° 2014 Annual Report ° Conservation Projects in the Russian Far East
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° 2014 AnnuAl report ° ConservAtion projeCts in the russiAn FAr eAst Office 409, 2 Petra Velikogo Street Vladivostok, Russia 690091 Tel/Fax: +7 (423) 220-50-48 E-mail: [email protected] Web-site: www.fundphoenix.org [PHOENIX FUND] Annual Report 2014 BACKGrounD South of the Russian Far East (RFE) is home to 95% of the remaining population of the Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica), also known as Siberian tiger. Today, an estimated 350 to 500 of this subspecies roam the frontier region bordering China and the Sea of Japan. Although sustained conservation efforts over recent years have moved the Amur tigers from “critically endangered” to “endangered” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List, they still remain at risk – mainly due to poaching. RFE is also home to the Amur leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis), the northern-most of the nine extant subspecies. At present, about 40-50 Amur leopards left in the wild. It is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List due to a number of many factors contributing to this status: geographical isolation of the population, logging, forest fires, prey depletion and poaching. For 17 years the Phoenix Fund, Russian environmental NGO, has been conducting anti- poaching and habitat protection, environmental education and outreach, monitoring of industrial projects, paying compensations for livestock depredation in order to keep stable the Amur tiger and leopard populations. Below, we are glad to present our final report describing the project activities between January 1 and December 30, 2014. The activities described below are the result of joint efforts of many organizations, both Russian and international, and invaluable contribution of our supporters. About 500 Amur tigers and 40-50 Amur leopards live in the Russian Far East. [PHOENIX FUND] Annual Report 2014 Anti-poAChinG AnD hABitAt proteCtion One of the main threats to the survival of Amur tigers and leopards in Russia is poaching of these big cats and their prey species. That is why one of our top priorities is to improve environmental law enforcement efforts by supporting anti-poaching activities within and outside the protected areas in tiger/leopard habitat. In 2014, we focused our anti-poaching efforts in six core tiger breeding areas: 1. Lazovsky Nature Reserve 2. Land of the Leopard National Park 3. Sikhote-Alin Nature Reserve 4. Zov Tigra National Park 5. Anyuisky National Park 6. Ussuriisky Nature Reserve Phoenix has provided anti-poaching units with fuel and spare parts for their patrolling vehicles, incentive payments, as well as training. Since 2010, Phoenix Fund, Zoological Society of London and Wildlife Conservation Society have been introducing a Law Enforcement Monitoring Program (MIST) in four protected areas (PAs) of Primorsky Krai, namely Land of the Leopard National Park, Zov Tigra, Lazovsky and Sikhote-Alin. Work with MIST enables managers of the protected areas to assess both efforts and results of anti-poaching patrols, assess and compare patrol efforts and results across teams, sites and time and allows set new patrol targets. The inspectors were taught to work with GPS units, collect and store anti-poaching data in a MIST database in order to let PA managers analyze the patrol efforts and results. After getting good results of work with MIST in 4 PAs, we decided to introduce MIST/SMART in the Ussuriisky Nature Reserve (NR). Director of the Ussuriisky NR expressed his willingness to use SMART, and in 2014, we began teaching the staff how SMART can help them improve patrolling techniques and effectiveness of anti-poaching teams. Implementation of MIST in 4PAs has resulted in a substantial improvement of the protection in 2011-2014, and we would like to continue these activities in 2015. Our program proved that MIST (or upgraded software SMART) patrol monitoring is an excellent tool for improving patrol management and reduce poaching threats to tigers and prey species. Concretely our program produced the following results: • Patrol monitoring and adaptive patrol management successfully introduced to 5 federally protected areas. • Patrol efforts substantially increased at all 5 protected areas. • Anti-poaching results substantially increased at 2 protected areas (Land of Leopard NP and Lazovsky Reserve). • At all program sites tiger numbers stabilized and at least 2 sites we see the first signs of increasing tiger and leopard numbers (the national parks Land of the Leopard and Zov Tigra). [PHOENIX FUND] Annual Report 2014 unMAnneD AeriAl vehiCles In 2013, Phoenix came up with an idea of using a new conservation approach - the use of remote-controlled unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs or drones) - in order to help protected area managers improve conservation efforts in Amur tiger habitat. These new tools for conservation will let monitor tigers and other wildlife as well as illegal activities within the PAs, namely prevent and detect forest