New Delhi: British minister for rural affairs, landscape and biodiversity Jim Knight recently said that a bilateral pact between India and the United Kingdom is in the offing to address issues like depletion of biodiversity and poaching of big cats in India. The minister is here on an invitation of Union environment minister D Raja.

Addressing non-governmental organisations (NGOs) at a meeting on Biodiversity in India: Issues and Emerging Trends, convened by the Winrock International India, Knight said, "We spend too long in railing at one another. This needs to be shifted to fruitful dialogues. We need to share experience and knowledge.

"He added, "I was called by the American ministry of environment on a similar platform. International wildlife crimes are just one aspects of the total problems in biodiversity. Multilateral dialogues will be required to address these problems.

Later, a video presentation showing a parade of Tibetan dancers attired in 'wildlife dresses' left the British minister stunned. The video was shot undercover by the Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI) and the Environmental Investigation Agency.

WPSI chief Belinda Wright, while suggesting that India should play a more active role in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), told the seminar that "CITES-China is very active, but doesn't have enough power to tackle poachers. Our (India's) role should be made more active, because all wildlife skins were from India."