Scientists, conservationists and representatives from implementing
bodies came together in Almaty from 29th to 31st October
2008 to assess the status of the medium-term work programme
2007-2011of the Saiga Antelope Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU), which came into force in 2006. A workshop assessed
how individual saiga populations are currently being monitored,
what optimal methodology should be used and how such methods
could be practically implemented. The meeting and forthcoming
report on MoU administration will pave the way for the second
Meeting of Signatories. The joint CITES-CMS activity is
envisaged to take place in 2009.
Saiga experts were present from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan,
Russia, Mongolia, India, the UK and Germany to discuss international
saiga conservation. Since 2006 there has been considerable
progress on the medium-term programme , for example on the
development of a captive breeding programme in Mongolia
and strengthened anti-poaching project in Kazakhstan. The
exchange of information on MoU administration in and between
the individual range states and internationally has been
facilitated through Saiga News, which provides a good overview
of conservation action since 2005.
In early 2009 a status report will be published by CMS
to establish progress on all activities under the medium-term
work programme, which will allow government representatives
to prioritise their saiga antelope conservation policy.
Related links:
http://www.cms.int/species/saiga/saiga_meetings.htm
http://www.saiga-conservation.com/saiga_news.html
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