The document discusses wildlife conservation efforts focused on protecting the critically endangered Saiga antelope populations in Central Asia. It provides background on the Saiga, noting their populations have declined by 94% since the 1990s due to illegal poaching for their horns used in traditional Chinese medicine. International cooperation and agreements like the MOU on the Saiga Antelope have aimed to reduce exploitation and restore populations across Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. USAID's SCAPES program implements conservation activities in the Ustyurt Plateau landscape of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to reconcile protection of Saiga habitat with sustainable development for local communities.
14. wild life and endangered species A series of Presentation ByMr Allah Dad...Mr.Allah Dad Khan
A series of Presentation ByMr Allah Dad Khan Special Consultant NRM , Former DG Agriculture Extension KPK Province , Visiting Professor the University of Agriculture Peshawar Pakistan allahdad52@gmail.com
Karnataka, one of the Southern states of India has 3.83 Million ha of recorded forest area which is around 20 percent of its geographical area. Karnataka is endowed with most magnificent forests in the country ranging from majestic evergreen forests of the Western Ghats to the scrub jungles of the plains. The Western Ghats of Karnataka are one of the 25 global priority hotspots for conservation and one of the two on the Indian subcontinent. Several economically important species such as Sandalwood, Rosewood, Teak, White cedar grow naturally in these forests. Karnataka forest is endowed with rich wildlife, harbors 25 percent of the elephant population of India, 10% of the Tiger population. The state has 5 National parks and 21 sanctuaries comprising about 17.3% of total forest area as protected area for wildlife and biodiversity.
14. wild life and endangered species A series of Presentation ByMr Allah Dad...Mr.Allah Dad Khan
A series of Presentation ByMr Allah Dad Khan Special Consultant NRM , Former DG Agriculture Extension KPK Province , Visiting Professor the University of Agriculture Peshawar Pakistan allahdad52@gmail.com
Karnataka, one of the Southern states of India has 3.83 Million ha of recorded forest area which is around 20 percent of its geographical area. Karnataka is endowed with most magnificent forests in the country ranging from majestic evergreen forests of the Western Ghats to the scrub jungles of the plains. The Western Ghats of Karnataka are one of the 25 global priority hotspots for conservation and one of the two on the Indian subcontinent. Several economically important species such as Sandalwood, Rosewood, Teak, White cedar grow naturally in these forests. Karnataka forest is endowed with rich wildlife, harbors 25 percent of the elephant population of India, 10% of the Tiger population. The state has 5 National parks and 21 sanctuaries comprising about 17.3% of total forest area as protected area for wildlife and biodiversity.
Define the following:
Normal species
Vulnerable species
Endangered species
Threaten species
Critically Endangered species
Rare species
Endemic species
Extinct species
Define the following:
Normal species
Vulnerable species
Endangered species
Threaten species
Critically Endangered species
Rare species
Endemic species
Extinct species
this is the detail documents in which you will know the wild life in pakistan which include birds, mammals, reptiles, insects carnivorious, herbivorious etc
TROPHY HUNTING \ ESPECIALLY IN PAKISTAN wildlife(1)Ilman Khan
(1)...What is Trophy hunting? Write a detailed note on trophy hunting in Pakistan and its importance in future conservation planning of these enigmatic species... (5marks)
(2)....write a short note on taxonomic position, conservation status, Geographic distribution, and general biology of the following species.
Snow leopard
Common leopard
Brown bear
Gray wolf
And Markhoor (10 marks)
(3)...Capture 5 wild animals through the mobile camera and paste in the Word file along with the details of ….
Taxonomic position
Locality/Area
General information about the spp captured. (5 marks)
References.....
Google.com
www.Encyclopediabratinica.com
www.sciencedaily.com
Brown Bear | International Association for Bear Research and Management. (2017). International Association for Bear Research and Management. https://www.bearbiology.org/bear-species/brown-bear/
Ursus arctos (brown bear). (2020). Animal Diversity Web. https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Ursus_arctos/
https://academic.oup.com/jmammal/article/99/5/1249/5052734
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_bear
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolf
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/g/gray-wolf/https://defenders.org/wildlife/gray-wolf
https://markhor.com/blogs/journal/markhor-national-animal-of-pakistan
http://animalia.bio/markhor
Its all about endangerment of species. 7 mammals who are one the verge of extinction. IUCN ratings and statistical data will help you out.
It was our 12th EVS presentation. But since our presentation is over, I would like to share my team's .ppt to others.
