(Khabarovsk, Russia) FINAL PROGRAMMATIC REPORT

WILDLIFE FOUNDATION (Khabarovsk, Russia)

FINAL PROGRAMMATIC REPORT

Project title: Environmental Education for Amur Tigers-IV (environmental education activities on the Amur Tiger conservation) Grant # 2002-0301-035

Reporting period: from October 1, 2002 till September 30, 2003

The purpose of the project: Assistance in conservation of the Amur Tiger population through implementation of a complex of environmental- educational measures

Chairman of the Wildlife Foundation Dr. A. Kulikov Khabarovsk, 2003

2. KEY PROJECT EXECUTORS:

Director of the project: Dr. Alexander Kulikov, a chairman of the Wildlife Foundation

Coordinator of the project: Nina Bolshova

Scientific adviser: Yurii Dunishenko, a vice–chairman of the Wildlife Foundation, a member of IUCN/SSC

Artist - designer: Oksana Kabardina

Computer specialist: Valerii Kulikov

Bookkeeper: Lidiya Zagorovich

Driver-operator: Vladimir Tishkov

3. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The Wildlife Foundation expresses sincere gratitude to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Save the Tiger Fund, due to which there was a possible performance of the given project. We thank the chairman of Save the Tiger Fund Council John Seidensticker, Ph.D. for valuable advises and consultations, which we have received from him during the fulfillment of the project. Special gratitude is expressed to Tracy Frish, assistant director conservation programs, for coordination of the given project, operative communication, valuable advises and consultations on performance of the project. We thank Eliza Close, the director of ISAR, who has helped to solve difficulties of organization-financial maintenance of the project. Special thanks to our American colleagues, who helped us by their knowledge and advises to fulfill the project. Finally, our appreciation to the numerous Russian colleagues (teachers, local administrations, journalists, officials), who helped us to fulfill the project

4. INTRODUCTION The Amur tiger is a noteworthy animal in all respects. It is the "tsar" of the animal kingdom in the Far Eastern Taiga and an indicator of regional ecosystem health. Thousands of people in Russia and abroad follow the fate of the tiger, and its problems are now an issue of international significance. The way we treat the tiger, an animal included on endangered species lists around the world, the way we treat an animal that is part of world heritage, these will be the basis for the way the world judge us and our environmental protection efforts. The Amur tiger is not just an element in the environment. The tiger also plays a role in thousands of years of human culture, especially the culture of the indigenous peoples of the Russian Far East (RFE). The tiger is undergoing a process similar to what other, now extinct species have already undergone. The rate of decline in its numbers since the 1990s has been so dramatic that there is more than adequate reason to be concerned about its fate. The decline in numbers must be stopped now and cannot be allowed to reach the critical level beyond which the process is irreversible. The world has witnessed numerous large numbered species go extinct. The tiger's situation is even more critical since it takes a long time to mature and reproduces slowly. A decline in numbers can cause inbreeding, can sharply decrease the survivability of young, and can lead to a loss of genetic diversity. Many people and organizations are working to arrest this process and in fact, the process has been slowed somewhat. But will this continue for long? Any discussion of saving the species from total extinction means looking far into the future. People must protect the environment not for themselves alone. They must also think of future generations... No one questions the need to protect the tiger as a key biodiversity component and for that reason the effort to protect the predator is international in scope. The Amur tiger conservation, at the international level, means compliance with the provisions in various agreements and conventions to which Russia is party and that directly affect the tiger's fate: the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)'s Endangered Species list, the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, the Convention on Biological Diversity. Russia has also adopted its own laws, normative acts and enabling legislation that aim to protect the Amur tiger. A federal target program - Strategy for Conservation of the Amur Tiger in Russia - was adopted on July 8, 1997. This target program outlines measures aimed at protecting the Amur tiger. The various documents adopted at the federal and regional levels underscore the importance of environmental education and public awareness campaigns in the effort to protect the Amur tiger and its habitat. Thanks to financial support from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Save the Tiger the project “Environmental Education for Amur Tiger-IV” (environmental education activities on the Amur Tiger conservation) promoted increase of public awareness and education of local community on tiger conservation and its habitat through realization of a complex of environmental-educational measures.

