Design Criteria
- All Snow Leopard Conservancy project interventions or activities are developed according to a set of “Best
Practices” criteria and guidelines.
- The agreed-to actions must be environmentally sound, economically sustainable, and socially responsible. We will
not support actions that undermine conservation of the snow leopard, its prey or habitat.
- All supported actions must comply with national park regulations, and should not lead to further overstocking
of livestock or rangeland degradation; rather, the action should improve the snow leopard’s natural prey base
and lead to no overall reduction in predator numbers.
- The preferred action must be cost-effective and contain cost-sharing mechanisms that are capable of being
sustained with minimal outside cost and technical input. We prefer low-tech, locally adapted appropriate
solutions for reducing loss of livestock or eliminating retributive killing of the snow leopard.
- We favor conservation measures that build upon proven traditional customs and sound animal husbandry
practices, such as strengthening the Buddhist precept against the killing of wildlife. Our goal is to assist
communities to build upon existing values and customs that are environmentally friendly or unique to their
culture.
- Finally, we work with communities to develop a mutually-agreeable Action Plan which clearly specifies the available
budget along with the responsibilities, contributions and obligations of each partner. The work plan specifies details such
as: where (location); who (responsible party); what (inputs/activities); how much (quantity); when (scheduling); how
implemented (method) and how the success of activities and outcomes will be monitored (indicator and process to be used).
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