You Can learn about
1. SOME ENDANGERED SPECIES OF PAKISTAN
2. A Brief introduction to Endangered Species
3. Classification of Endangered Species
4. Critically Endangered (CR) Species
5. Rare or Vulnerable Species:
UN-ECE Draft Protocol on Liability and Compensation for Damage Resulting from...Bakhtiyor Mukhammadiev
UN-ECE Draft Protocol on Liability and Compensation for Damage Resulting from the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents on Transboundary Waters
Biological screening of herbal drugs: Introduction and Need for
Phyto-Pharmacological Screening, New Strategies for evaluating
Natural Products, In vitro evaluation techniques for Antioxidants, Antimicrobial and Anticancer drugs. In vivo evaluation techniques
for Anti-inflammatory, Antiulcer, Anticancer, Wound healing, Antidiabetic, Hepatoprotective, Cardio protective, Diuretics and
Antifertility, Toxicity studies as per OECD guidelines
Honest Reviews of Tim Han LMA Course Program.pptxtimhan337
Personal development courses are widely available today, with each one promising life-changing outcomes. Tim Han’s Life Mastery Achievers (LMA) Course has drawn a lot of interest. In addition to offering my frank assessment of Success Insider’s LMA Course, this piece examines the course’s effects via a variety of Tim Han LMA course reviews and Success Insider comments.
Operation “Blue Star” is the only event in the history of Independent India where the state went into war with its own people. Even after about 40 years it is not clear if it was culmination of states anger over people of the region, a political game of power or start of dictatorial chapter in the democratic setup.
The people of Punjab felt alienated from main stream due to denial of their just demands during a long democratic struggle since independence. As it happen all over the word, it led to militant struggle with great loss of lives of military, police and civilian personnel. Killing of Indira Gandhi and massacre of innocent Sikhs in Delhi and other India cities was also associated with this movement.
Embracing GenAI - A Strategic ImperativePeter Windle
Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies such as Generative AI, Image Generators and Large Language Models have had a dramatic impact on teaching, learning and assessment over the past 18 months. The most immediate threat AI posed was to Academic Integrity with Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) focusing their efforts on combating the use of GenAI in assessment. Guidelines were developed for staff and students, policies put in place too. Innovative educators have forged paths in the use of Generative AI for teaching, learning and assessments leading to pockets of transformation springing up across HEIs, often with little or no top-down guidance, support or direction.
This Gasta posits a strategic approach to integrating AI into HEIs to prepare staff, students and the curriculum for an evolving world and workplace. We will highlight the advantages of working with these technologies beyond the realm of teaching, learning and assessment by considering prompt engineering skills, industry impact, curriculum changes, and the need for staff upskilling. In contrast, not engaging strategically with Generative AI poses risks, including falling behind peers, missed opportunities and failing to ensure our graduates remain employable. The rapid evolution of AI technologies necessitates a proactive and strategic approach if we are to remain relevant.
Francesca Gottschalk - How can education support child empowerment.pptxEduSkills OECD
Francesca Gottschalk from the OECD’s Centre for Educational Research and Innovation presents at the Ask an Expert Webinar: How can education support child empowerment?
Introduction to AI for Nonprofits with Tapp NetworkTechSoup
Dive into the world of AI! Experts Jon Hill and Tareq Monaur will guide you through AI's role in enhancing nonprofit websites and basic marketing strategies, making it easy to understand and apply.
How to Make a Field invisible in Odoo 17Celine George
It is possible to hide or invisible some fields in odoo. Commonly using “invisible” attribute in the field definition to invisible the fields. This slide will show how to make a field invisible in odoo 17.
The French Revolution, which began in 1789, was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France. It marked the decline of absolute monarchies, the rise of secular and democratic republics, and the eventual rise of Napoleon Bonaparte. This revolutionary period is crucial in understanding the transition from feudalism to modernity in Europe.
For more information, visit-www.vavaclasses.com
June 3, 2024 Anti-Semitism Letter Sent to MIT President Kornbluth and MIT Cor...Levi Shapiro
Letter from the Congress of the United States regarding Anti-Semitism sent June 3rd to MIT President Sally Kornbluth, MIT Corp Chair, Mark Gorenberg
Dear Dr. Kornbluth and Mr. Gorenberg,
The US House of Representatives is deeply concerned by ongoing and pervasive acts of antisemitic
harassment and intimidation at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Failing to act decisively to ensure a safe learning environment for all students would be a grave dereliction of your responsibilities as President of MIT and Chair of the MIT Corporation.
This Congress will not stand idly by and allow an environment hostile to Jewish students to persist. The House believes that your institution is in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, and the inability or
unwillingness to rectify this violation through action requires accountability.
Postsecondary education is a unique opportunity for students to learn and have their ideas and beliefs challenged. However, universities receiving hundreds of millions of federal funds annually have denied
students that opportunity and have been hijacked to become venues for the promotion of terrorism, antisemitic harassment and intimidation, unlawful encampments, and in some cases, assaults and riots.
The House of Representatives will not countenance the use of federal funds to indoctrinate students into hateful, antisemitic, anti-American supporters of terrorism. Investigations into campus antisemitism by the Committee on Education and the Workforce and the Committee on Ways and Means have been expanded into a Congress-wide probe across all relevant jurisdictions to address this national crisis. The undersigned Committees will conduct oversight into the use of federal funds at MIT and its learning environment under authorities granted to each Committee.
• The Committee on Education and the Workforce has been investigating your institution since December 7, 2023. The Committee has broad jurisdiction over postsecondary education, including its compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, campus safety concerns over disruptions to the learning environment, and the awarding of federal student aid under the Higher Education Act.
