FY 2014 Semi-annual Report: Conservation and Adaptation in Asia’s High Mountain Landscapes and Communities

The project aims to promote climate-smart management of high mountain landscapes and snow leopard habitat for sustainable development in specific sites. In Bhutan, preliminary planning and background work for implementing an innovative springshed restoration and water security activity was performed. The actual restoration work is scheduled to be conducted later in the summer. In Sikkim, India, WWF continued to train Himal Rakshaks (volunteer "Mountain Guardians") on wildlife and habitat monitoring techniques and established a trash recycling program in the tourist center of Lachen in North Sikkim. In Kyrgyzstan, two workshops titled "Climate Change Challenges and Livelihood Adaptation" were held at project sites to introduce local residents to climate change topics. The workshops were attended by community groups and focused on building local capacity with respect to improving sustainability of natural resource use in the context of a rapidly changing climate. Topics discussed included global and local climate change issues, potential local climate change impacts, and possible local adaptation actions. In Mongolia, findings of 1115 interviews conducted during a human-wildlife conflict survey in the western Altai-Sayan Ecoregion were analyzed. A new snow leopard distribution map for this region was also prepared. In Nepal, a snow leopard was collared with a satellite GPS tracking system, revealing the collared animal's extensive travels in the western Kangchenjunga landscape. The findings from this study will be used to improve regional conservation efforts. In Pakistan, work continued on improving wildlife protection and public awareness of conservation issues and on introducing alternative livelihood activities for residents of snow leopard range area project sites. The regional highlight of this reporting period was the successful holding of the Global Snow Leopard Conservation Forum, which was held from October 21-23, 2013 in Bishkek. The forum resulted in the unanimous adoption of the Bishkek Declaration on snow leopard conservation and the Global Snow Leopard Ecosystem and Protection Plan (GSLEP) by the 12 snow leopard range states. The project has made significant progress in promoting climate-smart management of high mountain landscapes and snow leopard habitat for sustainable development in specific sites. Local associations and NGOs have been trained to improve institutional governance and capacity on sustainable management of natural resources. Technical support has been provided for awareness-raising activities regarding sustainable natural resource management and use. Governance capacity of local community herder groups has been built to develop sustainable pasture and watershed management plans, as well as strategies to mitigate human-wildlife conflict. The project has also made progress in building local capacity with respect to improving sustainability of natural resource use in the context of a rapidly changing climate. Workshops have been held to introduce local residents to climate change topics, and photo exhibitions have been organized to educate residents about the natural wonders of the project sites. The project has also compiled the findings of a comprehensive human-wildlife conflict social survey in known snow leopard range areas of Mongolia's Altai-Sayan Ecoregion. Overall, the project has made significant progress in promoting climate-smart management of high mountain landscapes and snow leopard habitat for sustainable development in specific sites. The project has built local capacity, improved institutional governance, and promoted sustainable natural resource management and use. The project has also made progress in mitigating human-wildlife conflict and promoting conservation efforts in the region.