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International Conference "Study and conservation of the snow leopard in the world. Joining forces"
International Conference "Study and conservation of the snow leopard in the world. Joining forces"
International Conference "Study and conservation of the snow leopard in the world. Joining Forces" was held in Kazan on March 13−15. The event was organized by the Interregional Association "Center for the Study and Conservation of the Snow Leopard "Irbis", the Government of the Republic of Tatarstan and the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia. The conservation of the snow leopard in Russia is one of the main goals of the national Environmental Well-being project.
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An international meeting of experts from all 12 countries of the snow leopard range allowed us to see the overall picture of how the snow leopard is preserved on the planet. Threats and conditions are similar in many ways, as well as ways to preserve the species. I am sure that new knowledge and the opportunity to learn the invaluable experience of each country, cooperation agreements and real work plans are a chance to improve the protection of a rare predator around the world. I am glad that Russia has become the country that has provided this opportunity to international specialists. Only by bringing together decision makers, businesses, and society can we give snow leopards a chance.
For the first time in the environmental history of the Russian Federation, representatives of all states of the snow leopard range came to our country to exchange experiences and discuss plans to preserve the global population of this rare predator. During the conference, scientists from Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan presented information on the status of snow leopard groups.
Over the course of two days, the conference hosted a plenary session, 2 strategic sessions, and 4 working sessions. Following the results of the event, the participants adopted a resolution on the conservation of the snow leopard in the world, called Kazan.
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Snow leopard specialists had a great opportunity to communicate live with their foreign colleagues. The conference platform allowed us to exchange experiences, gain new acquaintances, expand the horizons of mutual cooperation, and arrange internships. This large-scale event in the field of snow leopard research and conservation will help promote Russia’s image and position in the international environmental agenda. Thus, Kazan became the starting point for the emergence of productive cooperation, close work and frequent meetings.
Among the main factors affecting the number of snow leopards in the world today, the participants mentioned poaching, lack of food supply due to uncontrolled hunting of wild ungulates, as well as the development of cattle breeding, which reduces the habitat of the snow leopard.
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In the early 90s, during the collapse of socialism, poaching increased dramatically, and people lived very poorly. But since 2005, people’s standard of living has increased, and poaching has almost disappeared. Currently, the main problem for the snow leopard in Mongolia is the increased number of livestock, which is why there is a shortage of pastures. If in 1991 there were 28 million heads, now there are more than 70 million. Shepherds climb higher into the mountains and enter the snow leopard’s habitat, displacing the wild ibex living there, which is the snow leopard’s food base.
The most important role in the conservation of the snow leopard belongs to specially protected natural territories, the total area of which in Russia is 244 million hectares, of which more than 5.5 million hectares are in the range of the snow leopard.
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Together with colleagues from other regions, we are conducting surveys to get the total number of snow leopards in the country, and we are organizing environmental awareness events. Thanks to 200 camera traps, from which we constantly capture data, it is possible to conduct continuous monitoring. During the winter periods, when the activity of poachers increases, we strengthen the protection of the territory.
During the conference, experts paid great attention to the issue of reintroduction of the snow leopard — the replenishment of wild groups with animals born in captivity and prepared for life in their natural habitat. It is the scientifically based reintroduction of the snow leopard that is one of the main goals of the new Snow Leopard Biological Diversity Conservation Center, which was built in the Altai Republic on behalf of the President of the Republic of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov.
Three snow leopards from the Kyrgyz Republic have already been brought to the Center to create a parent stock, and animals from Mongolia are expected. The project is being implemented with the support of Tatneft and the scientific support of the A. N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
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The leopard on the coat of arms of Tatarstan embodies universal human and moral values such as kindness, justice, well-being of citizens, friendship between peoples, and also reminds of the need to protect our cultural identity.
The conference participants noted the importance of the event and actively communicated with each other both during the sessions and on the sidelines.
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We live in a difficult time, when positive information is important. Conservation of biodiversity is not just about the snow leopard. In a week, we will host the Polar Bear Universe conference, and we hold an annual falcon forum at the Eastern Economic Forum. Topics related to wildlife, specially protected natural areas, ecology and nature in general are close and understandable to everyone, because we are part of nature and depend on its quality. This is our future. And the participation of a large international community, as at this conference, gives an even greater impetus to the sustainability, growth and positioning of the Russian Federation in the world. We have a lot to tell and share. Such conferences should become annual and be held on a periodic basis.
On the sidelines of the conference, an agreement was signed on cooperation in the educational, scientific and technical fields in the field of studying, protecting and increasing the population of snow leopards for the possibility of implementing joint scientific programs based on the facilities of the Snow Leopard Research Center in the Altai Republic, as well as an agreement on cooperation between the Interregional Association "Center for the Study and Conservation of Snow Leopards "Snow Leopard" and the public volunteer movement "In the footsteps of the snow leopard".
International Conference "Study and conservation of the snow leopard in the world. Joining Forces" was held in Kazan on March 13−15. 180 people from 12 countries and 11 regions of Russia took part in it — Moscow, the Altai Republic, the Republic of Tyva, the Irkutsk Region, the Perm Territory, the Krasnoyarsk Territory, the Republic of Buryatia, the Republic of Khakassia, the Novosibirsk Region, the Rostov Region, the Republic of Tatarstan.
