Webinar – Page 6 – Snow Leopard Network

Country Update: Snow Leopard Conservation in Wakhan, Afghanistan

SLN is pleased to welcome the WCS Afghanistan team for this special Country Update. The Wakhan Corridor is a narrow strip of isolated high mountain terrain in the far northeast of Afghanistan. The landscape is situated in the western part of the snow leopard range, linking with Pakistan, Tajikistan and China. WCS in close partnership with the government of Afghanistan, has collated critical information about snow leopards in Wakhan through camera trapping and collaring. It also continues implement with district authorities varied community-based conservation action in this extremely remote part of the country.

Do welcome Mr. Sorosh Poya Faryabi and Dr. Eve Bohnett and join us to listen to this very interesting presentation and discussion.

Camera trap photo of a female snow leopard with her two grown-up cubs in Ween Sar, Shikargah Valley, Wakhan National Park, Badakhshan Province, June 2020, ©WCS, UNDP-GEF and EU project

About the talk

This webinar provides an overview of recent snow leopard conservation efforts in the Wakhan National Park (WNP), a 10,950km² GSLEP designated ‘priority landscape’ in Afghanistan. The National Park is situated at the junction of the Pamir, Hindu Kush and Karakoram mountain ranges. WNP is co-managed by communities and the national government as an IUCN Category VI protected area. Since 2006 it has received contributions from numerous bilateral donors for conservation actions undertaken by the government, with the technical support of WCS. This region hosts the core of the snow leopard population in Afghanistan.

Mr. Sorosh Poya Faryabi, Conservation and Science Manager for WCS Afghanistan, will provide an update on the status of snow leopards in the country. This will start off with the history of WCS engagement in snow leopard conservation in the country, followed by an overview of conservation efforts to protect snow leopards in WNP. Dr. Eve Bohnett will describe the population assessment approach and associated challenges the team has experienced in identifying snow leopard individuals with artificial intelligence in the Wakhan. Finally, the presenters will look ahead and share ideas for the future development for snow leopard monitoring in the country.

This presentation is a tribute to the People of Wakhan who provide snow leopards a safe haven in their area.

Predator Proofing household corrals windows and doors Ftur and Kushnikhan villages of Wakhan National Park, Wakhan National Park, Badakhshan Province, September 2020, ©Amruddin Sanjer, UNDP-GEF and EU project

Snow leopard ranger team practicing data collection on the SMART mobile CyberTracker app, Wakhan, Badakhshan province, 26th November 2020, © Ali Madad Rajabi, UNDP-GEF Project.

About our Guests

Mr. Sorosh Poya-Faryabi joined WCS Afghanistan as Training Education and Outreach Adviser (2013- 2015) and was then promoted to the position of Conservation and Science Manager (2017). In this role, Sorosh oversees the overall implementation of conservation science actions for WCS in Afghanistan and particularly in the Wakhan National Park, which hosts the core population of snow leopards in the country. Before joining WCS, Sorosh worked as a programme officer at the Asia Foundation and was a member of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative. Sorosh received a M.Eng from the University of York in 2008 and a MPhil in conservation from the University of Cambridge in 2016.

Dr. Eve Bohnett is currently a contractor with WCS Afghanistan and a postdoctoral research fellow at San Diego State University, USA. Her interests include statistical ecology, teaching data science skills, conservation planning, and environmental governance. Eve received her Ph.D. from the University of Florida (2016-2020). Her dissertation research focused on spatio-temporal modelling for assessing landscape biodiversity and species distributions for birds and mammals using occupancy modelling and machine learning. Eve also received a M.Sc. from Wildlife Institute at Beijing Forestry University (2012-2015) while participating in research for wild felid and large mammal survey methods, mostly camera trapping study design and analysis. Her favourite hobbies are singing/song writing, studying Chinese, and traveling to pilgrimage places.

Participatory management planning: Wakhan district governor discussing the Wakhan National Parks management plan with Kyrgyz community in Siki village of Little Pamir, , Wakhan National Park, Badakhshan Province, August 2020, © Abdul Akbari, UNDP-GEF and EU Project.

Date/Time:Tuesday, 30th March, 2021; 17:00 Afghanistan Time (AFT)

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.

Counting a flock of sheep and goats in Big Pamir, Wakhan National Park, Badakhshan Province, September 2020, © Ali Madad Rajabi, UNDP-GEF and EU Project.

