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Draft:First Nations Land Warden

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Bronze sculpture of Pepe el lobero (1909-1995), renowned head forest ranger of Saja-Besaya, Spain's most important hunting reserve

A First Nations Land Warden is a law enforcement officer who protects wildlife and the environment. A Land Warden may also be referred to as a Conservation Officer/environmental technician/technologist, game warden, park ranger, forest watcher, forest guard, forester, gamekeeper, investigator, wilderness officer, wildlife officer, or wildlife trooper.

History

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First Nations Land Wardens/Conservation officers can be traced back to the Middle Ages (see gamekeeper). Conservation law enforcement goes back to King Canute who enacted a forest law that made unauthorized hunting punishable by death.[1] In 1861, Archdeacon Charles Thorp arranged purchase of some of the Farne Islands off the north-east coast of England and employment of a warden to protect threatened seabird species. The modern history of the office is linked to that of the conservation movement and has varied greatly across the world.

History of Land Warden in Canada

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First Nations Land Wardens are selected by First Nations Chief who govern over them. The primary role of a Land Warden is the protection of endangered and protect Flora/Fauna including enforcement of Canadian and International endangered species Flora/Fauna by-laws. Land Wardens are authorized to arrest anyone who killed protected wildlife sales or exports or imports protected species Flora/Fauna. Their job also includes the protection of habitat and to catch poachers. They also protect aquatic environments from pollution. First Nations Land Wardens do Not need a search warrant and have international authority to arrest and detain outside of Canada. First Nations Land Wardens have firearms, high caliber rifles (see gamekeeper). First Nations Land Wardens also protect threatened seabird species. First Nations Land Wardens can also be appointed to a certain spices. Example Land Warden Martin Vasil, Leroy Barney, Mark MiLan specialize in the rescue and recovery of Eagles. 2005 to 2025 over 70 Eagles were rescued by them without prior knowledge of the injured Eagle whereabouts. The modern history of Land Warden is linked to that of the conservation movement. First Nations Land Wardens 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. First Nations Land Wardens are exposed to other risks beyond being killed or assaulted by hunters, animal trappers and armed fishermen, animal attacks and hypothermia including other deadly risk they face while on duty.

Education

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Land Wardens most in 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 Land Warden or Conservation Officer. After graduation and completion of the trainee program or approval. In America, Wardens including Conservation officers must take and pass the state civil service exam for ECOs.[2] 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 a Conservation officer 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.

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In Canada, Land Wardens including Canadian Conservation officers conduct may infringe your civil liberties. land Wardens including Canadian Conservation officers, do not need a warrant to search a building or dwelling, but they do need a warrant to enter a person's personal bedroom: A justice of the peace can issue a warrant if there is reasonable belief that an offense occurred or is occurring, and that a search of the bedroom will provide evidence. Without a warrant First Nations Land Wardens including Canadian Conservation officers can act without a warrant in exigent circumstances, which are situations of special urgency where delay could result in danger to human life or safety, or loss of evidence. First Nations Land Wardens including Canadian Conservation officers have other powers, including: Stopping and inspecting vehicles, boats, or aircraft including Inspecting firearms, ammunition, fish, or game. First Nations Land Wardens including Canadian Conservation officers shall legally without warrants seize items directly or indirectly related to an offense. While carrying out duties or functions under First Nations, Federal, Provincial and International Laws that protect endangered species including all NATIVE Fauna and Flora. First Nations Land Wardens including Canadian Conservation officers, wildlife officers and biologists/analysts, and any persons accompanying them, may enter on and pass through or over private property without being liable for doing so and without any person having the legal right to object to that use of the property. First Nations Land Wardens including Canadian Conservation officers also have powers to enforce the following: • Dike Maintenance Act • Ecological Reserve Act • Environmental Management Act • Fisheries Act • Forest Act • Forest and Range Practices Act • Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act • Greenhouse Gas Industrial Reporting and Control Act • Integrated Pest Management Act • Land Act: First Nations Land Wardens including Canadian Conservation officers have special powers when there are “exigent circumstances.” Conservation Officers may do the following without a warrant from a judge: Walk on or across your private property including government property or leased or rented or borrowed or otherwise occupied. Search your home, your vehicle, or other personal property; Seize and remove anything that the First Nations Land Warden including Canadian Conservation officers has reasonable or probable grounds to believe may provide evidence of an offence. Under the Environmental Management Act and other associated International Acts, First Nations Land Warden including Canadian Conservation officers are “peace officers” or “prescribed/selected appointed officials” for the purposes of by-law enforcement.

