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Joint Wildlife Management in the mountain ecosystem of the Naryn region in Kyrgyzstan

Type: Approaches

Creation: 2011-11-16 00:00   Updated: 2017-08-17 10:28

Compilers: Nazgul Esengulova

Reviewers: Alexandra Gavilano, David Streiff

Country/ region/ locations where the Approach has been applied
  • Country: Kyrgyzstan
  • Region/ State/ Province: Kyrgyzstan, Naryn oblast
  • Further specification of location (e.g. municipality, town, etc.), if relevant: Kochkor district, Toloksky Aiylokmotu (villages Tolok and Kok-Jar)
  • Map: View Map

Description of the SLM Approach

Short description of the Approach

Joint Wildlife Management based on economic empowerment and assigning hunting (wildlife) grounds to the Association of local hunters and providing her with user rights for game resources leads to a sustainable use of natural resources and biodiversity and wildlife conservation (in the frame of CACILM).

Detailed description of the Approach

Aims / objectives: Wildlife in Kyrgyzstan, especially mountain ungulates, is threatened because these resources can be easily accessed due to an inadequate state supervision and regulation as well as due to lack of knowledge among the local population and mechanism for integrated land use (considering different coordinated types of resource use) and resource conservation. Decrease in the natural habitat (caused by the expansion of pasture and arable land) and illegal hunting lead to a decrease in wildlife populations. In Kyrgyzstan, the fauna is exclusively owned by the state. User rights for wildlife are separated from land use ones. The approach aims at the conservation and sustainable use of wildlife based on providing representatives of the local community, organized in an Association of local hunters (ALH), with legal user rights for wildlife resources.

Methods: (1) supporting local hunters in organizing an Association of local hunters (ALH) with the help of facilitators; (2) transferring wildlife management functions from the Wildlife Department to the ALH based on assigning hunting grounds to them and providing them with user rights according to jointly developed management plans; (3) building trust in partnership relations between the ALH and the Wildlife Department of State Agency for Environmental Protection and Forestry (SAEPF) based on joint registration and monitoring and determination of the resource status (see Annex 3); (4) capacity building of the ALH with the help of independent experts and advising activities provided by the Wildlife Department; (5) developing an atmosphere of trust by establishing links between the Wildlife Department, local hunters (ALH), the local community (Aiylokmotu) and rural organizations (Pasture User Association, PUA) based on joint planning and information sharing.

Stages of implementation: (1) setting up groups of well-trained (sensitive) facilitators and training them on the principles of facilitation, conflict management and sustainable management of natural resources; (2) identifying reliable active hunters with the help of facilitators and managers by interviewing neutral people; (3) organizing a meeting at the field level to analyze the situation and identify interests in establishing of the ALH; (4) raising awareness of local hunters on wildlife resources, existing problems and possible solutions offered by sustainable management; (5) establishing an ALH in the pilot area as a legal entity; (6) assigning areas to the ALH and advising activities on methods for wildlife management provided by the Wildlife Department and the specialized NGO 'Ak-Terek'; (7) organizing expeditions with specialists from the Wildlife Department to register and monitor the resource status; (8) developing a management plan with the support of experts from the Wildlife Department and independent experts, plan approval and implementation.

Photos of the Approach

Image Identification of a possible hunting area and types of game resources during the meeting of local hunters
Identification of a possible hunting area and types of game resources during the meeting of local hunters
  • 📍 village Tolok, Kochkor district, Naryn oblast
  • 🗓 2011-10-06
  • 📷 Almaz Musaev (Bishkek, Manas St.,155, Wildlife Department)
Image Wild mountain goats are one of the species at risk of extinction; it is included into the list of wild animals, of which management rights will be transferred in the hands of the local community
Wild mountain goats are one of the species at risk of extinction; it is included into the list of wild animals, of which management rights will be transferred in the hands of the local community
  • 📍 village Tolok, Kochkor district, Naryn oblast
  • 🗓 2011-10-06
  • 📷 Almaz Musaev (Bishkek, Manas St., 155, Wildlife Department)
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