5. RESULTS OF PROJECT FULLFILMENT

5.1. Support and strengthening of an environmental field school for teachers-trainers and schoolchildren. The main objectives of this work is to acquaint the schoolchildren and teachers with the tiger life and problems of its protection directly in its habitat; to form an active position of the schoolchildren on a tiger and its habitat protection issues basing on development of ecological thinking, ecological culture and ecologically sound practices. Environmental field school started its work at the beginning of October 2002. There was done a large preliminary work: developed a schedule of field trips, lectures and conversations; worked out a list of lecturers and participants. Highly qualified specialists from the Institute for Water and Ecology Problems, the Far Eastern Wildlife Research Institute and the Teachers’ Training University were invited to participate in environmental education program of the field school. The trainers gave knowledge to schoolchildren and teachers on flora and fauna of Khabarovskii Krai, on rare and endangered species such the Amur Tiger (Siberian tiger), on protected territories, learned to recognize trees and plants in different seasons, tracks of animals, to understand the ecosystem links and the role of tiger in the ecosystem, to understand various kinds of anthropogenic impacts on nature and the Amur Tiger habitat, to understand the principles and techniques of the Amur Tiger and its feeding objects; gave knowledge on prevention of fires and accidents in the forest. Various techniques were used in the course of environmental education at the field school: lectures, excursions, thematic excursions, talks, collection of materials, work on the environmental routes, competitions. The total number of taught children at the field school is 60. The children from Bikinsky, Vyazemsky, Lazo, Nanaisky and Khabarovsky rural districts participated in the field school. They had a chance to see the unique nature of Khabarovsky Krai in winter, spring and summer. The group of children at the age of 14-17 years taught at the field school in winter learned to recognize 35 species of trees, tracks of such animals as squirrel, roe dear, bear, tiger, elk. The routes made by children were not very long, because of low temperature and much snow on the ground. The study cycle in winter lasted for 2 days. In spring and summer the children spent more time in the forest. The study cycle in spring and summer lasted for 6 days. The children lived in the camp not far from the city of Khabarovsk. They made some trips to the Wildlife Refuge. In the Wildlife Refuge on environmental routes they have acquainted with 70 species of trees, 25 species of plants, 15 species of grass. They watched birds and distinguished them by voices. The children have studied to collect medicinal plants, to form a forest pharmacy. The forest paths alternated with plain places and crossed. The children received special information about the objects of animate and dead nature. Special objects on the routes were natural monuments such as century trees which were the witnesses of the far past. Being in the Wildlife Refuge the children fed and rode horses. Special excursions were to the museum of Forest and the city Zoo. In the Zoo they have acquainted with the life of animals living in capture. The excursion helped them to compare the life of wild animals and those living in capture. At leisure time the children participated in different activities such as the competition on best leaflet in plants protection, the environmental tale devoted to the Amur Tiger, the placard “Tiger in fire ring”, the best story about the team and others. The first place among teams took children from the settlement Avan (Vyazemsky district), the second place took children from the settlement Innokentyevka (Nanaisky district), the third place - children from orphan (Lazo district). The best teams were awarded by presents and certificates. All the children received environmental literature, brochures on tiger conservation, calendars and leaflets. The schoolchildren were happy to study at our field school. In the questionnaires they expressed willing to come to our school again. We hope that the children will share knowledge with their classmates, prepare conversations and make reports at the regional conference when return home. They will never forget the time spent at the field school. On the base of the field school the key project executors organized training for teachers of biology with the purpose of preparing teachers- trainers. There were prepared 25 teachers-trainers for 6 districts of Khabarovsky Krai. There were organized theoretical and practical courses for teachers. Academicians and scientific workers from the Institute for Water and Ecology Problems, the Far Eastern Wildlife Research Institute, the Wildlife Foundation and the Teachers’ Training University were the trainers at the field school. The teachers received knowledge about new methodical materials and educational models, knew about international organizations, projects. They exchanged experience of their work, acquainted with new directions in theory, technique and practice of environmental education. They got information about the tiger’s life and problems of its protection directly in its habitat. There were some lectures devoted to protected territories and biodiversity conservation. The participants of the field school visited the museum of Forest, the city Zoo, environmental path organized by the Institute of skills improvement of staff in the sphere of environment and nature use. We hope that after studying at our field school the teachers-trainers will study others in their districts through conducting special meetings and workshops, methodical teachers’ unions. They will be able to organize environmental trips for children to the forest as they received practical skills at our field school. The members of the journalists’ club “The friends of the Amur Tiger” participated in the work of the field school. There was made a video subject about the work of the field school and shown by local TV. There was written a large article about the work of the field school in the magazine “Rodnoye Priamurye”.