Recognizing the Land wardens' roles

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As noted at the North American Game Warden Museum, confronting armed poachers in rural and even remote locations can be lonely, dangerous and even fatal work for land/game wardens.[3][4] Recognition of the ultimate sacrifice of these officers at this museum is considered to be important, concomitant to recognition at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.[5]

Other risks faced by First Nations Land Wardens including Canadian Conservation officers

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First Nations Land Wardens including Canadian Conservation officers are exposed to other risks beyond being killed by hunters, trappers and armed fishermen.[5] Motor vehicle, boating, snowmobile and airplane accidents, animal attacks, drowning, and hypothermia are other risk they face while on duty.[5][6]

In North America First Nations Land Wardens including Canadian Conservation officers or game wardens/Parks Rangers are typically employees of state or provincial governments Land Warden fall under a First Nations Chief. In America 26 of the 50 U.S. states have government departments entitled Department of Natural Resources or a similar title. These departments typically patrol state or provincial parks and public lands and waterways dedicated to hunting and fishing, and also enforce state or provincial game and environmental laws on private property. Some states such as Maryland, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, First Nations Land Wardens including Canadian Conservation officers serve in the role of marine law enforcement as well as enforcement of local, state, and federal boating laws along with search and rescue and homeland security.

First Nations Land Wardens including Canadian Conservation officers are front and center in keeping out (or in check) invasive species.[7][clarification needed]

In an increasingly interconnected and globalized world, their concerns are much more comprehensive than local enforcement. While Land Wardens/conservation officers enforce by-laws that protect 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.[8] They also enforce broader conservation laws, such as the Endangered and protected Species Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 and 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[9] As necessary, they will work in tandem with appropriate national or federal agencies, such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or Environment Canada.

Conservation officers by region

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Canada

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United States

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Federal:

State:

Notable game wardens

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Notable Land wardens

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Clark, Levi (2017). Conservation Law Enforcement. Create (McGraw Hill). ISBN 9781308653655.
  2. ^ Huss 2009, p. 13.
  3. ^ "North American Game Warden Museum". Gamewardenmuseum.org. Retrieved 2014-03-14.
  4. ^ Johnson, Kirk (December 6, 2010). "In the Wild, a Big Threat to Rangers: Human". New York Times. Golden, Colorado. Retrieved September 11, 2011.
  5. ^ a b c "Fallen Officers, Michigan Conservation Officers Association". Archived from the original on April 29, 2009.
  6. ^ "North American Wildlife Enforcement Officers Association, lists of Canadian and American officers lost while on duty, 1980 to present". Archived from the original on January 22, 2010.
  7. ^ "Hall of Shame, Wyoming Outdoors Radio". Wyomingoutdoorsradio.com. Archived from the original on 2014-12-05. Retrieved 2014-03-14.
  8. ^ 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. S2CID 231741751.
  9. ^ "CITES Vigilance, Alberta Game Warden Magazine, October, 1999". Archived from the original on March 1, 2005.
  10. ^ "Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission". Florida Fish And Wildlife Conservation Commission.
  11. ^ "North Carolina Marine Patrol". ncdenr.org.
  12. ^ "Law Enforcement". Wyoming Fish and Game Warden service.

Bibliography

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  • 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. Retrieved December 5, 2011.
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