Bonn, 3 February 2022 - In 2022, the Wild Sheep Foundation (USA) established the Argali Conservation Achievement Award to recognize efforts of individuals and organizations in Argali Range States. Tajikistan is home to the world’s largest Argali population and the major of Tajikistan’s capital city Dushanbe became the first recipient of the award. His Excellency Rustami Emomali the Mayor of Dushanbe is also the founder of the Association of Hunters of Tajikistan who’s work contributed to the establishment of sustainable hunting mechanisms and conservation of wild sheep habitats in the country.

The populations of rare mountain ungulates in Tajikistan, such as the argali, markhor and Bukhara urial are currently estimated at 25,000, 4,000 and 4,000 respectively. His Excellency’s engagement was pivotal in safeguarding these populations. The award was presented in absentia during an official meeting taking place on January 13, 2022 in the frame of the Sheep Week, held in Reno, Nevada.

The Board of Directors of the Wild Sheep Protection Fund, and the staff of the Committee for Nature Protection of Tajikistan congratulate His Excellency Rustami Emomali on receiving this award.

The following activities describe His Excellency’s involvement in conservation:

• As deputy head of the Youth Union of Tajikistan, he played a major role in promoting educational projects devoted to the study of nature, its conservation and ecologically sound hunting.
• He was at the head of those who founded the Association of Hunters of Tajikistan, which played a historic role in preserving game species in Tajikistan by significantly reducing poaching.
• He played an important role in legalizing international nature protection and sustainable hunting in Tajikistan.
• In 2011 he initiated the Law on Wildlife Conservation and Management of Hunting Species, which led to the establishment of several dozen nature reserves and concessions in Tajikistan, thereby creating an effective conservation network.
• He played a key role in making Tajikistan a member of CITES, and was actively involved in developing processes for wild sheep and goat trade (mainly the legal export of hunting trophies) with the European Union, USA and Canada.
• Over the past 5 years, H.E. Rustami Emomali has established Hutalon, one of the largest conservation areas in Tajikistan, which currently has the largest population of Bukhara Urials.

The Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF), headquartered in Bozeman, Montana, was founded in 1977 by wildlife advocates and enthusiasts. In the United States, WSF work has contributed to the increase of bighorn sheep, which numbered 25,000 in the 1950-60s, to more than 85,000 today.

WSF is the largest organization dedicated to the conservation of wild sheep, as well as their habitats. It has more than 8,500 members worldwide, which has raised and spent more than $135 million on habitat and population improvement, education and conservation programs in North America, Europe and Asia.

Original article in English:

www.wildsheepfoundation.org

Article contributed by: www.tajnature.tj