ApproachA long-term multi-facet project
The focus of our project is on the four mountain ungulate species found in Tajikistan – ibex, markhor, urial and Marco Polo sheep, in the context of the ecosystems inhabited by them and the socio-economic context. Central approach is the direct collaboration with the immediate users – traditional hunters, local initiatives, private conservancies and hunting concessionaires. But the project collaborates as well with scientific institutes and state nature protection and forestry agencies and thus brings together different interest groups. By involving young scientists and experts from state agencies local capacity is developed and it is hoped that in future the local partners are able to continue on their own the work started.
The project supports the development of sustainable management systems by local private organizations and local community based NGOs in pilot areas. A key issue is the support of the assignment of long term rights and responsibilities to defined users for specific areas. The project supports the capacity development of local partners, especially in protection and monitoring as well as management planning for enabling them to manage their hunting grounds and wildlife stocks in a sustainable way. With financial support by GTZ local groups and private persons managing conservancies have been provided with basic equipment for rangers.
Incomes created from wildlife through “eco”-tourism and sustainable hunting, both by hunting tourists and local people, are to become strong incentives for the protection, rehabilitation and sustainable use of the ungulate populations and the conservation of the habitats they rely on. The tourism opportunities proposed are all directly connected to model areas where the project is active:
In the Pamirs (GBAO):
In Shuroobod (Khatlon):
Tourism in the context of this project shall support the creation of local income as well as awareness for the value of intact ecosystems and wildlife. However, it is recognized that non-consumptive use, i.e. “eco”-tourism cannot provide the incomes needed to cover the expenses for the management of the conservancies. That’s why sustainable hunting tourism on the basis of quota set through monitoring of wildlife populations is considered as an important source of revenues for covering the costs of conservation management and for the support of local socio-economic development. The latter will motivate other community members to support the protection of the private and NGO-run conservancies.
The project also supports the development of a political and legal framework by provision of specific expertise and experience from tests in model areas. A round table on hunting management was organized to intensify political dialog between different stakeholders. Work on legal and regulatory framework development has been started by conducting a comprehensive analysis of the system in place. In a next step amendments and new legal documents will be discussed and their development and passing will be supported.
Further it works on the enhancement of the information available on the numbers, conditions and trends of the target species’ populations by conducting surveys in the model areas and in other key habitats of mountain ungulates. Monitoring shall consist of two elements: user-independent monitoring conducted by scientists as well as user-based monitoring conducted by the managers of distinct areas themselves. Observation data are to be systematically stored, managed, analysis and made accessible via a data management system under use of GIS (Geographic Information Systems).
The project is based on a long-term approach, started in 2008 funding is so far secured until 2011, but further continuation is envisaged.
Main project activities and first results
The project has three components, each being related to a series of activities.
- Political dialogue and legal framework
- Protection and management of mountain ungulates through participation of local users and improved management in private game management areas
- Assessment and monitoring of of mountain ungulates’ populations and habitats
First results are encouraging. Knowledge was gathered about distribution ranges, population status, formal and informal use systems and the threatening factors of mountain ungulates. This includes a survey on Marco Polo sheep and other species conducted in the key habitats of the Eastern Pamirs by the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan with logistical and scientific support by the project. Three large model areas of 50'000 to 120'000 ha are determined and the collaboration with wildlife users and initiative groups agreed. A team of young Tajik scientists from Tajik National University and Academy of Sciences is established and their capacity is continuously developing.
Most significant results are that so far three local initiatives of
informal hunters could be activated for the establishment and management
of game management areas for mountain ungulates. The NGO
“Parcham” in the Ravmeddara Gorge of Bartang Valley has established
the first community based conservancy at an area of 47'000 ha covering
almost an entire watershed and assigned for five years. The members of
the group have received the official status of voluntary rangers by the
Committee for Environmental Protection of GBAO. This group is already
successfully protecting and monitoring the ibex
stock on their territory. Numbers are increasing and snow leopard
is now regularly registered. First legal harvest of ibex may become
possible in autumn 2010. The NGO
“Yokuti Darshay” in the Wakhan is currently in the stage of area
assignment. This community based group plans the reintroduction of the
locally exterminated urial.
The NGO
“Muhofiz” at Hazratishoh Range has applied for assignment of a
territory for management of Tajik
urial and markhor
and already successfully protects area sections individually leased by
its members, which are recognized as voluntary rangers by the State
Agency for Forestry and Hunting.
