Conservation officer
The examples and perspective in this articledeal primarily with North America, India, and Australia and do not represent aworldwide viewof the subject.(February 2015) |
Aconservation officeris alaw enforcement officerwho protectswildlifeand theenvironment.A conservation officer may also be referred to as anenvironmental technician/technologist,game warden,park ranger,forest watcher,forest guard,forester,gamekeeper,investigator,wildernessofficer,wildlifeofficer,orwildlife trooper.
History
[edit]Conservation officers can be traced back to theMiddle Ages(seegamekeeper). Conservation law enforcement goes back toKing Canutewho enacted a forest law that made unauthorized hunting punishable by death.[1]In 1861, ArchdeaconCharles Thorparranged purchase of some of theFarne Islandsoff the north-east coast of England and employment of a warden to protect threatenedseabirdspecies. The modern history of the office is linked to that of theconservation movementand has varied greatly across the world.
History in New York State
[edit]Conservation officers inNew York Stateare known as "environmental conservation officers", or ECOs. The position was created in the late nineteenth century. Originally, they were known as "game protectors". The first game protectors recorded comprised a group of eight men authorized to arrest anyone who killedwildlifeon protected land. Their job was to protect game and catchpoachers.They also chose to protect streams from pollution. In 1960, their title was changed to "conservation officers", then in 1970, they were renamed "environmental conservation officers", after the Conservation Department and the State Health Department merged to become the "Department of Environmental Conservation". At the same time, the role's status was changed, giving ECOs more legal power than they had previously had.[2]
Education
[edit]Conservation officers generally have a degree in areas specific to criminal justice, fish and wildlife management, recreation management, wildlife resources, or a science major related to these. Most start out their careers as a trainee under the supervision of an experienced conservation officer. After graduation and completion of the trainee program, many go on tolaw enforcementtraining to become apeace officer.In America, conservation officers must also take and pass the statecivil service examfor ECOs.[3] The Western Conservation Law Enforcement Academy is the academy that all Officers employed in western Canada including Yukon, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba must graduate from in order to be appointed as Officers in their respective jurisdictions. The program is 6 months long with about 2 of those months spent as on-the-job training with a direct supervisor. Training includes dress and deportment, investigations, firearm handling, use of force, swiftwater rescue, off-road vehicle use, search warrant application and execution and much more.
Recognizing the wardens' roles
[edit]As noted at theNorth American Game Warden Museum,confronting armedpoachersinruraland even remote locations can be lonely, dangerous and even fatal work for game wardens.[4][5]Recognition of the ultimate sacrifice of these officers at this museum is considered to be important, concomitant to recognition at theNational Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.[6]
Officers are exposed to other risks beyond being killed byhunters,trappersand armedfishermen.[6]Motor vehicle,boating, snowmobile and airplane accidents, animal attacks,drowning,andhypothermiaare other risk they face while on duty.[6][7]
InNorth Americagame wardens are typically employees ofstateorprovincialgovernments.26 of the 50 U.S. states have government departments entitledDepartment of Natural Resourcesor a similar title. These departments typically patrolstateorprovincial parksand public lands and waterways dedicated tohuntingandfishing,and also enforce state or provincial game andenvironmental lawsonprivate property.In some states such asMaryland,Massachusetts,andConnecticut,conservation officers serve in the role ofmarine law enforcementas well, responsible for the enforcement of local, state, and federal boating laws along withsearch and rescueandhomeland security.
Game wardens/conservation officers are front and center in keeping out (or in check)invasive species.[8][clarification needed]
In an increasingly interconnected andglobalizedworld, their concerns are much more comprehensive than local enforcement. While conservation officers enforce wildlife, hunting, and game laws, they have transitioned to aiding other law enforcement agencies with drug enforcement, serving warrants, and at times provide effort to homeland security.[9]They also enforce broader conservation laws, such as theEndangered Species Act,theMigratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918and similar laws/treaties. or the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act (in Canada) which implements the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna[10]As necessary, they will work in tandem with appropriate national or federal agencies, such as theU.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceorEnvironment Canada.
Conservation officers by region
[edit]Australia
[edit]- Australian Capital Territory Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate
- Northern TerritoryDepartment of Environment, Parks and Water Security
- Department of Primary Industries (New South Wales)
- Queensland Department of Environment and Science
- South Australia Department for Environment and Water
- Tasmania Department of Natural Resources and Environment
- Victoria Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action
- Western Australia Conservation and Parks Commission
- Western AustraliaDepartment of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions
Canada
[edit]- British Columbia Conservation Officer Service
- Ontario Conservation Officers
- Prince Edward Island Conservation Officers
- Protection de la faune du Québec(Québec fish and wildlife services)
- Manitoba conservation officers
- Alberta fish and wildlife services
- New Brunswick conservation officers
- Saskatchewan Conservation Officer Service
- Yukon department of fish and wildlife services
- North West territories fish and game
- Nunavut wildlife protection officers
- Canadian Wildlife and environmental protection officer (Canadian game officers)
- Department of Fisheries And Oceans Canada officers.
