Press releases
Please read more in our news sections
UN Wildlife Treaty Releases New Reports on Importance of Community-Led Conservation
Community-led conservation strategies can be instrumental for the successful conservation of migratory species according to two major reports released by the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), a global wildlife treaty of the United Nations. The report Community Participation and Livelihoods focuses on 10 key guiding principles for community-led conservation strategies, while the study Potential for Community-Based Wildlife Management in Central Asia presents real-world insights into how community-led initiatives can achieve biodiversity conservation and sustainable livelihoods.
New International Conservation Actions Agreed for Saiga Antelopes
Kazakhstan, Mongolia, the Russian Federation, and Uzbekistan agreed on new joint conservation measures to conserve the Saiga Antelope under the United Nations’ Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). For the next five years, the international Work Programme for the Saiga Antelope will provide a new framework to conserve and sustainably use the species throughout its migratory range.
Saiga Antelope © P. Romanow
Согласованы новые международные меры по сохранению антилопы сайги
Казахстан, Монголия, Российская Федерация и Узбекистан согласовали новые совместные меры по сохранению сайгака в соответствии с Конвенцией Организации Объединенных Наций по сохранению мигрирующих видов диких животных (КМВ). В течение следующих пяти лет Среднесрочная Международная Рабочая Программа по сайгаку (2021 – 2025 г.) обеспечит новую основу для сохранения и устойчивого использования этого вида на всей территории его ареала.
New Atlas Helps Remove Barriers to Animal Migration in Central Asia
The UN Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) has launched the Central Asian Mammals Migration and Linear Infrastructure Atlas to help ensure the survival of migratory wildlife in this important region. Featured in the Atlas are the Asiatic Cheetah, the Snow Leopard, as well as antelopes, deer, gazelles, wild horses and yaks which undertake long-distance journeys across the steppes, deserts and mountains of Central Asia to reach their feeding and breeding grounds.
growing number of railways, roads, pipelines, and fences increasingly threatens large migratory mammals such as Mongolian gazelles in Central Asia. CREDIT: Copyright Ganbayar Hureelen.
First Central Asian Migration Atlas Created to Reduce Harm to Wildlife from Infrastructure
Vilm, Germany (May 4, 2017)– Experts have for the first time mapped the distribution and movement corridors of migratory mammals in combination with threats from linear infrastructure, such as railways, roads, pipelines, and border fences, across the entire Central Asian region.
Saiga Antelope (Saiga tatarica) - © Navinder Singh
Signs of Hope for Saiga Antelope after Mass Die-off in 2015
In May 2015, a catastrophic and unprecedented mass die-off caused by a bacterial infection wiped out more than 200,000 saiga antelopes within a few weeks. The Betpak-Dala saiga population in central Kazakhstan lost almost 90 per cent of its animals, which is equivalent to over 60 per cent of the global population, leaving the species in a critical situation. A new census data shows an increase of saiga numbers in all three populations within Kazakhstan, the antelope’s main Range State.
Saiga mother with calf, Stepnoi Reserve, Russia © E. Polonskiy
Countries Agree on Actions to Help Save Saiga Antelopes
Saiga Range Countries and Experts Convene in Tashkent Following Saiga Mass Mortality Event
Trans-Mongolian Railway © Ralf Grunewald/BfN
Safe Passage for Mongolian Wildlife
Representatives of governments, industry, development banks, UN agencies, NGOs and scientists met in Ulaanbaatar from 24 to 28 August to find solutions to ensure that steppe animals are able to cross roads, railways and fences. The growing exploitation of the natural resources in the Gobi-Steppe ecosystem has led to a dramatic increase of transportation networks, required to meet increasing consumer demand for minerals. The existing roads and railroads have proven to be a significant barrier for wildlife migrations.
© Sergei Khomenko (FAO)
Catastrophic Collapse of Saiga Antelopes in Central Asia
More than 120,000 saiga antelope have been confirmed dead in central Kazakhstan, representing more than a third of the global population. This is a major blow for conservation efforts given that saigas have in the past ten years only just started to recover from a global population size of less than 50,000 animals following a 95% crash in numbers.
