Scientists and stakeholders from snow leopard range countries gathered in Kathmandu for the International Snow Leopard Conservation Workshop held from April 25 and 27.
The event concluded with participants drafting the Kathmandu Resolution on Collaboration for Snow Leopard Conservation, which commits to initiate and strengthen collaboration between snow leopard range countries and stakeholders focusing on six priority joint actions:
- Strengthening Transboundary Collaboration and Habitat Connectivity
- Scaling Up Community-Based Conservation
- Addressing Climate Change Impacts for the Wellbeing of Snow Leopard Ecosystem and Indigenous People and Local Communities
- Reducing Human-Snow Leopard Conflict and Fostering Coexistence
- Managing Emerging Threats such as Feral Dogs and Disease
- Advancing and Sharing Technology for Conservation
Through the Joint Resolution, snow leopard range countries and stakeholders emphasize the need for knowledge sharing, collective action and sustained commitment, to create a secure future for snow leopards and make a lasting contribution to global biodiversity conservation and human wellbeing.
Read about: First comprehensive report of snow leopard population in Nepal
Workshop brief:
Over the course of three days, between April 25 and 27, researchers, experts and practitioners invested in snow leopard conservation came together in Kathmandu to engage and learn from one another on themes focusing on technology innovations, developing multi-stakeholder collaborations, and building strategies for integrating science, policy, and partnerships.
The event opened proceedings under the auspices of the Minister of Forests and Environment Hon’ble Ain Bahadur Shahi Thakuri, accompanied by the MOFE Secretary Dr. Rajendra Prasad Mishra, and was chaired by NTNC Member-Secretary Dr. Naresh Subedi.
The workshop was organized by the National Trust for Nature Conservation in collaboration with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation and the Department of Forests and Soil Conservation of the Government of Nepal, with co-sponsorship from the Tencent Sustainable Social Value Organization, Amity Foundation, and Shan Shui Conservation Center in China.
As a landscape level species that transcends boundaries, the workshop was initiated to bring together current science, policy and community interventions and lessons to promote snow leopard conservation in the range countries.
The initiative will serve as a first step for enabling future joint research, programming and policy dialogue, while scaling up technologies and capacities between snow leopard range countries. In the process this will help create lasting solutions for securing snow leopard landscapes, mountain ecosystems and sustainable economies.
Participants at the International snow leopard workshop, Kathmandu, Nepal
Hon'ble Ain Bahadur Shahi Thakuri, Minster for Forests and Environment, Nepal, addressing the opening
In address, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Mishra, Secretary of the Ministry of Forests and Environment, Nepal
In address, Dr. Naresh Subedi, NTNC Member-Secretary, Nepal
In address, Mr. Badri Raj Dhungana, Director-General of the Department of Forests and Soil Conservation, Nepal
In address, Prof. Dr. Lu Zhi, Peking University and Shan Shui Conservation Center, China
[Day 1]: Keynote, Mr. Bed Kumar Dhakal, Deputy Director-General of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, Nepal
[Day 1]: In session, Dr. Yadvendradev V. Jhala, India
[Day 1]: In session, Dr. Li Xueyang, China
[Day 1]: In session, Dr. Muhammad Ali Nawaz, Pakistan
[Day 1]: In session, Dr. Alexander Karnaukhov, Russia
[Day 1]: In session, Dr. Chiranjibi P. Pokheral, NTNC Director, Nepal
[Day 1]: Group discussions
[Day 1]: NTNC Board Member Mr. Jaikrit P. Rana at the group discussions
[Day 1]: Q&A
[Day 2]: Keynote, Prof. Dr. Lu Zhi, Peking University and Shan Shui Conservation Center, China
[Day 2]: In session, citizen scientist and snow leopard photographer Mr. Tashi R. Ghale, Nepal
[Day 2]: In session, Dr. Xiaoyu Li, China
[Day 2]: In session, Dr. Tserennadmid Nadia Mijiddorj, Mongolia
[Day 2]: In session, Dr. Tandin Dorji, Bhutan
[Day 2]: In session, Dr. Paras Bikram Singh, Nepal
[Day 2]: Group discussions
[Day 2]: Group work reporting
[Day 3]: Keynote, Dr. Justine Shanti Alexander, WCS Mongolia
[Day 3]: Sessions moderator, Dr. Hem Sagar Baral, Nepal
[Day 3]: In session, Dr. Madhu Chetri, Nepal
[Day 3]: In session, Dr. Bayarjargal Agvaantseren, Mongolia
[Day 3]: In session, Mr. Rinzin Phunjok Lama, Nepal
[Day 3]: In session, Dr. Joshua Schlüter, Tajikistan
[Day 3]: In session, Dr. Zairbek Kubanychbekov, Kyrgyzstan
[Day 3]: Discussions moderator, Dr. Gao Yufang, China
[Day 3]: Mr. Shu Junsong, Amity Foundation, China
[Day 3]: Panel discussion session
[Day 3]: Panel Q&A
Q&A discussions
Group work discussions
Prizes and acknowledgements
Kathmandu Resolution on Collaboration for Snow Leopard Conservation draft being readied
Workshop major themes and engagements:
Day 1, Theme: Technology empowerments in snow leopard research and conservation
Main sessions included, a keynote about snow leopard conservation in Nepal by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, followed by individual case studies on behalf of India, China, Pakistan, Russia, and Nepal. Through group discussions, range countries engaged each other on current tech limitations and challenges for snow leopard monitoring, as well as opportunities for overcoming barriers and adopting new and shared technologies in the age of AI.
Day 2, Theme: Avenues for readying a whole-of-society approach together with multi-stakeholder participation
Sessions dedicated to better understanding snow leopard as a landscape species; identifying needs and strategies beyond national boundaries; understanding community-level dynamics and range-country arrangements in snow leopard conservation; including ideas to better align and integrate community-based conservation with national and global agendas. Country sessions were conducted by Nepal, China, Mongolia and Bhutan, with a technology-focused session by Tencent.
Day 3, Theme: Integrating science, policy and partnerships for conservation impact
Case sessions highlighting how conservation partnerships and nongovernment projects are making a difference; emergent pressures on snow leopard range habitat and accompanying wildlife as a result of linear infrastructure development, especially across transboundary landscapes and climate change dynamics; hands-on group exercises exploring ways to integrate and enable science, knowledge and transboundary partnerships; and a panel discussion on opportunities and challenges in transboundary snow leopard conservation. Country initiatives were highlighted from Nepal, Mongolia, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.
***