• The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is investigating the sources of funding and other support flowing to groups espousing pro-Hamas propaganda and engaged in antisemitic harassment and intimidation of students. The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is the principal oversight committee of the US House of Representatives and has broad authority to investigate “any matter” at “any time” under House Rule X.
• The Committee on Ways and Means has been investigating several universities since November 15, 2023, when the Committee held a hearing entitled From Ivory Towers to Dark Corners: Investigating the Nexus Between Antisemitism, Tax-Exempt Universities, and Terror Financing. The Committee followed the hearing with letters to those institutions on January 10, 202
The Saiga Antelopes The Nomads of Central Asian Steppes
1. December 4 – Wildlife Conservation Day
Conservation of the
Saiga Antelopes –
The Nomads of the
Central Asian steppes
Rayna Farnsworth
Bakhtiyor Mukhammadiev
U.S. Embassy Tashkent
David Paradise
Scott Epstein
Marzhan Srymova
U.S. Embassy Astana
Ted Massey
Arzigul Ovezlieva
U.S. Embassy Ashgabat
2. Wildlife trafficking – the illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife parts – is a soaring
black market worth $10 billion a year, second only to arms and drug smuggling.
Oct 2012: Tanzanian police have seized more
than 200 elephant tusks hidden in a coffin
and in fertilizer bags, pointing to rising
poaching in the east African country. The 214
tusks are estimated to be worth about
£820,000.
Aug 2007: seizure of illegal wildlife products
in Russia of 480 bear paws, a Siberian tiger
pelt and bones, and 20 kg of wild ginseng, all
destined for China. The smuggling gang
involved received jail sentences of up to 8
years.
Feb 2010: Tiger
carcasses confiscated
in Thailand, from
illegal traders. This
confiscated bodies
would have been used
in traditional Chinese
medicine. The Tiger
Temple, Thailand, cont
ributes to this illegal
trade.
Oct 2012: In South Africa 455 rhinos
have been lost to illegal killings. The
street value of rhino horns has soared
to $65,000/kg. The poaching is driven
by the use of their horns in Chinese
medicine and a belief – unfounded in
science – that they cure cancer.
Jan 2008: Forest
police in
Kunming, China,
seized 30 Saiga
horns and
arrested the
wholesale
market trader.
3. What are Saigas?
Latin name: Saiga tatarica.
Appearance: In summer, the saiga’s coat is a rich
chestnut color and its belly and legs are pale. In
winter, it has a thick, pale buff coat and the males’ noses
swell for the rut.
Subspecies: (1) Saiga tatarica tatarica lives in
Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and, in extremely cold
winters, Turkmenistan; (2) Saiga tatarica mongolica lives
in Mongolia, and until the 1960s, China.
Habitat: Arid Eurasian steppe.
Height: Roughly the size of a goat, measuring about
70cm tall.
Weight: Males weigh about 41kg and females about
28kg.
Diet: Grasses, herbs and shrubs.
Predators: Wolves and foxes. Eagles take calves.
Status: Listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red
List due to decline from a million in early 1990s to just
six per cent of that by 2005.
6. The saiga is endangered
because people hunt for
the males for their horns
and when there are no
more males the species
can not reproduce and
dies off.
7. http://www.thechinesesouplady.co
m/saiga-antelope-horns/
--- The saiga horn is a rare and
highly prized ($100/kg) ingredient
in Chinese medicine;
--- The horns are found in various
forms such as dried, thinly sliced
(or flaked as pictured), ground into
a powder, or cut into tiny pieces;
--- In traditional medicine of the
East Asian countries, it is believed
to an excellent painkiller and
antibiotic, and is used to treat
many ailments such as
headaches, fever, congestion, deliri
um (although there is no reliable
scientific studies that prove this!).
9. Signing ceremony of the MOU on the Saiga antelope
UNEP Headquarters, Nairobi, Kenya
November 23, 2005
The MoU aims to reduce current exploitation levels and restore the population status of these
nomads of the Central Asian steppes
All Signatories agree to collaborate to improve the conservation status of the Saiga antelope
throughout its range, and undertake national and joint activities to conserve restore and
sustainably use the species and those habitats and ecosystems important for its long-term
survival.
Signing of the MOU on the Saiga
antelope by Turkmenistan
November 23, 2005
Signing of the MOU on the Saiga
antelope by Uzbekistan
May 23, 2006
Signing of the MOU on the Saiga
antelope by Russian Federation
June 23, 2009
10. USAID SCAPES – Sustainable
Conservation Approaches in Priority
Ecosystems
USAID/SCAPES activity in the Ustyurt Plateau: A Landscape Approach to Reconcile
the Conservation of Central Asian Steppe with Local Sustainable Development
Implementing partners: Pact, Inc., Fauna & Flora International, BirdLife
International, ACDI/VOCA
The saiga as a flagship species to foster long-term transboundary sustainable
management of the Ustyurt, provide opportunities for local communities to
develop alternative livelihoods, and encourage extractive industries to integrate
conservation into their operations.