- Canadian Park wardens
- British Columbia Park ranger services
- NCC conservation officers
United States
[edit]Federal:
State:
- Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
- Alaska State TroopersWildlife Division
- Alaska Game and Fish
- Arizona Game and Fish Department
- Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
- California Department of Fish and Game
- California State Parks
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife
- Connecticut State Environmental Conservation Police
- Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission[11]
- Georgia Department of Natural Resources
- Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources,Conservation and Resource Enforcement
- Idaho Department of Fish and Game
- Illinois Department of Natural Resources,Office of Law Enforcement
- Indiana Department of Natural Resources,Law Enforcement Division
- Iowa Department of Natural Resources
- Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism,Law Enforcement Division
- Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
- Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries - Enforcement Division
- Maine Marine Patrol
- Maine Warden Service
- Maryland Natural Resources Police
- Massachusetts Environmental Police
- Michigan Conservation Officers
- Minnesota Department of Natural Resources,Enforcement Division
- Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks
- Missouri Department of Conservation
- Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks
- Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
- Nevada Department of Wildlife
- New Hampshire Fish and Game Department
- New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection,Division of Fish and Wildlife
- New Mexico Department of Game and Fish
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Police
- New York State Forest Rangers
- North Carolina Marine Patrol[12]
- North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
- North Dakota Game and Fish Department
- Ohio Department of Natural Resources
- Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
- Oregon State Police,Fish and Wildlife division
- Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
- Pennsylvania Game Commission
- Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management
- South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
- South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks
- Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
- Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
- Utah Department of Natural Resources,Division of Wildlife Resources
- Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department,
- Vermont Game Wardens
- Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources,Law Enforcement Division
- Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation,Division of State Parks
- Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife
- West Virginia Natural Resources Police
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
- Wyoming Game and Fish Department[13]
India
[edit]- Andaman and Nicobar Department of Wildlife and Forests
- Andhra Pradesh Forest Department
- Assam Department of Environment and Forests
- Arunachal Pradesh Department of Environment and Forests
- Bihar Department of Environment, Forests and Climate Change
- Chandigarh Department of Forests and Wildlife
- Chhattisgarh Forest and Climate Change Department
- Goa Forest Department
- Gujarat Forest Department
- Haryana Forest Department
- Jammu and Kashmir Forest Department
- Kerala Forest and Wildlife Department
- Ladakh Department of Forests, Ecology and Environment
- Madhya Pradesh Forest Department
- Maharashtra Forest Department
- Meghalaya Forests and Environment Department
- Nagaland Department of Environment, Forests and Climate Change
- Punjab Department of Forest and Wildlife Preservation
- Sikkim Department of Forests and Wildlife
- Uttarakhand Forest Department
- Uttar Pradesh Department of Environment, Forests and Climate Change
- Tamil Nadu Forest Department
- Telangana Forest Department
- West Bengal Forest Department
Spain
[edit]Notable game wardens
[edit]See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^Clark, Levi (2017).Conservation Law Enforcement.Create (McGraw Hill).ISBN9781308653655.
- ^Huss 2009,p. 15.
- ^Huss 2009,p. 13.
- ^"North American Game Warden Museum".Gamewardenmuseum.org.Retrieved2014-03-14.
- ^Johnson, Kirk (December 6, 2010)."In the Wild, a Big Threat to Rangers: Human".New York Times.Golden, Colorado.RetrievedSeptember 11,2011.
- ^abc"Fallen Officers, Michigan Conservation Officers Association".Archived fromthe originalon April 29, 2009.
- ^"North American Wildlife Enforcement Officers Association, lists of Canadian and American officers lost while on duty, 1980 to present".Archived fromthe originalon January 22, 2010.
- ^"Hall of Shame, Wyoming Outdoors Radio".Wyomingoutdoorsradio. Archived fromthe originalon 2014-12-05.Retrieved2014-03-14.
- ^Ledford, D; Osborne, D.; Edwards, B; Stickle, B (2021)."Not just a walk in the woods? Exploring the impact of individual characteristics and changing job roles on stress among conservation officers".Police Practice & Research.22:274–289.doi:10.1080/15614263.2020.1821682.S2CID231741751.
- ^"CITES Vigilance,Alberta Game Warden Magazine, October, 1999 ".Archived fromthe originalon March 1, 2005.
- ^"Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission".Florida Fish And Wildlife Conservation Commission.
- ^"North Carolina Marine Patrol".ncdenr.org.
- ^"Law Enforcement".Wyoming Fish and Game Warden service.
Bibliography
[edit]- Huss, Timothy (2009). "Outdoor Office".New York State Conservationist.64(2): 12–15.
- Lawson, Helene M. (2003). "Controlling the Wilderness: The Work of Wilderness Officers".Society & Animals.11(4): 329–351.doi:10.1163/156853003322796073.
- "Warden Trainee".Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.RetrievedDecember 5,2011.