On World Wildlife Day, which is celebrated on March 3, WWF Russia and the Vladivostok branch of the Russian Customs Academy opened an updated and redesigned Educational and Methodological Center for Customs Support of Nature Protection.

For 20 years, the Educational and Methodological Center for Customs Support of Nature Protection, established at the beginning of the century on the initiative of WWF Russia and the Academy, has been an important link in the training of Customs specialists and the perfection of their practical skills. Now, after renovation and repair, the center is again ready to receive cadets, students of advanced training courses and guests of the Academy.

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WWF Russia

“Cooperation between WWF Russia and the Vladivostok branch of the Russian Customs Academy is a quarter of a century old. In the mid-90s, the poaching pressure on the Far Eastern nature and the demand for wildlife products, especially the Amur tiger’s derivatives, from our eastern neighbors was enormous. Under these conditions, the creation of a whole direction in the work of the Academy to suppress such offenses has become a special task for WWF. In 1997, WWF experts and lecturers of the Academy developed the first training course "The work of Customs Authorities to Detect and Suppress Smuggling and Customs Offenses Related to the Movement of Animals and Plants Across the Customs Border," comments Petr Osipov, director of the Amur branch of WWF Russia.

“And in 2001, within the walls of the Academy, on the joint initiative of the two organizations, the first in Russia Educational and Methodological Center for Customs Support of Nature Protection was created. This was a real breakthrough in training of personnel in the fight against smuggling of rare wild animals and plants in the Far East. Now we have helped our partners to put the Center on a “reboot”, to update it in accordance with the requirements of the time, and we are glad that today this modern classroom for students is open in a new capacity.”

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WWF Russia

According to Vladimir Diyakov, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor, Director of the Vladivostok Branch of the Russian Customs Academy, “Studying the requirements of CITES allowed students to become real professionals and go to customs posts and special departments of the Far Eastern Operational Customs with the necessary knowledge and experience to prevent customs offenses and crimes. Our country owes their competence to large-scale detentions of ginseng roots, bear gall bladders, musk deer gland, tiger and leopard derivatives, and much more. Twenty years ago, with the financial support of WWF, a unique project was implemented to create the Center. In this form, it was actively used until the end of 2021. Now, again with the support of WWF, a major overhaul of the Center premises has been carried out, an individual design of showcases has been developed and completed, in which some wildlife objects seized by customs officers are exhibited.”

“The Center is equipped with a modern projector for presentations. This is a comfortable and functional place to concentrate up-to-date information on the legal aspects of nature protection, to hold lectures, conferences and other scientific and practical events. For example, since 2009, with the support of WWF, a competition of student scientific papers dedicated to the preservation of natural heritage has been regularly held.”

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WWF Russia

Educational and Methodological Center for Customs Support of Nature Protection participates in the preparation and publication of educational, scientific, and reference publications. Together the two organizations, 18 reference and training manuals have been published for students and Customs officials on how to organize the fight against wildlife species smuggling, on the Customs control and identification of goods of animal and plant origin.

Marina Vorozhtsova, deputy head of the Canine Department of the Vladivostok Customs, with her German wirehaired pointer named Avanta, demonstrated how service dogs find illegally transported derivates and protect wildlife.

Poaching and smuggling are threats to the biodiversity of the planet. Wildlife resources are finite and need to be protected. Training of customs specialists to preserve rare and endangered wildlife species, to implement the requirements of Russian and international legislation in the field of biodiversity protection are the basis for cooperation between the Customs Academy and WWF Russia.

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Директор Амурского филиала WWF России Петр Осипов и директор ВФ РТА Владимир Дьяков отрывают Центр таможенного обеспечения охраны после капитального ремонта и обновления

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Центр таможенного обеспечения охраны природы ВФ РТА: «перезагрузка» состоялась

WWF России

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