11. U.S. Strategy to Combat Wildlife Trafficking
1. Diplomatic Outreach
The United States joined with leaders at the
2012 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
forum to issue a joint statement on wildlife
trafficking
3. Training, Technology ,and Law Enforcement
2. Public Diplomacy
4. Partnerships
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s “Buyer
Beware” exhibit at Logan International
Airport
Global System of Regional
Wildlife Enforcement
Networks
Regional Fisheries
Management
Organization
12. December 4 – Wildlife Conservation Day
To raise awareness and combat wildlife trafficking
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Remarks at the Partnership Meeting on Wildlife
Trafficking, Washington D.C., November 8, 2012
http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2012/11/200294.htm
“…we are increasingly seeing wildlife trafficking has serious implications for the security and
prosperity of people around the world. Local populations that depend on wildlife, either for tourism
or sustenance, are finding it harder and harder to maintain their livelihoods. Diseases are spreading
to new corners of the globe through wildlife that is not properly inspected at border crossings. Park
rangers are being killed. And we have good reason to believe that rebel militias are players in a
worldwide ivory market worth millions and millions of dollars a year…”
“…It is one thing to be worried about the traditional poachers who come in and kill and take a few
animals, a few tusks, a few horns, or other animal parts. It’s something else when you’ve got
helicopters, night vision goggles, automatic weapons, which pose a threat to human life as well as
wildlife…”
13. What Can You Do?
Photo by Alexander Esipov
Learn more about the Saiga
Celebrate Saiga Day! (April
2013)
Share the information you
learned today with your
friends and family
You can make a difference!
Photo by Alexander Esipov
Editor's Notes
Saiga antelopes - the basicsThe saiga antelope is a unique inhabitant of the vast plains of Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. It is a relict of the ice age fauna that included mammoths and sabre tooth cats, and is evolutionarily distinct from other antelopes. It is also a symbol of the steppe for the nomadic people it shares its habitat with, and has been an important source of food and inspiration for centuries.Latin name: Saiga tatarica.Appearance: In summer, the saiga’s coat is a rich chestnut colour and its belly and legs are pale. In winter, it has a thick, pale buff coat and the males’ noses swell for the rut.Subspecies: Two. Saiga tatarica tatarica lives in Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and, in extremely cold winters, Turkmenistan. Saiga tatarica mongolica lives in Mongolia, and until the 1960s, China.Habitat: Arid Eurasian steppe.Height: Roughly the size of a goat, measuring about 70cm tall.Weight: Males weigh about 41kg and females about 28kg.Diet: Grasses, herbs and shrubs.Predators: Wolves and foxes. Eagles take calves.Mating: A male defends a harem of up to 30 females and mates with them over a 10-day period in early to mid-December.Gestation: 140-150 days, with calves usually born over a one-week period in early May.Number of Young: First-year females typically have one calf, older females have twins or, occasionally, triplets.Status: Listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List due to decline from a million in early 1990s to just six per cent of that by 2005.
1. Pre-Caspian population (Russia), 2. Ural population (Russia, Kazakhstan), 3. Ustyurt population (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan), 4. Betpak-dala population (Kazakhstan), 5. Mongolian population (Mongolia, China)
Why protect saigas?In recent years saiga antelopes hold a sad record in the animal world – they are one of the fastest declining mammal species on our planet today. Since the early 1990s global saiga numbers have declined by over 95% (see graph below). As a result there is considerable international concern and saiga have been listed as Critically Endangered by IUCN, the World Conservation Union.Poaching is the main factor driving the decline of saiga populations. The saigas meat and hide are traditionally valued, but nowadays saiga are primarily hunted for their translucent amber horn, which is used Southeast Asian countries for Chinese Traditional Medicine. All of the saiga’s range states used to be part of the Soviet Union and part of China within the last Century, until saiga went extinct in China in the 1960s. The fate of the saiga has been closely tied to the economic downfall of the USSR. The breakdown of the Soviet Union in 1991 resulted in the collapse of rural economies and in turn led to widespread unemployment and poverty. Saiga poaching provided an alternative source of income and food albeit illegal. The trade in saiga meat and horn was hardly hindered by any law enforcement bodies, since these were also suffering from lack of funding. The border with China had been reopened in the late 1980s and demand for horn was high - fuelling further exploitation of saiga populations throughout Eurasia. The most accessible and easterly populations were exploited more heavily at first, until these had collapsed and exploitation shifted towards more remote populations.Saiga populations were not only hit hard by the poaching itself, but also indirectly because the hunting pressure changed the structure of the populations. Only saiga males bear the precious horn and as a result poachers aim to kill males. Male saigas are also heavier than females, so killing a male is a win-win situation: horns + more meat. Unfortunately, because of this selective hunting for males, the number of adult males dropped dramatically. During the rut there were not enough males to mate with all the females (!), which led to a reproductive collapse. The direct poaching offtake coupled with the reproductive collapse meant that saiga populations declined at unprecedented rates. Urgent conservation action is needed to halt this decline. In some populations, such as Betpak-dala, conservation action appears to be paying off, and the population is increasing. But more needs to be done throughout the saiga's range. The fact that the saiga is migratory and some populations are trans-boundary makes this not an easy task. But at SCA we have made it our mission to do everything we can to restore the saiga to its position as the flagship species of the Eurasian steppes.
