Kumtor Snow Leopard ProjectKumtor Snow Leopard Project

Cholpon K. DyikanovaCholpon K. Dyikanova

June 19, 2006June 19, 2006

CommDev Workshop, Washington, D.C.CommDev Workshop, Washington, D.C.

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Kyrgyzstan and KumtorKyrgyzstan and Kumtor

• Kyrgyzstan – Central Eurasian Country:– Area 198,500 km2

– 94% of land above 1,000 m (highest peak Pobeda 7,439 m)

– Population 5 million people

– 2% of world’s flora: endemic species – 3% of world’s fauna: snow leopard,

golden eagle, Marco Polo sheep, etc.

• Kumtor Deposit:– in the top 10 world’s largest gold

deposits

– Over 7% of Kyrgyzstan’s GDP

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Creation of Bashat (CBF) Creation of Bashat (CBF)

• In 1999, need for increased dialogue between local communities and the Kumtor Gold Mine emerged

• Supported by IFCIFC and EBRDEBRD, Community and Business Forum (CBF) was established in 1999 as a mechanism for facilitating a dialogue between local communities and other stakeholders of the Kumtor Operating Company

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Bashat (CBF) and PartnersBashat (CBF) and Partners

• International Snow Leopard International Snow Leopard TrustTrust (Seattle, USA) (Seattle, USA) – 25 years of acknowledged leadership in SL conservation – In Kyrgyzstan since 2002

• Fauna & Flora International Fauna & Flora International (Cambridge, UK)(Cambridge, UK) – established in 1903, the world’s oldest international conservation body– In Kyrgyzstan since 1997

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Bashat (CBF)/ISLT WorkBashat (CBF)/ISLT Work

• Three main components:– Research and monitoring

– Community based conservation (Snow Leopard Enterprises)

– Environmental education and public awareness program

• New direction: eco-tourism (initiated jointly with UNDP/GEF)

• KOCKOC provides financial and technical support to CBF/ISLT project activities

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Bashat (CBF)/FFI WorkBashat (CBF)/FFI Work

• FFIFFI helped to establish CBF, facilitate effective cross-sectoral dialogue and collaboration between business and local communities, and set up an important mechanism to support further development and growth of the local NGO community

• Project: “Institutional Capacity Building for Biodiversity Project: “Institutional Capacity Building for Biodiversity Conservation in Kyrgyzstan”Conservation in Kyrgyzstan”– Funded by IFC and EBRD– KOC committed EUR 40,000 to technical and logistics costs of the

project – good example of corporate social responsibility– Main Components:

• Full Management Plan• Biodiversity Monitoring Strategy for the whole reserve• Anti-Poaching Strategy for the snow leopard and its prey species• Resource provision

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Bashat (CBF)/FFI Work (cont’d)Bashat (CBF)/FFI Work (cont’d)

Hunters Local communities Tourists

Shepherds Hunting agencies Vulnerable women

Farmers School children Tourism companies

Cattle breeders Womens’ groups Community based organisation’s

Foresters Reserve staff International NGOs

Kyrgyz Environmental NGOs

Poachers Village administrations

Ak Shirak local association

Village Government of Ak Shirak

Development and support of initiatives that aim to link improvements in local livelihoods with the conservation of the reserve and its biodiversity

Identified Stakeholders

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Future ActivitiesFuture Activities

• Development of community projects (EUR 33,000)– Regular capacity building trainings for local CBOs

– Establishment of new NGOs to strengthen capacities of local communities

– Work with village government to enhance benefits of project activities

• Quarterly Steering Committee meetings, project reports/updates,

publicity, newspaper articles, website updates

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Thank You!Thank You!

Photo credits to FFI and ISLT/Kyle McCarthy Trap Camera Project