Posted on 18 November
2011
Changchun, China - A wild Amur tiger has
been captured on camera for the first time
in an area of Northeast China. The Wandashan
area is considered key to the breeding and
resettlement of the critically endangered
Amur tiger population in Northeast China.
The tiger was captured in a camera trap
photo in early November by WWF-China after
footprints, bedding signs and evidence of
tigers preying on wild boar were discovered
earlier this year. The cameras were set
up in Heilongjiang Province in the mountainous
Wandashan area of the Amur-Heilong eco-region.
"This is the first
time that a wild Amur tiger has been captured
on camera in the area, and it adds to the
evidence of a possible population settlement
in the region", said Dr Zhu Chunquan,
Conservation Director of Biodiversity and
Operations at WWF-China.
"Action need to
be taken to enhance existing protection
methods for tigers, such as the immediate
launch of greater safety precautions, the
thorough removal of snares and developing
more detailed monitoring techniques.”
The area still contains dense forest and
is believed to host frequent Amur tiger
activity. Less than 500 Amur tigers remain,
with the majority of the population found
in the neighbouring Amur region of the Russian
Far East. China’s Amur tiger population
is estimated at around 20 individuals.
WWF-China has been working
closely with the Heilongjiang provincial
forestry departments to launch conservation
strategies within the Wandashan landscape,
focusing on monitoring and anti-poaching.
A camera trap monitoring project aimed at
capturing the quantity and distribution
of Amur tigers in the Eastern sector of
Wandashan will be launched soon in partnership
with the local Dongfanghon and Yingchun
forestry bureaus.
WWF-China is also supporting the local government
to draw up the Heilongjiang Province Wild
Amur Tiger Conservation Plan, which will
involve a separate recovery plan to run
in tandem with the national China Tiger
Recovery Plan.
"To create prime conditions for the
protection and recovery of the Amur Tiger
population, we are pro-actively preparing
for the establishment of the Heilongjiang
Laoyeling Amur Tiger Nature Reserve and
the Heilongjiang Wandashan Amur Tiger Nature
Reserve,” said Dong Jie, Deputy Director
General of the Heilongjiang Forest Industrial
Bureau.
Efforts needed to protect
Amur tiger
WWF has called for the improvement and extension
of Amur tiger habitat along with greater
conservation efforts, such as increased
tiger and prey monitoring and implementation
of better anti-poaching methods as well
as the rescue and rehabilitation of injured
wild tigers.
+ More
Regional cooperation
on climate change key to future of Eastern
Himalayas
Posted on 17 November
2011
Thimphu, Bhutan – Regional adaptation to
extreme weather events and the impacts of
climate change on endangered alpine species
like snow leopards featured prominently
at a WWF-led session in the lead up to the
Climate Summit for Living Himalayas today,
a high-level event that aims to work out
a ten year regional framework on climate
change adaptation for the Eastern Himalayan
nations of Nepal, India, Bhutan and Bangladesh.
“Climate change is placing
extraordinary pressure on the Eastern Himalayas
– its people, iconic landscapes and species
are all being hit hard by changing weather
patterns,” said Minister Dr. Pema Gyamtsho,
Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, Bhutan.
“The Eastern Himalayas is now in urgent
need of a regional framework of cooperation
that combines expertise from governments,
NGOs and civil society. Himalayan nations
must act now to avoid the worst impacts
of climate change,” he continued.
Climate Summit for a
Living Himalayas
The pre-summit stakeholder meet is part
of a series of events leading up to the
Climate Summit for a Living Himalayas –
Bhutan 2011, which is being hosted by the
Royal Government of Bhutan in the nation’s
capital on 19 November 2011.
Broadly speaking, Nepal,
India, Bhutan and Bangladesh are holding
this high level meeting to work out an agreement
on four main themes: securing biodiversity
and ensuring its sustainable use; ensuring
food security and securing livelihoods;
securing the natural freshwater systems
of the Himalayas; and ensuring energy security
and enhancing alternative technologies.
The event hosted by
WWF today was a moderated discussion on
two specific issues – the rising threats
of climate change and adaptation strategies
in Eastern Himalayas, as well as snow leopard
conservation in the face of changing climate
vulnerabilities.
“Snow Leopards are valuable indicator of
environmental health – their declining numbers
is a sign that the places they live are
also threatened. With only up to 10000 individuals
left in the wild it is up to India, Nepal,
and Bhutan to take the lead and create a
regional conservation framework that helps
protect the future of this iconic species
and the Eastern Himalayas,” said Tariq Aziz,
Leader of WWF’s Living Himalayas Initiative.
Moving towards sustainable
solutions for the future
The discussion was well attended by over
a hundred senior representatives from development
partners, civil society and the four governments.
The presence of youth at the event underscored
the importance of involving younger generations
in discussions towards sustainable solutions
for the future.
“This gathering of policy-makers
and development partners from India, Nepal,
Bhutan, and Bangladesh is significant as
it provides a crucial platform for agreeing
on much needed approaches, investment and
policies to help the Himalayan region adapt
to extreme weather events,” said Ravi Singh,
Secretary General & CEO, WWF-India.
WWF has been working in the Eastern Himalayas
for close to 50 years to ensure that the
region's incredible diversity of life is
preserved for generations to come. Through
our Living Himalayas Initiative WWF works
closely with the governments and people
of Bhutan, India and Nepal to restore and
protect ecological processes, reduce the
human footprint and support local economies.
