but also the country”.
“At a time when man-animal conflict is at its peak and wildlife is facing the worst-ever crisis in the country, we hope WII under Tiwari will strike a balance between wildlife management and development,” said Bandu Dhotre, president, Eco Pro in Chandrapur.
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