Sustainable Management of Wildlife in Central AsiaConservation of wild animals through their sustainable use and involvement of local population and private sector into the management of hunting grounds

Background Wild animals are an indispensable element of the ecosystems of Central Asia’s mountains and steppes. Poor management, extensive poaching, habitat degradation and fragmentation have caused significant decline and partly the extinction of wildlife. In Kazakhstan until the beginning of the new millennium, the populations of the saiga antelope had been reduced by 99 percent due to poaching and illegal trade of horns for Traditional Chinese Medicine. In Kyrgyzstan, wild sheep (argali) and ibex have been over-hunted; and in Tajikistan, the civil war and its aftermath caused intensive poaching which led to a sharp reduction of the range area and population numbers of argali, ibex, urial sheep and markhor.

ObjectivesThe GIZ programme aims at the rehabilitation of populations of the saiga antelope, wild sheep and wild goats and at the improvement of local livelihoods through the introduction of sustainable management approaches, capacity development of users, area managers and governmental authorities, as well as the creation of a conducive legal and political framework. Especially in remote areas, wildlife can provide for an economical viable land-use opportunity adapted to the sensitive environment which is prone to the impacts of climate change. Assisting in the implementation of the Convention on

GIZ in Central Asia: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, TajikistanProgramme for the Sustainable Use of Natural Resources in Central Asia

Implemented by:On behalf of:

Commissioned Federal Ministry for Economic by: Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

Countries: Kasakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan

Project term: 2009-2014 (current phase 2012-2014)

Identification of a potential hunting area during a meeting with local hunters in Naryn, Kyrgyzstan

International Trade of Endemic Species (CITES) and the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) is expected to fully reveal the benefit of these multilateral agreements to conservation of wildlife species in Central Asia.

ActivitiesAt the local level the programme empowers local communities and facilitates the assignment of user rights and responsibilities in well defined areas to community based and non-governmental organisations and local enterprises. It assists in building respective technical and management capacities to sustainably manage these areas and their wildlife, and in development of skills related to monitoring and rehabilitation of the animal populations, control of poaching, as well as income generation out of non-extractive use (nature tourism) as well as extractive use (in particular hunting tourism) of the species.

Participatory development of area management plans includes the facilitation of cooperation between game managers and other land users in the same area and seeks to stimulate integrated and balanced natural resources management. At the national level, the project aims to anchor good management approaches and incentive mechanism in legislation through the provision of technical support and facilitation of active participation of all stakeholders in the political dialogue.Special attention is paid to investigations into migratory routes of saiga and argali and to the division of species into subspecies and distinctive populations in order to determine proper management units. The countries are assisted in accession to international conventions like CITES and CMS. The implementation of the agreements is supported through facilitation of cooperation between responsible actors within and between the countries. Furthermore, workshops with participants from all Central Asian countries are held to foster exchange on experiences and

ImpactsSeveral wildlife management areas which provide key habitats for parts of Central Asians wildlife populations have been successfully assigned to local organisations. The improved management of those areas has already resulted in stabilisation and rehabilitation of their wildlife populations. In Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, new hunting laws have been drafted and are at the stage of adoption. These laws will establish an enabling environment for the rehabilitation and sustainable use of wildlife populations by community based organisations and the private sector. Kyrgyzstan is in the process of accession to CMS and Tajikistan has started the accession to CITES. A joint proposal of those countries and Kazakhstan has led to the inclusion of the argali in Annex II of the CMS. The elaboration of a regional action plan on the conservation of this species has started.

ImprintDeutsche Gesellschaft fürInternationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH

Programme for the Sustainable Use of Natural Resources in Central AsiaDr. Reinhard BodemeyerDirectorPanfilova Street 150720040 BishkekKyrgyzstanT + 996 312 90 93 40E reinhard.bodemeyer@giz.deI www.giz.deI www.naturalresources-centralasia.org

Programme for the Sustainable Use of Natural Resources in Central AsiaAndré FabianPanfilova Street 150720040 BishkekKyrgyzstanT + 996 312 90 93 40E andre.fabian@giz.deI www.giz.deI www.naturalresources-centralasia.org

Pictures: © GIZ/Photo Archive of the Regional Programme

Local ranger and project staff conduct survey on saigaantelope calving success in Kazakhstan

Project involves traditional hunters from Tajikistan and Afghanistan in the conservation and

sustainable use of mountain ungulates

provide a platform for joint learning and concerted actions. The development of a transboundary action plan on conservation and sustainable use of argali under the auspices of CMS is seen as a major activity for the entire region.