The saiga is endangered because people hunt for the males for their horns and when there are no more males the species can not reproduce and dies off.
--- The saiga horn is a rare and highly prized ($100/kg) ingredient in Chinese medicine;--- The horns are found in various forms such as dried, thinly sliced (or flaked as pictured), ground into a powder, or cut into tiny pieces;--- In traditional medicine of the East Asian countries, it is believed to an excellent painkiller and antibiotic, and is used to treat many ailments such as headaches, fever, congestion, delirium (although there is no reliable scientific studies that prove this!).
Development of MoUTo implement the decision of the Seventh Conference of the Parties of CMS to list the Saiga Antelope (Saiga tatarica) on Appendix II of the Convention as a consequence of its endangered status and the conviction that conservation efforts of this species are dependent on international collaboration between the range States, an Article IV agreement was concluded and took effect on 24 September 2006 after signature by the third range State.Signatories to the Saiga Antelope MoU:Turkmenistan (23 November 2005)Uzbekistan (23 May 2006)Kazakhstan (24 September 2006)Russian Federation (24 June 2009)Mongolia (10 September 2010)In addition, the following organizations have signed the MoU:UNEP/CMS Secretariat (23 November 2005)Ministry of Nature and Environment of Mongolia (23 November 2005)International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation (23 November 2005)IUCN/SSC (23 November 2005)WWF International (23 November 2005)Fauna and Flora International (24 September 2006)Frankfurt Zoological Society (24 September 2006)Wildlife Conservation Society (24 September 2006)Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan (10 September 2010)The Saiga Conservation Alliance (10 September 2010)
Aim of MoUThe MoU aims to reduce current exploitation levels and restore the population status of these nomads of the Central Asian steppes.Fundamental componentsAll Signatories agree to collaborate to improve the conservation status of the Saiga antelope throughout its range, and undertake national and joint activities to conserve restore and sustainably use the species and those habitats and ecosystems important for its long-term survival. Therefore they shall, individually or collectively:Provide effective protection for the Saiga antelope and, where feasible and appropriate, conserve, restore and sustainably use those habitats and ecosystems that are important for its long-term survivalImplement the provisions of the Action Plan, adopted in 2006Assess regularly the implementation of the Saiga antelope MoU and the Action PlanFacilitate the exchange of scientific, technical and legal information to undertake coordinated measures to conserve, restore and sustainably use the Saiga antelope, and cooperate with other States, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations and other bodies interested in the implementation processProvide to the CMS (Convention on Migratory Species) Secretariat detailed reports on the implementation of the MoUThe MoU took effect immediately after at least three of the range States signed it (24 September 2006) and shall remain in effect indefinitely subject to the right of any Signatory to terminate its participation by providing one year’s written notice to all of the other Signatories.Meeting of SignatoriesMeetings of Signatories are organized regularly to review the conservation status of the Saiga antelope and the implementation of the MoU and Action Plan. National reports by individual Signatories and a report prepared by the Secretariat are also submitted.The First Meeting of Signatories took place in Almaty, Kazakhstan, 25–26 September 2006.Previous to the meeting a two-day Technical Workshop was organized. During the First Meeting of Signatories the following points were addressed:Share information on the conservation status of the Saiga antelope within the respective range States and the status of implementation of the Action PlanAdopt a Medium Term International Work Program to support the implementation of the MoU and Action PlanThe Signatories represented at the meeting were Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. The other two range States, the Russian Federation and Mongolia, were also represented. Additionally, China and the United States were also present. Finally, a number of organizations such as UNDP Kazakhstan, NABU and TRAFFIC attended the meeting.The Second Meeting of Signatories was convened by CMS and took place in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, 7–10 September 2010, preceded by a technical meeting.[5] The Meeting of Signatories:Adopted a Medium Term International Work Programme for 2011-2015Agreed to expand the MoU to cover all Saigas, and thus to amend its title to refer to “Saiga spp.” instead of only “Saiga tataricatatarica”. This meant that Mongolia became a formal Range State to the MoU and its signature was welcomedThe Signatories represented at the meeting were Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation and Mongolia. China as well as a number of organizations such as IUCN, CITES and IFAW also attended the meeting.