Module 10: Conservation Communication

The Snow Leopard Network (SLN) and Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Program (GSLEP) are pleased to launch a Snow Leopard Conservation Communication Module. This module seeks to bring together resource persons from around the snow leopard range and wider world, to discuss approaches for communications regarding the conservation of snow leopards. The focus in this instance will be on effective communications with decision makers, journalists, donors and the general public.

About the module

Communications may mean different things to different people. In the introductory session, we will to start by encouraging you to ask yourself some of the fundamental questions about communication: What are you trying to achieve, who are you trying to reach and why, and what you would like your audience to do as a result of your attempt at communicating.

We will then share knowledge and stimulate conversations about various communications strategies and techniques; i.e.,discuss how to identify and reach your target audiences and how to maximise the communications channels that are available to you; raise questions about ethics and talk about messaging and storytelling.

Some of the questions we hope to discuss during the module include: how can we use communications to inspire action? How do we use images effectively and ethically? How do we ensure that the language we use is inclusive and empowering? How do we shift narratives about conservation from problems to solutions, (and why is this shift important)? How do we report back to donors and funding partners in a way that inspires them to continue their support? We are also keen to make this module as useful as possible – so please share your priorities when you sign up for the module and we will try to accommodate them to the best of our abilities.

This Module is aimed at practitioners working in the field of communicating conservation. We hope that the sessions will be interactive and draw upon participants’ experiences and ideas. It will also help shape future thinking and practice around communication for conservation. The Snow Leopard Network is partnering with GSLEP to offer this module and hopes to use the outcomes as a foundation for future initiatives.

Outline Schedule

Session 1: Introduction to Communications – what, why, how, to whom?

Session 2: The Photographic Image, Ethics & Storytelling

Session 3: Communications & Advocacy

Session 4: Communicating solutions & towards a toolkit

Meet the Resource Team

Behzad Larry is the CEO of Voygr Expeditions and a founding member of the High Asia Habitat Fund. An avid explorer, Behzad specializes in documenting the remote reaches of the world. He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers) and a Fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society.

Dr. Bermet Tursunkulova is the Director of Development and Associate Professor in Political Science at the American University in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic. She is also a part-time PR and Fundraising Consultant for SLT/SLKF. She holds a PhD in Political Science, she is a former Advisor to the Prime-Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic.

Julia Migne is the Director of Conservation Optimism, a global community dedicated to sharing stories and resources to empower people from all backgrounds to make a positive impact for wildlife and nature. She specialises in science communication and outreach and loves sharing conservation success stories. Julia is also the co-founder of the international media platform INKLINE.

Dr. Koustubh Sharma is the International Coordinator of the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Program and a Senior Regional Ecologist with the Snow Leopard Trust. He holds a PhD in Wildlife Zoology from Mumbai University, and a Masters degree in Physics. He is particularly passionate about communicating science and conservation with the public.

Matthias Fiechter is a Media & Communications Officer at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), where he works primarily with news and science journalists to get nature conservation stories covered in the press. Before, Matt worked for 7 years as the Communications Manager at Snow Leopard Trust, where he produced communications content for audiences including donors, supporters and partners.

Prasenjeet Yadav is a molecular ecologist turned National Geographic Photographer focusing on wildlife and science stories. Early in his scientific career, he realized that his real passion lay in storytelling. He now combines his experience in research with his photography skills to popularize ecological and conservation sciences in the wider society. He is currently working on a story for National Geographic Magazine in Indian Himalayas.

This module will be supported by SLN and GSLEP’s Justine Shanti Alexander, Ranjini Murali and Rakhee Karumbaya.

Criteria for participation

Snow Leopard Network Members
Non Snow Leopard Network Members are also encouraged to apply
Confirmed availability to attend all the four online seminars of a given module
Number of participants is limited to 20-30

Planned Schedule

2 hour online Zoom Seminars take place every Wednesday of the month, April 2021 (4 Seminars; March 31st, April 7th, 14th, 21st 2021) at 14:00- 16:00 Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan time
Please note we encourage participants to attend the complete set of Seminars as they are interconnected and build on each other
Please note that all sessions will be recorded and later featured on the SLN website. If you have concerns about this please let us know.

Applications

Applications close Wednesday, March 24th, 2021.
Please note places are limited so please do not delay in applying.
Applications Closed

Snow leopards in Nepal: Satellite Telemetry Update

This webinar shares the latest preliminary findings on collared snow leopards in Nepal. SLN aims to continue to highlight the multiple approaches teams across the range are using to study and conserve snow leopard populations. Nepal was the first country to conduct telemetry work on snow leopards back in early 1980s. This Country Update captures how telemetry continues to be used in the country, now using GPS technology. Our speakers also highlight how telemetry results are being linked to community knowledge and conservation action on the ground.

