Mongolia unites to combat new threats to snow leopards
Recently, after nearly a 20-year hiatus, the community dedicated to the protection of snow leopards in Mongolia gathered again to discuss the current threats to these rare animals. The global situation has changed, and therefore it is necessary to adapt approaches to their conservation.
On September 5, a National Forum on Snow Leopard Conservation was held in the capital of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar. This significant event was organized by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, as well as WCS Mongolia and the Snow Leopard Conservation Fund (SLCF). The forum was attended by more than 130 representatives, including experts from eleven countries where snow leopards reside. During the forum, the need to improve coordination of conservation efforts for this species was emphasized, taking into account the achievements made since the last meeting in 2008.
“In the last 4-5 years, incidents of conflict between snow leopards and livestock have increased, and there is also a rise in unregulated tourism in the habitats of these cats,” noted Purevzhav (Puuji) Lkhagvajav, Executive Director of SLCF Mongolia. “The organization of this forum was driven by the need to bring together organizations involved in snow leopard conservation and representatives of the Ministry to discuss current policy issues.”
Mongolia occupies a key position in the conservation of snow leopards, as its population ranks second only to China.
However, the threats faced by snow leopards today are significantly different from those two decades ago. Linear infrastructure, including new ambitious railway projects, poses a serious danger. The railway connecting the east and west of the country and the continuation of the line from north to south may affect vital snow leopard territories. Particularly concerning is the fact that new infrastructure projects may disrupt habitat corridors, exacerbating the situation due to the low genetic diversity of these animals.
The forum also discussed less obvious but important issues related to the coordination of extensive data on snow leopards currently being collected across Mongolia.
Two decades ago, information about snow leopards was extremely limited, and scientists were just beginning to study their ecological needs. Thanks to the accumulated knowledge about the behavior and ecology of these animals, including their habitats and dietary preferences, significant conservation steps have been taken, particularly the protection of about 900,000 hectares of habitat in the southern Gobi.
Nevertheless, successful conservation measures have presented snow leopard advocates with a new challenge: research and monitoring are now conducted by different organizations without centralized coordination. The forum served as a platform for developing a common vision for the future and coordinating conservation efforts for this species, which will require the collaboration of all stakeholders.
Three working group sessions were held during the forum, discussing topics such as “National Coordination of Monitoring and Research,” “Community-Level Conservation and Unregulated Tourism,” and “Impact of Linear Infrastructure and Wildlife Corridors.” Participants developed specific plans to strengthen existing national monitoring systems and identify key corridors for conservation.
The forum concluded with the launch of a national network for snow leopard conservation, which will define unified directions for future actions. This new structure will coordinate all research and conservation activities, ensuring that decisions made are based on reliable scientific data.
Tatar S.Maidar
source: MiddleAsianNews