SCAPES Activity: Ustyurt Plateau: A Landscape Approach to Reconcile the Conservation of Central Asian Steppe with Local Sustainable DevelopmentImplementing Partner: Pact, Inc.; Fauna & Flora International; BirdLife International; Agricultural Cooperative Development International/Volunteers in Overseas Cooperative Assistance ( ACDI/VOCA)The Ustyurt Plateau is a temperate desert shared between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan and globally recognized for its ecological importance and high number of endemic species, 35 of which are listed as endangered on the IUCN global red list. The approximately 200,000 km2 landscape contains significant biodiversity resources, including two Global 200 Ecoregions, two Important Bird Areas and National Reserve designations.Changes in land-use management resulting from the collapse of the Soviet Union, high unemployment causing unsustainable natural resource use, as well as indiscriminate development of extractive industries, impose high pressure on Central Asia’s sensitive semi-desert and steppe ecosystems like the Ustyurt. Extensive, poverty-driven poaching has led to the collapse of wild ungulate species, such as the critically endangered saiga antelope, Saiga tatarica, and related bird communities. The saiga has experienced a 95 percent reduction in population in the last 20 years, one of the fastest declines recorded for mammals in recent decades. Gas pipelines, railways and associated infrastructure have changed ancient species migratory routes and have disturbed breeding grounds. Protected areas exist on the plateau in both countries, but lack proper demarcation, are poorly managed, understaffed and underequipped.Through a consortium of partners, led by Pact, Inc. and including Fauna & Flora International (FFI), BirdLife International and ACDI/VOCA, this initiative aims to reconcile ecosystem conservation with local sustainable development, using the saiga antelope as a flagship species. A multi-dimensional landscape scale approach will be used to foster long-term trans-boundary sustainable management of the Ustyurt. FFI is the only international NGO actively engaged in conservation on the Ustyurt and has been so for over five years, specifically engaging local communities in saiga conservation and supporting the Uzbek government to improve protection and management of the Saigachy Reserve.Conserving the saiga antelope makes a significant contribution to the conservation of the wider steppe ecosystem and its many threatened species. Highly adapted to the harsh climate conditions of the semi-deserts, the antelope is regarded as a keystone species of the steppe ecosystem. Its cyclic grazing of vast steppe regions maintains vegetation compositions and structure and thus habitat conditions for a multitude of steppe breeding birds. Further, the antelope serves as an important prey base for several raptor species.By enhancing ecological and socio-economic understanding of the Ustyurt, fostering public policy development, and strengthening institutional capacity to address the social, cultural and economic drivers that threaten species and ecosystem health, this project will improve the conservation management and ultimately the health and condition of the Ustyurt landscape and its species. Further, the project will provide opportunities for local communities to develop alternative livelihoods, and support and guidance to extractive industries to integrate conservation into their operations, meeting their legal and moral obligations.
U.S. Efforts to Combat Wildlife Trafficking and Promote ConservationFact Sheet Office of the SpokespersonWashington, DCNovember 8, 2012Strategy to Combat Wildlife TraffickingThe United States is working with the international community to combat the illegal trade in wildlife and promote conservation through a four pillar strategy, which includes diplomatic outreach, public diplomacy, training, and partnerships. The United States’ efforts with foreign governments, international organizations, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and the private sector seek to reduce demand and strengthen wildlife and marine conservation, as well as related enforcement and institutional capabilities.Diplomatic OutreachThe United States engages both bilaterally and multilaterally to raise the profile of the growing wildlife trafficking challenge and to focus on the nexus between this criminal activity and global conservation, security, health, and economic development. The United States joined with leaders at the 2012 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum to issue a joint statement on wildlife trafficking. The United States is augmenting existing efforts in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) , as well as promoting practical application of the UN Convention against Corruption and the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime to combat wildlife trafficking. We also work with INTERPOL, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the World Customs Organization, and the World Bank in the fight against wildlife crime.Public DiplomacyThe United States has funded public service announcements and other public awareness activities to reduce demand for illegal wildlife products, such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) “Buyer Beware” exhibit at Logan International Airport. In spring 2013, the State Department will host a group of African national park and wildlife officials, field agents, and NGO leaders as part of an International Visitor Leadership Program exchange that will serve as a means to share best practices and lessons learned. Senior State Department officials, including Under Secretary Hormats, Under Secretary Sonenshine, and Assistant Secretary Jones, have mobilized social media and engaged online audiences on wildlife and marine conservation and the growing wildlife trafficking threat.Training, Technology, and Law EnforcementThe U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service provides $10 million annually for wildlife protection throughout Africa and Asia targeting elephants, rhinos, great apes, and marine turtles. Funds are used to prevent poaching and to improve investigation and prosecution of wildlife crimes. USFWS spends an additional $2 million each year on capacity building through the Wildlife Without Borders program. Southeast Asian wildlife authorities receive training as part of USAID’s five-year, $8 million Asia’s Regional Response to Endangered Species Trafficking (ARREST) program. United States support for the World Bank’s Global Tiger Initiative and INTERPOL’s Project PREDATOR in tiger range countries has trained wildlife authorities, helped develop tiger conservation action plans, and enhanced law enforcement capabilities. The State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs supports the International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) program – providing law enforcement training to strengthen wildlife crime investigations at ILEAs in Bangkok and Gaborone. The Department of Justice and the USFWS work with international law enforcement partners – including the INTERPOL Wildlife Crime Working Group – to provide training for investigating and prosecuting wildlife crimes. The USFWS Office of Law Enforcement and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration work in partnership with the Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute wildlife trafficking cases. The USFWS also analyzes and shares intelligence on wildlife trafficking with global counterparts and provides state-of-the-art forensic support for wildlife crime investigations.PartnershipsThe United States is working to establish a Global System of Regional Wildlife Enforcement Networks (WENs) to improve communication and strengthen response actions. Building on existing WENs in Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Central America, we are working with partners to support the creation of new WENs in Central Africa, the Horn of Africa, and Central and West Asia. USAID has invested $17 million since 2005 to support ASEAN-WEN’s and South Asia WEN’s efforts to combat illegal wildlife trafficking through the initial ASEAN-WEN Support Program, the current ARREST Program, and INTERPOL’s Project PREDATOR. The United States has provided more than $7 million since 2005 to support wildlife conservation in Central America and the Dominican Republic, including funding for the Central American Wildlife Enforcement Network (CAWEN). We work bilaterally and through Regional Fisheries Management Organizations to enhance the capacity of developing coastal States’ abilities to prevent the illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing that undermines sustainable development and food security. We support the expansion and strengthening of existing partnerships, such as the Coalition Against Wildlife Trafficking (CAWT), to engage governments, civil society, and the private sector to combat wildlife crime. We are working with the transportation industry, NGO’s, and relevant organizations to develop best practices to prevent the illegal transport of wildlife and wildlife products. The Smithsonian Institution works with partners on programs including biological research, wildlife health and disease, community engagement in conservation, and endangered wildlife translocation.
