| Nairobi,
Kenya – A Memorandum of Understanding for the conservation
and management of the Saiga antelope was concluded today
at the 8th meeting of the conference of the Parties to the
Convention on Migratory Species (CMS). The MOU and associated
action plan for the species covers the Central Asian populations
in Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Russia.
Saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica tatarica)
populations numbered over one million as recently as the
early 11000s, but have now been reduced to no more than
40,000. They are now recognized as endangered by the IUCN
(World Conservation Union). Their drastic decline is due
to poaching for illegal trade in horns (for Asian medicine
markets), uncontrolled hunting for meat, habitat destruction
and obstacles to migration. The primary threat is overhunting.
The agreement and action plan were
agreed to by Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan and
formally signed by Turkmenistan’s Minister of Nature Protection,
as well as by the Mongolian Minister of Environment, IUCN,
the CMS Secretariat and WWF.
“This agreement and action plan will
effectively help to protect the Saiga," said CMS
Executive Secretary Robert Hepworth.
"Restoring its habitat is a first
step to increase its scattered populations. Collaboration
between regional and international organisations, government
authorities, local communities and our NGO partners is
essential to turn today’s agreement into a real recovery
in Saiga population.”
The action plan now commits the governments
and cooperating organizations to the recovery of the species’
populations through Central Asia. An alliance of signatory
states, CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), CMS, and non-governmental
organizations including WWF, and local communities will
work together on a number of conservation efforts, including
setting up a monitoring programme. These animals undertake
seasonal migrations from summer pastures in steppe grassland
to winter pastures in desert areas. A regional conservation
plan and strategy to be implemented at an international
level will now enhance transboundary cooperation and exchange
of information.
The action plan commits governments
and partners to enhance enforcement and anti-poaching
efforts, along with public education. and work with local
communities to reduce poaching and illegal trade. Restoring
the Saiga’s habitat throughout its entire range is also
a priority of the Action Plan agreed by the governments,
including establishing new protected areas. During their
seasonal migrations they face serious obstacles such as
irrigation channels and roads.
“Urgent transboundary cooperation
is needed to ensure the conservation of this species,"
said Dr Susan Lieberman, Director of WWF's Global Species
Programme. "We applaud the action of governments
to work together to benefit both the Saiga antelope and
local communities who share its habitat.” |