SLN welcomes Samundra Subba and Sheren Shrestha from WWF Nepal in this further update from teams working in Nepal. Orjan Johansson – SLN Steering Committee member and also a specialist on snow leopard collaring- will be joining us as facilitator. Do join us for this interesting Webinar and the discussion that follows- your views will enrich the session!

About the talks

Ensuring the long term viability of snow leopards (Panthera uncia) across large human dominated landscapes requires an understanding of its spatial ecology and movement behavior. In the first section of the talk, Samundra Subba will present preliminary findings of the first ever GPS telemetry study by the Nepal government in the western and eastern snow leopard landscapes, and supported by WWF. The speakers will give insights into what was found regarding the snow leopard’s spatial range and movement patterns, including transboundary travel to India and China.

In a second section, Sheren Shrestha will describe how the collaring research is blended with community knowlege to strengthen conservation efforts. While modern science and technology has helped us understand the elusive snow leopards better, many conservation solutions find basis in traditional and community knowledge. Sheren will furthermore outline how their project supports the Nepal government to find solutions that benefit both snow leopards and communities in the Himalayas, with focus on Shey Phoksundo National Park in western Nepal.

About our speakers

Samundra Subba is currently working as a Research Officer at WWF Nepal. He has a Master’s degree in Conservation Biology from Lund University, Sweden, and has been working in Nepalese landscape researching and conserving large carnivores – snow leopard and tiger, over the past eight years. During his tenure with WWF, Samundra has supported numerous research interventions on these carnivores, including satellite telemetry of snow leopards in east and west Nepal.

Sheren Shrestha is Senior Program Officer with the Wildlife Programs of WWF Nepal. He has managed the snow leopard conservation program for WWF Nepal since 2016. He has a post-graduate degree in Environmental Sciences, and has previously worked with two premier wildlife organizations in India. His special interest includes human-wildlife conflict management focusing on strengthening community awareness and mobilization. He enjoys writing, traveling, photography, singing-songwriting and making video documentaries on conservation and social issues.

Date/Time: March 17th 2021; 6:30 PM Kathmandu, Nepal

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 Webinar.
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.

Snow leopard & Tibetan brown bear conservation and research

In this first webinar of 2021 we travel to the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau with a young team of researchers who are looking at snow leopard conservation from a wider perspective- and considering other large mammals. We are pleased to welcome Charlotte Hacker and Dr. Yunchuan Dai who discuss Tibetan brown bear and snow leopard research and conservation in China. Our speakers give a particular focus to how these carnivores co-exist with humans and varying land use patterns- highlight key conservation messages and learnings.

SLN Webinar: Snow leopard & Tibetan brown bear conservation and research

We are happy to welcome you to our first SLN Webinar for 2021. In 2020 we launched the Webinar series with updates from the range and new directions in snow leopard research and conservation. In 2021 we continue to welcome organisations working on different aspects of snow leopard conservation and individuals at different stages of their career. We also would like to widen the scope of the webinars to feature the diversity of contributors to snow leopard conservation, including community members, young researchers and policy makers. In this first webinar we will travel to the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau with a young team of researchers who are looking at snow leopard conservation from a wider perspective- and considering other large mammals.

We are pleased to welcome Charlotte Hacker and Dr. Yunchuan Dai who will discuss Tibetan brown bear and snow leopard research and conservation in China. Our speakers will give a particular focus to how these carnivores co-exist with humans and varying land use patterns- highlight key conservation messages and learnings.

About the talk

Conflicts between predators and humans are multifaceted and complex, and
remain a large conservation challenge in snow leopard habitat. This talk, led by Charlotte Hacker and Dr. Yunchuan Dai, will focus on their research efforts aimed at better understanding these conflicts, with a focus on the snow leopard and Tibetan brown bear. The webinar will cover the application of how multiple scientific approaches, including molecular diet analysis, social science, and habitat modeling, are used to gain knowledge surrounding livestock loss, how attitudes towards carnivores are shaped, effective mitigation options, and areas of high conflict risk. The presentation will also highlight how these projects were supported by collaborations between organisations.

