Approaches

Protection and sustainable of mountain ungulates [Tajikistan]

Creation: 05/15/2011 middernag
Update: 07/07/2017 10:05 vm.
Compiler: Natalia Mityakova
Editor: –
Reviewer: David Streiff

approaches_2678 - Tajikistan

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1. General information

2. Description of the SLM Approach

2.1 Short description of the Approach

The sustainable use of wild mountain ungulates by local peoplefor eco-tourism, hunting tourism and subsistence hunting stimulates the protection of the populations and habitats of these species thus providing an alternative and adapted land-use option contributing to climate resilience trough biodiversity conservation, avoidance of desertification and diversification of land-use.

2.2 Detailed description of the Approach

Detailed description of the Approach:

Aims / objectives: Protection and sustainable use of wild mountain ungulates (ibex, markhor, argali, urial) in Tajikistan.

Methods: Assignment of hunting grounds to organizations (private or non-commercial, non-governmental) established by local people. Protection of the animal populations against poaching, elaboration and implementation of management plans, population monitoring. Based on monitoring results issuing of permits for use of animals. Use of permitted quota for hunting tourism and subsistence hunting. Additionally eco-tourism (non-consumptive).

Role of stakeholders: Local people, in particular active and former hunters are the main actors. Collaboration witth state agencies in charge of nature protection and hunting and with scientific institutions as well as with touroperators is supported by the project.

Other important information: The approach has in fact been implemented already since the 1990s, without project support. With project assistance it is refined, more focussed on community involvement and sustainability of used wildlife populations.

2.3 Photos of the Approach

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2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Approach has been applied

Country:

Tajikistan

Region/ State/ Province:

Tajikistan/Khatlon and GBAO

Further specification of location:

Shuroabad, Darvaz, Rushan, Ishkashim, Murghab

Comments:

The approach is applied in several model areas supported by a German development aid project and in large privately managed game management areas of up to 2,000 km². Model areas of the project are of 20 to 500 km².

2.6 Dates of initiation and termination of the Approach

Indicate year of initiation:

2008

2.7 Type of Approach

project/ programme based

2.8 Main aims/ objectives of the Approach

The Approach focused mainly on SLM with other activities (wildlife monitoring, involvement of local communities, sustainable hunting, trophy hunting, subsistence hunting, ecological tourism)

Populations of wild mountain ungulates are stable and in the range of the natural carrying capacity. Their sustainble non-consumptive and consumptive use supports local people and local rural development. The benefits from the sustainable use of mountain ungulates stimulates their protection and the protection of habitats, thus avoiding loss of biodiversity and land-degradation.

The SLM Approach addressed the following problems: Extirpation of wild mountain ungulates due to illegal and/or unregulated hunting and degradation of their habitats. This leads not only to loss of biodiversity but as well to the loss of land-use options. Well managed wild animals are less critical in terms of land degradation than livestock grazing.

2.9 Conditions enabling or hindering implementation of the Technology/ Technologies applied under the Approach

social/ cultural/ religious norms and values

hindering

Difficulties to collaborate within the communities, tendencies to purchase individual interests seperately.

Treatment through the SLM Approach: Group facilitation. Insisting in large management units, collectively managed.

availability/ access to financial resources and services

hindering

Lack of immediate income from wildlife. Expectations of external payment for work as rangers.

Treatment through the SLM Approach: Support with initial investment into needed equipment. Support of eco-tourism and hunting tourism development providing at least initial income.

institutional setting

hindering

So far no community could become wildlife manager. All initiatives are based on private organizations or NGO.

Treatment through the SLM Approach: Facilitation of linkages between wildlife managing organizsations and community institutions.

legal framework (land tenure, land and water use rights)

hindering

Long delay in assigning responsibility and authority for managing hunting grounds to community based organizations. Hesitance to devolve power to local people. Some species cannot yet been legally used due to national and international legal restrictions.

Treatment through the SLM Approach: Facilitation, support to state agencies in charge to develop adequate contracts. Support to improvement of national legal framework. Information of relevant international organizations and foreign decision makers on the impact of existing regulations.

knowledge about SLM, access to technical support

hindering

Population estimates for mountain ungulates are technically difficult and assumptions necessary to be fulfilled for estimates based on limited samples rarely fulfilled.

Treatment through the SLM Approach: Instead of population estimates index surveys providing minimum numbers are conducted and the methods are refined. The results of these index surveys are used for a careful and conservative suggestion of quota for sustainable use.

3. Participation and roles of stakeholders involved

3.1 Stakeholders involved in the Approach and their roles

local land users/ local communities

Local users are the main actors in the model areas. They are supported by the project staff

Women are usually not much interested in hunting related issues. But they are intensively involved in tourism related activities.

In the community based NGO participate socially and economically disadvantaged groups. In particular the people living in remote mountain villages with limited income opportunities.

International NGO gives technical advise

National NGO is project implementer.

private sector

Private conservancies and hunting concessions

national government (planners, decision-makers)

Involvement of experts of relevant agencies. Close cooperation on all issues.

international organization

Financial support and inclusion in GIZ's regional programme on sustainable use of nature resources in Central Asia.

3.2 Involvement of local land users/ local communities in the different phases of the Approach

	Involvement of local land users/ local communities	Specify who was involved and describe activities
initiation/ motivation	self-mobilization
planning	external support
implementation	interactive
monitoring/ evaluation	external support
Research	interactive

3.4 Decision-making on the selection of SLM Technology/ Technologies

Specify who decided on the selection of the Technology/ Technologies to be implemented:

mainly land users, supported by SLM specialists

Explain:

Decisions were made in the frame of the project in workshops of interested community members involved in use of wildlife. Facilitation by the project's experts.

Decisions on the method of implementing the SLM Technology were made by mainly by land users supported by SLM specialists. All work is discussed in the local groups with support by the project's experts.

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