 An
informal dialogue meeting on 21 November 2004 at IUCN's World
Conservation Congress in Bangkok saw experts and officials
responsible for the critically endangered Saiga antelope (Saiga
tatarica tatarica) share their deep concern and express
support for a range of conservation actions. The gathering
was organized by the Secretariat of the Convention on Migratory
Species (CMS) and IUCN/SSC’s European Sustainable Use
Specialist Group (ESUSG), supported by the International Council
for Game and Wildlife Conservation (CIC), Fauna Flora International
(FFI) and Uzbekistan Zoological Society. Probably for the
first time, representatives from the main Range States (Kazakhstan,
Russian Federation, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan) and China
came together in a meeting specifically focussing on this
species.
A status report based on data provided by the Darwin Initiative
saiga project confirmed that population numbers had plummeted
from 1 million around 1990 to some 31,000 individuals in
2003, including the sub-species Saiga tatarica mongolica.
The CMS Secretariat reported that two of the four Saiga
tatarica tatarica Range States were ready to sign the
draft Memorandum of Understanding on Saiga Conservation,
Restoration and Sustainable Use drafted in 2002. Hope was
expressed by the meeting that the two other Range States
would signal their readiness shortly.
The decision of the CITES Conference in Bangkok in October
2004 to promote various actions on behalf of Saiga was noted
with appreciation. Chinese colleagues announced the recent
seizure of between 2,000 and 3,000 kg of illegally imported
Saiga horn, along with measures to register legally held
stocks and to initiate tougher enforcement action against
smuggling of and trade in illegal horn. These moves were
warmly welcomed.
Brief reports provided background information on a number
of small-scale Saiga projects already helping to support
the implementation of the Action Plan that accompanies the
draft Memorandum. All present agreed that there was need
for urgent progress to secure major funding for work on
livelihood measures and the elimination of all illegal trade.
Subsequently those present worked by consensus to achieve
a balanced motion on Saiga conservation, which was later
adopted by the delegates at the Plenary Session of the Congress.
(The text will be available from IUCN in due course.)
Re-Iissued by the Secretariat of the Convention on
Migratory Species and the European Sustainable Use Specialist
Group of IUCN/SSC
20 December 2004
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