Remarks at the Partnership Meeting on Wildlife TraffickingRemarks Hillary Rodham ClintonSecretary of StateBenjamin Franklin RoomWashington, DCNovember 8, 2012The video below is available with closed captioning on YouTubeThank you very much. Thank you. Thank you all very much. Well, it’s a great delight to see all of you here. And as I look out on this audience, I see many familiar faces from the diplomatic community. And I especially thank each and every one of you for being here on this important issue.Congressman Moran, thank you for joining us today. I’d also like to welcome Deputy Administrator Steinberg from USAID, Naoko Ishii of the Global Environmental Facility. Thanks to Under Secretary Bob Hormats for his commitment to this issue, along with Under Secretary Maria Otero and Under Secretary Tara Sonenshine and Assistant Secretary Kerri-Ann Jones, and many others here in the State Department, and particularly all of you from the conservation and wildlife community and the private sector who have been involved in this issue for many years and have done extraordinary work. Unfortunately, we now find ourselves with all of that positive effort that started 30, 40 years ago being affected by changes that we have to address at every level of the international community.Now, some of you might be wondering why a Secretary of State is keynoting an event about wildlife trafficking and conservation, or why we are hosting this event at the State Department in the first place. Well, I think it’s because, as Bob Hormats has just pointed out, and as the public service announcements reinforce, over the past few years wildlife trafficking has become more organized, more lucrative, more widespread, and more dangerous than ever before.As the middle class grows, which we all welcome and support, in many nations items like ivory or rhinoceros horn become symbols of wealth and social status. And so the demand for these goods rises. By some estimates, the black market in wildlife is rivaled in size only by trade in illegal arms and drugs. Today, ivory sells for nearly $1,000 per pound. Rhino horns are literally worth their weight in gold, $30,000 per pound.What’s more, we are increasingly seeing wildlife trafficking has serious implications for the security and prosperity of people around the world. Local populations that depend on wildlife, either for tourism or sustenance, are finding it harder and harder to maintain their livelihoods. Diseases are spreading to new corners of the globe through wildlife that is not properly inspected at border crossings. Park rangers are being killed. And we have good reason to believe that rebel militias are players in a worldwide ivory market worth millions and millions of dollars a year.So yes, I think many of us are here because protecting wildlife is a matter of protecting our planet’s natural beauty. We see it’s a stewardship responsibility for us and this generation and future generations to come. But it is also a national security issue, a public health issue, and an economic security issue that is critical to each and every country represented here.We all, unfortunately, contribute to the continued demand for illegal animal goods. Wildlife might be targeted and killed across Asia and Africa, but their furs, tusks, bones, and horns are sold all over the world. Smuggled goods from poached animals find their way to Europe, Australia, China, and the United States. I regret to say the United States is the second-largest destination market for illegally trafficked wildlife in the world. And that is something we are going to address.Now, several conservation groups are here with us today, and we greatly appreciate their invaluable work. But the truth is they cannot solve this problem alone. None of us can. This is a global challenge that spans continents and crosses oceans, and we need to address it with partnerships that are as robust and far-reaching as the criminal networks we seek to dismantle.Therefore, we need governments, civil society, businesses, scientists, and activists to come together to educate people about the harms of wildlife trafficking. We need law enforcement personnel to prevent poachers from preying on wildlife. We need trade experts to track the movement of goods and help enforce existing trade laws. We need finance experts to study and help undermine the black markets that deal in wildlife. And most importantly, perhaps, we need to reach individuals, to convince them to make the right choices about the goods they purchase.Now, there’s no quick fix, but by working closely, internationally, with all of these partners, we can take important steps to protect wildlife in their environments and begin to dry up the demand for trafficked goods. So with these goals in mind, the State Department is pursuing a four-part strategy.First, on the diplomatic front, we are working with leaders from around the world to develop a global consensus on wildlife protection. I spoke with President Putin, Ambassador, when we were together at the APEC summit in Vladivostok. He has been a staunch, vocal, public supporter of Russian wildlife. And I think it’s fair to say his personal efforts over the last years have made the lives of tigers in Russia much safer. There’s still poaching, but at least there is a commitment from the highest level of the Russian Government to protect the wildlife of Russia. In fact, when I was in Vladivostok, there were posters everywhere with tigers on the pictures on the lampposts and walls and everywhere we looked, reminding people that this was an important issue to Russia and the Russian Government. And I worked – I had the great privilege of working with President Putin and the other leaders there to make sure that the leaders’ statement that was issued included, for the first time ever, strong language on wildlife trafficking.Now, Undersecretaries Bob Hormats and Maria Otero have met with African and Asian leaders to discuss the immediate actions needed to thwart poachers. Next week, President Obama and I will personally bring this message to our partners in ASEAN