Full project name: Enhancing the conservation of flagship migratory mammal species of Central Asia through climate change-informed management and decision making.
Geographical scope: Central Asian mountains (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan)
Time frame: 2021-2025.
Partners: The UN Environment Programme is partnering with the Convention on Migratory Species, and in particular its Central Asian Mammals Initiative (CAMI) to home in on the link between climate change and its impact on the migratory aspects of species biology and protected areas. Local partners in the region include the Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan (KAZ), WWF Russia (KAZ and KGZ), CAMP Alatoo (KGZ), Ilbirs Foundation (KGZ), the Association of Nature Conservation Organisations of Tajikistan (TJK) and CAMP Tabiat (TJK). The Regional Mountain Centre of Central Asia, a subsidiary body to the Interstate Commission on Sustainable Development (ICSD), supports the national consultation sessions planned throughout the project. At the international level, we are drawing on the expertise of WWF US for trainings in Conservation Standards and collaborating with GRID Arendal for outreach and communication matters.
Donors: International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety of Germany.
Contributions to SDGs: Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) Goal 13 (Climate Action) and Goal 15 (Life on Land).
Environmental challenge:
Central Asia is highly vulnerable to climate change, which threatens both humans and wildlife. Migratory species such as the argali sheep and snow leopard adapt by altering their movement patterns and habitat use, which may render existing Protected Areas (PAs) ineffective and expose animals to new threats. Fences and roads pose barriers to the movement of flagship species in search of suitable habitat and food, reducing their resilience. In addition, livestock grazing by local communities has increased in duration and shifted to higher elevations due to climate change. This often leads to human-wildlife conflict, poaching and encroachment on species habitats. In addition, low awareness exists of the impacts of climate change on biodiversity and associated ecosystem services, and for human communities. Integration of climate change considerations into biodiversity and ecosystem management is not yet sufficiently applied, in particular in the management of PAs and in decision-making.
Project:
The project’s short title is “Central Asian Mammals and Climate Adaptation” (CAMCA). Within the CAMCA project, UNEP is working with many partners to ensure that climate adaptation and biodiversity conservation work hand-in-hand. The work is coordinated by our Vienna Office and addresses threats to key migratory mountain species. The project goal is to increase the resilience of Central Asia flagship mountain and other migratory species (e.g. snow leopard, argali sheep, Asiatic ibex, Tien Shan maral, Bukhara deer), associated ecosystems and communities to climate change and related threats. It will benefit both wildlife and local communities in pilot sites in Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan by supporting climate change-informed, community-based wildlife management in and outside of PAs, reducing human-wildlife conflicts, and contributing to landscape permeability.
For example, countries are developing national plans to take ecosystem-based adaptation to climate change into account. Actions being considered include the rehabilitation of mountain pastures inside movement corridors for species, providing alternative livelihoods to communities along migratory routes, improve protection of species in and outside protected areas.
In the long-term, by working with local communities, the programme aims to promote alternative land-use practices that can contribute to climate mitigation and reduce pressure on species living close to the communities.
Any questions?
For more information please contact:
Maarten Hofman
Associate Programme Management Officer
