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Participatory monitoring involves local people in monitoring natural resources in their communities. It has gained popularity in recent years as a method of collecting ecological data while engaging people in conservation and increasing their awareness of ecological issues.
Effective monitoring is key to the successful conservation of natural resources. Traditionally monitoring in countries with high biodiversity and low internal capacity has been conducted by external experts. Participatory monitoring can be more efficient than externally driven monitoring and, by increasing local people’s involvement in conservation activities, encourages responsible resource use.
Main achievements: In May 2017 we collected data about the biodiversity of Vozrozhdenie Island to study its isolated saiga population and other species of animals and plants, so as to develop a justification for making Vozrozhdenie a protected area.
Main achievements: In 2016 our SCA colleagues in Uzbekistan advised the Uzbek government and helped it to reach the decision to gazette the 'Saigachy Reserve'
In December 2017 we involved Saigachy reserve rangers (7 staff) in a saiga transect survey - we trained the same rangers to use necessary field equipment (e.g. GPS, camera traps), record and collect data. The rangers, border patrol guards and SCA staff joined a field trip led by the State Ecology Committee (Goscomecology), to study the current status of the border fence (the fence was built along the border between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan in 2012, and bisected saiga migratory rotes).
Main achievements: Right across the saiga's range we are in continual contact with local government, enforcement and rangers to provide advice, training and support where we can. For example in Uzbekistan we recently held three workshops for rangers and customs officials, held an awareness campaign and produced supporting literature about the illegal wildlife trade.
umber of workshops – 3 (2 in Nukus and 1 in Tashkent)
2 follow up presentations ~200 customs people and ~200 border guards
Main achievements:
On 28th-29th August 2017, the Russian Academy of Science’s Institute of Ecology & Evolution, San Diego Zoo and the Saiga Conservation Alliance hosted a two-day workshop to exchange knowledge and develop a strategic plan regarding the role of specialist captive breeding centres in saiga conservation.
Representatives of the saiga range states – Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, China and Mongolia – participated in the meeting. The workshop was also attended by the officials from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Russia, European and American zoos, and international conservation NGOs including IFAW, WCS and WWF.
Main achievements: We have recruited an excellent collaborator in the UK, who is very keen to work with SCA colleagues to implement this research, and has a lot of experience in similar work (Dr David Roberts, University of Kent).
We have recruited two volunteers to work with us on monitoring the Russian and Chinese language websites. We have a researcher working at The University of Oxford, who in 2017 carried out a comprehensive baseline survey.
Steppe Wildlife Clubs: Steppe Wildlife Clubs have been set up in Russia, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan to inspire mainly teenage children to take an interest in the nature around them.