and the East Asia Summit when we meet in Phnom Penh.We are also pressing forward with efforts to protect marine life. And last week, we joined forces with New Zealand to propose the world’s largest marine protected area, the Ross Sea region of Antarctica. And we hope to gain support from the international community as this important proposal moves forward.We’re strengthening our ability to engage diplomatically on these and other scientific issues. Building scientific partnerships is an important tool in addressing such global challenges. That’s why I’m pleased to announce our three new science envoys, Dr. Bernard Amadei of the University of Colorado, the founder of Engineers Without Borders; Dr. Susan Hockfield, the former president and currently faculty member of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; and renowned evolutionary biologist Dr. Barbara Schaal of Washington University in St. Louis. Are these three scientists with us today? Are they? Okay. But I think it’s working to create a scientific consensus and very preeminent scientists from across the world speaking out that is one of the important steps that we are urging partners to join with us in doing.Secondly, we are reaching beyond governments to enlist the support of people. As part of this effort, Under Secretary Tara Sonenshine, our Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy, is spearheading a global outreach campaign which we will launch December 4th on Wildlife Conservation Day. Our embassies will use every tool at their disposal to raise awareness about this issue, from honoring local activists, to spreading the word on Facebook and Twitter. We want to make buying goods, products from trafficked wildlife, endangered species unacceptable, socially unacceptable. We want friends to tell friends they don’t want friends who ingest, display, or otherwise use products that come from endangered species anywhere in the world.Third, we’re launching new initiatives to strengthen and expand enforcement areas. USAID has already provided more than $24 million over the past five years on a range of programs that combat wildlife crimes. Last year, they launched the ARREST program, which is establishing regional centers of expertise and expanding training programs for law enforcement. We really want to work with all of you, and we want both from countries that are victimized by trafficking to countries where consumers are the end-buyers of such products.Finally, this is a global issue, and it calls, therefore, for a concerted global response. So I hope every government and organization here today will join the Coalition Against Wildlife Trafficking. That is the global partnership for sharing information on poachers and illicit traders. We’ll also be convening meetings with traditional stakeholders like NGOs and governments and with less traditional stakeholders like air and cruise line companies to discuss new potential partnerships.Some of the most successful initiatives we’ve seen so far are the regional wildlife enforcement networks. These networks are critical to strengthening protection efforts and enhancing cooperation among key countries. To build on these efforts, today I’m calling for the creation of a global system of regional wildlife enforcement networks to take advantage of those networks that already are operating and the lessons we have learned from them. The sooner we get this off the ground, the better, and to that end, the State Department is pledging $100,000 to help get this new global system up and running.I want to mention one last step we’re taking. Trafficking relies on porous borders, corrupt officials, and strong networks of organized crime, all of which undermine our mutual security. I’m asking the intelligence community to produce an assessment of the impact of large-scale wildlife trafficking on our security interests so we can fully understand what we’re up against. When I was in Africa last summer, I was quite alarmed by the level of anxiety I heard from leaders. It is one thing to be worried about the traditional poachers who come in and kill and take a few animals, a few tusks, a few horns, or other animal parts. It’s something else when you’ve got helicopters, night vision goggles, automatic weapons, which pose a threat to human life as well as wildlife. Local communities are becoming terrified. Local leaders are telling their national leaders that they can lose control of large swaths of territory to these criminal gangs. Where criminal gangs can come and go at their total discretion, we know that begins to provide safe havens for other sorts of threats to people and governments.So I think we have to look at this in a comprehensive, holistic way. And there’s something for everybody. If you love animals, if you want to see a more secure world, if you want our economy not to be corrupted globally by this kind of illicit behavior, there is so much we can do together. After all, the world’s wildlife, both on land and in our waters, is such a precious resource, but it is also a limited one. It cannot be manufactured. And once it’s gone, it cannot be replenished. And those who profit from it illegally are not just undermining our borders and our economies. They are truly stealing from the next generation. So we have to work together to stop them and ensure a sustainable future for our wildlife, the people who live with them, and the people who appreciate them everywhere.So let me thank you all for being here. I really appreciate the turnout, and it means a great deal and the fact that so many ambassadors are here representing their countries – and I particularly want to thank our colleagues, the Ambassador of Kenya, the Ambassador from Indonesia, for taking a leading role in this effort. We want to hear your ideas. These are our ideas, but we really are soliciting your ideas – what works, what can we do better, how can we make a difference. Let’s put the poachers out of business and build a more secure and prosperous world for all of us, and particularly for children generations to come.Thank you, all. (Applause.)