Join us for our upcoming webinar that highlights the importance of community-led conservation in safeguarding the snow leopard and its habitat. Through generations, local communities and indigenous people have played a crucial role in preserving the environment, and their traditional practices and knowledge can greatly contribute to the protection of natural resources and biodiversity. This webinar will delve into community-based approaches to conservation and showcase the Community Responsible Area (CRA) model being implemented in Mongolia. By exploring this model, we can explore strategies to protect threatened species such as the snow leopard while also supporting sustainable livelihoods for local people. We are thrilled to have Dr. Tserennadmid Nadia Mijiddorj as our guest speaker, sharing her invaluable insights and experiences from her work with the Snow Leopard Conservation Foundation in Mongolia. Justine Shanti Alexander, WCS – Mongolia program, will join us as our Discussant and Bayarjargal Agvaantseren, our Executive Director will be our Facilitator.
About the Talk
The upcoming webinar focuses on an innovative approach to conserving the natural resources of Mongolia and protecting its wildlife, including the elusive snow leopard. Since 2009, the Snow Leopard Conservation Foundation has been working to secure the legal rights of communities to manage their pastoral land and sustainably use its resources. This involves mapping and delineating Community Responsible Areas (CRAs) based on traditional resource use and grazing patterns. The CRAs are managed through local communities with legal entities, and their aim is to promote sustainable pasture management, secure legal land rights, and support livelihood-linked conservation activities. The webinar will showcase the progress made in implementing the CRA approach across Mongolia and share inspiring community stories that demonstrate the approach’s effectiveness.
About our Guest
We are honored to have Dr. Tserennadmid Nadia Mijiddorj as our guest speaker for this upcoming webinar. Nadia has been actively engaged in snow leopard conservation projects since 2002, and her passion for ecology and the environment has been a driving force in her career. Her research interests lie in understanding how herding communities interact with mountain rangeland ecosystems, and how these interactions can inform conservation efforts in the region. In addition to her work on snow leopard conservation, Nadia recently completed her Ph.D. on the topic of “Climate change impacts on Gobi rangeland and herding communities in South Gobi Mongolia”.
About Our Discussant:
Actively involved in wildlife conservation efforts for a diverse range of species in Mongolia, Justine Shanti Alexander serves as the Country Director for WCS. With a Ph.D. from Beijing Forestry University, earned in 2015, she specialized in snow leopard conservation in Central China. Formerly, she held roles as the Senior Conservation Scientist for the Snow Leopard Trust and Executive Director of the Snow Leopard Network.
Since 2016, Justine has been contributing to conservation in Mongolia, expanding her focus beyond snow leopards to various species. Her approach involves integrating policy development, community conservation, and scientific research for effective landscape-level action. Justine emphasizes collaboration, believing in the power of partnerships to maximize impact.
About our Facilitator:
Bayarjargal Agvaantseren, Executive Director of the Snow Leopard Network. Bayara is the former Director of the Snow Leopard Conservation Foundation in Mongolia, and she currently contributes to the Snow Leopard Trust’s regional team. Bayara’s dedication to snow leopards and their conservation in the wild spans back to 1998, and her many accomplishments include – setting up community-based programs back in the early 2000s to elevating the status of protection of snow leopard habitat in the South Gobi.
Date/Time
Thursday, 07th March at 14:00pm Bishkek time
Location
ZOOM, to join this talk, REGISTER HERE
Please note
- If you have never used Zoom before, we recommend that you try the link 10 minutes before the start of the lecture.
- Please feel free to write questions in the comment area and there will be time for questions/discussion at the end of the talk.
- Please note that the session will be recorded and later featured on the SLN website. If you have concerns about this please let us know before the session.