fires, reveal illegal logging, and track and hunt down poachers. In May 2014, we succeeded in shooting first video using the quadcopter and the fixed wing UAV. Unfortunately, we identified weaknesses and disadvantages of our models shortly. We made some mistakes because there are no dedicated experts in the Russian Far East who could have consulted us on flying drones. Luckily, we managed to find some amateurs here who agreed to cooperate with us free of charge. We are glad to inform that we managed to find good partners – cadets of Maritime State University named after admiral G.I.Nevelskoi – who have experience flying fixed wing UAVs for their marine programs. In July 2014, Phoenix and the University signed an Agreement on Cooperation in order to study opportunities to use robotics, model airplanes and model submersible vehicles in nature conservation field. In 2014, we purchased a new quadcopter (DJI PHANTOM 2 VISION+ (PLUS)), and first we were satisfied with its capabilities. It is easy to operate and does not require a lot of technical knowledge. After a series of test flights, we demonstrated the quadcopter to managers of some PAs. However, during demonstrations we faced problems to get stable flight. In this connection, we would like to assemble a new multicopter and a fixed wing taking into consideration our previous mistakes. In 2015, we also plan to purchase two more quadcopters. Here are our results achieved from January through December 2014: - 53 test flights (45 – quadcopter and 8 –fixed wing UAV) conducted; - 14 minor crashes occurred; - 7 drones purchased; - repair parts (15 propellers, 5 motors, 1 relay), 3 GoPro cameras, and extra GPS units for UAVs purchased. [PHOENIX FUND] Annual Report 2014 eColoGiCAl eDuCAtion AnD outreACh Phoenix has been continuing its fight for people’s minds trying to conserve rare animals and their habitat by educating local population. We believe that most people get their first knowledge about ecology and develop a sense of respect and caring for the natural environment during their first few years of life, then at primary school they are taught to be responsible towards nature, and shape lifelong attitudes, values, and patterns of behavior toward natural environments. And, educators play a critical role in shaping such attitudes. For many years, the Phoenix Fund has been helping educators to improve their knowledge on local nature and promote nature conservation among children. Children, in their turn, share knowledge they got at kindergartens, schools and eco-centers with their family members. In view of the above, the environmental education and outreach program of the Phoenix Fund includes classes with children and youth as well as lectures with adults including educators. All areas where Phoenix runs educational programs experienced a stable or increased number of nature-oriented and tiger-friendly events with perfect attendance. By educating local people through explanatory talks, ecological lectures, special events focused on tiger conservation (Tiger Day holiday, Environmental Journalism Awards, art contests, clean-up actions, planting etc.) we are increasing people’s awareness of nature conservation, specifically conservation of the tiger, its prey and habitat. [PHOENIX FUND] Annual Report 2014 During the reported period, our ecological outreach program reached as many as 23,734 children and adults. Administrative districts/cities Eco-events (lessons, lectures, Number of children/adults outdoor activities, etc.) Khasan district 62 1,536 Kirovsky district 1 220 Krasnoarmeisky district 328 6,272 Lazovsky district 212 4,611 Pozharsky district 69 2,791 Tenreisky district 506 6,346 Dalnerechensky district 1 22 Vladivostok 2 90 Kabarovsky krai 1 15 Amurskaya Oblast 2 40 Jewish Autonomous Region 1 35 TOTAL 1,185 23,734 In 2014, it was nine years in a row when Phoenix held annual art contest for children with the purpose of promoting careful and respectful attitude towards the Amur tiger and Amur leopard. We believe that creating art is a healthy way for children to use their imaginations and to express themselves. Children have a natural affinity for animals and art – both of which can help them develop fundamental skills, values and attitudes. Art helps to give children a voice, encourages open-minded thinking and builds a sense of connection with the natural world. This year, as many as 2,035 children between 5 and 18 years of age sent in paintings – 1,312 tiger drawings and 723 leopard drawings. Every contestant received a calendar. The rest copies were used for awarding young active participants of various nature-oriented contests. Since 2006, the Phoenix Fund in cooperation with the Amur Branch of WWF-Russia and WCS- Russia, with generous support from ALTA partners, and other sponsors has been honouring journalists who possess the courage to make nature conservation issues public and who devoted much of their professional lives to trumpeting the environmental threats. Traditionally on June 5, World Environmental Day, the results of the 8th Far Eastern Environmental Journalism Awards “Taiga Alive – 2014” were announced.