The Snow Leopard Conservancy's realistic approach is imaginative and essential, and given the extensive experience upon which it is based, offers a solid prescription for success.
...George B. Schaller
Director of Science,
Wildlife Conservation Society
Protecting Snow Leopards through Community-Based Conservation
The Snow Leopard Conservancy believes that snow leopards are best protected through conservation efforts that grow from within communities living with the cats. These communities are the front line in preserving the biodiversity of Central Asia’s high mountains. We recognize and appreciate the unique opinions and ideas of each individual and each community, while they help us to determine the key factors threatening the cat, its prey and its habitat. We offer material support and planning assistance in exchange for a community’s agreement to assume the primary responsibility for protecting snow leopards and other wildlife.
The Snow Leopard Conservancy presents a model for grassroots action to address the conflicts between these big cats and the villagers who share their habitat. The program helps local people find ways to better manage their livestock and to protect it from snow leopards. It is partly a local empowerment scheme, partly a blueprint for cooperatively building predator-proof corrals and partly a hands-on education program. We believe the Snow Leopard Conservancy's efforts will enable local villagers to see the snow leopard as the national treasure it is.
Program Objectives
- Reduce livestock depredation by predator-proofing corrals, educating herders and improving animal husbandry practices
- Closely link snow leopard and biodiversity conservation with initiatives aimed at improving household incomes in environmentally friendly, socially responsible and economically viable ways
- Increase environmental awareness and understanding of the fragile mountain ecosystem, especially among rural communities and decision-makers through innovative, cost-effective outreach initiatives
- Conduct non-invasive baseline research on snow leopards, their prey and habitat, blending scientific information with local knowledge
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