About our Speakers

Charlotte Hacker is a PhD candidate at Duquesne University and research associate with the Snow Leopard Conservancy. Her work surrounds the use of noninvasive genetic approaches to better understand the population status, genetic structure, and diet of predators, with a focus on snow leopards. Her research aims to build upon current knowledge of snow leopard ecology, taxonomy, and coexistence with humans.

Yunchuan Dai PhD, graduated from the Chinese Academy of Forestry. Currently, he is working as an Associate Research Scientist at the Institute for Ecology and Environmental Resources, Chongqing Academy of Social Sciences. His work surrounds the use of social interviews, ecological modeling and genetic approaches to better understand negative human-wildlife interactions, with a focus on Tibetan brown bears in the Sanjiangyuan region. His research aims to explore the drivers of human-bear conflicts and to propose mitigation measures and protection countermeasures based on the probable drivers and spatial risk to promote peaceful coexistence between herders and brown bears.

Date/Time: Thursday, February 25th, 2021; 8AM EST; 9PM Beijing 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.

How the Tost mountains, Mongolia became a protected haven for snow leopards

This is a story of protecting the Tost Mountains from being given away under mining licenses. The story had a number of chapters and it’s share of hopes and disappointments. After a long campaign of over 7 years that included research, advocacy and political mobilization a set of mining licenses were finally revoked and Tost was designated as a Nature Reserve for snow leopards in 2018.

Bayara Agvantsaaren, the Snow Leopard Conservation Foundation Director starts by talking about the setting. She then shares a first hand account of how snow leopards face a number of emerging threats in Mongolia- in a context of economic needs that continue to pressurize the modern world. Bayara gives us an inside view of her team’s experience in accomplishing this extraordinary achievement in a very challenging setting, drawing on the support and involvement of local people and media. Dr. Charudutt Mishra, the Executive Director of the Snow Leopard Trust, joins us as discussant. He brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and thinking about how snow leopard conservation and development can go hand in hand while addressing emerging threats to snow leopards such as mining.

The timing of breeding and independence for snow leopard females and their cubs

This talk is a continuation of our series entitled “Snow Leopard Conversations”. The series aims to showcase the latest science and research related to snow leopards. Dr. Orjan Johannson presents the recent paper entitled “The timing of breeding and independence for snow leopard females and their cubs.” Our SLN Committee Member – Dr. Sandro Lovari – facilitates the session. The full article can be accessed through the following link.

Using a genetic lens to understand endangered species

We are delighted to welcome Dr. Uma Ramakrishnan for this thematic discussion on how genetics can be brought to bear more effectively on specific aspects of snow leopard conservation. Dr. Uma Ramakrishnan starts by exploring the reasons species go extinct, and describes how genetic methods and data can inform our understanding of species’ futures. Uma gives some examples of her work with tigers, and summarise their knowledge on snow leopard conservation genetics, including work to estimate snow leopard population size. Finally, she describes ongoing efforts (in collaboration with scientists at Stanford University) to understand more about snow leopards globally and locally. Dr. Byron Weckworth, Director of Panthera’s Snow Leopard and Conservation Genetic programs, joins us as principal discussant.

Snow leopard research and conservation in the Russian Federation

Russia is host to a unique snow leopard population found at the most northern latitudes of the range, in areas largely bordering Mongolia. The county is at the same time estimated to hold 2% of the global snow leopard population. During the Webinar our guests- Alexander Karnaukhov and Tatiana Ivanitskaya– share insights into WWF-Russia’s snow leopard conservation program of the Altai-Sayan Eco-region. They describe the main threat to the snow leopard in Russia– which is considered to be snaring. Poaching of other species, such as musk deer, with metal wire snares threatens the snow leopard. The team showcase a range of tools and techniques to monitor snow leopard populations in the area. They also share with us insights into WWF-Russia’s conservation and communication strategy.

The global status of snow leopard threats and opportunities for conservation

Our SLN Steering Committee member – Dr. Juan Li – gives a brief overview presentation on the global status of snow leopard threats and opportunities for conservation. Dr. Juan Li has been a leading figure in carrying out global assessments of snow leopard responses to climate change, predicting global distributions and identifying key geographic areas for conservation priority. This will set the scene for highlighting the need for continued global collaborations in snow leopard conservation.

We then showcase how SLN is working towards contributing to global conservation efforts and supporting GSLEP efforts. Dr. Koustubh Sharma from the GSLEP Program and key members of SLN’s Steering Committee also join us to highlight the SLN-GSLEP partnership.