5.2. Enhancement of work of the informal journalists’ club “The friends of the Amur Tiger”. The informal journalists’ club was created by the previous project. The club “The friends of the Amur Tiger” is a voluntary association of journalists. Local and Krai Mass Media representatives, as well as journalists of three information agencies are the members of this club. The club units twenty one journalists. They helped us to give true information on the Amur Tiger protection and conservation through local newspapers, magazines, radio and TV; to form a positive attitude of the population to it. There were conducted four meetings with the journalists. The meetings were devoted to project’s activities, tiger monitoring issues, specially protected territories, results of competition of journalists’ works. The total number of the participants of our meetings is 60. In order to increase the interest of journalists to the problem of the Amur Tiger conservation and its habitat we announced the competition of journalists’ works devoted to this theme. The purpose of the competition was to assist the journalists in obtaining an additional information on problems of the Amur Tiger conservation and its habitat and through materials of the competition to expand knowledge of local population about the Amur Tiger and its protection, to show a role of a tiger as of element of culture of local peoples of the Russian Far East. There was prepared an information letter with the announcement of competition and it was disseminated among 54 Krai newspapers, information agencies, broadcast and TV companies. We also published an announcement in the Krai newspaper. There was formed a competent jury out of the well-known scientists (Y. Dunishenko, scientific adviser; S. Slotgauer, Dr. of biology; A. Kulikov, Dr. of biology), the writer (V. Sukachev, a member of the Russian Union of writers), the chief of the Ministry of natural resources of Khabarovsky Krai (V. Lobkis), the representative from the Department of state control and perspective development in the sphere of nature use and environment protection of the Ministry of natural resources in the Far Eastern federal region (A. Istigichev), a representative from Publishing Department of government of Khabarovsky Krai (N. Zimina) and a number of well known journalists as N. Platoshkina, Y. Shmakov. The jury considered the works and defined the winners. It was a very difficult task for the jury to choose the best articles. In order to make the jury’s work easier we developed the special estimation list. The results of competition were announced at the press-conference and the authors of best articles were awarded by the presents. The first place was divided between Mr. Dunishenko and Mr. Sukachev, the third place took Mr. Kucherenko. By the results of competition was published a digest and was written a large article in the local newspaper. In December, 2002 the director of the project has given an interview to TV program “Panorama” about the results of tiger monitoring and there was shown video subject about it (25 minutes). In February, 2003 the director of the project has given an interview to broadcast “East-Russia” by the problems of the Amur Tiger conservation, then in April Mr. Kulikov gave an interview to ITAR TASS agency by the results of Amur Tiger monitoring. The journalists of the club helped the Wildlife Foundation to show video subject about the work of the field school.

5.3. Development of a new version of the book “The Amur Tiger”. The new version of the book “The Amur Tiger” was developed. Mr. Dunishenko and Mr. Kulikov are the writers of this book. The book is oriented to local population living in places inhabited by tigers and is written by easy language. The new version includes the results of monitoring of a tiger population and its habitat, data of monitoring in China and a map with tiger’s habitat. The book is in the publishing house now. The book will be disseminated among local population, environmental NGOs, school libraries, governmental officials who are responsible for the destiny of the Amur Tigers. Some portion of edition will be given to the anti-poaching brigade of Khabarovsky Krai. The members of the anti-poaching brigade will handle our books to the poachers together with the penalty. Besides, the book will be disseminated among companies using natural resources, hunters, indigenous people and nature reserves’ staff. 5.4. Continuation of work of an environmental brigade on enlightenment of local population (“Eco-bus”). The main goal of the brigade is to conduct environmental enlightenment of local population in the remote settlements of Khabarovsky Krai. The Wildlife Foundation’s experience gained from the previous educational projects shows that the level of knowledge of the local population about the Amur Tiger is extremely low. 17 settlements with the population of 8.1 thousand people are located in the tiger area of 3,815 million hectares. The majority of the population lives subsistence living. They extensively use wild animals to feed themselves. They have a lot of free time because they are unemployed. Ineffective protection causes the creation of “a biological desert” around the settlements where the tiger cannot survive even if it is not directly followed. Unfortunately, the level of environmental education at schools is also extremely low. Adult schoolchildren are not involved in the system of environmental education at all. The population of the most remote settlements is cut from getting information because some settlements do not have electricity. That was why the key project executors organized environmental brigade to come to the remote settlements to conduct meetings with families. The main task of such meetings is to increase knowledge of a separate family by tiger conservation issues and reveal good attitude to this beautiful animal. There were organized five trips. The brigade was in the settlements Gvasyugi, Sukpai, Srednekhorsky, Troitskoiye, Dolmi, Solontsovy, which are situated in 200 kilometers from the city of Khabarovsk. The total number of the families involved in the process of environmental education is about 500. The brigade provided them with necessary environmental information and literature. They got information about the role of a tiger in ecosystem, their own role in the tiger conservation, on international aspects of the tiger protection, its conservation problems and its role in social and economic development of the settlement. The volunteers from the State Teachers’ Training University, the members of the journalists’ club helped us in this difficult work.

5.5. Creation of the poster “Save the Amur Tiger” and the calendar “The Amur Tiger”. The main goal of this activity is to promote a positive image of the Amur Tiger among population using colorful and bright pictures. There were created and published the poster and the calendar. They are distributed among population of the remote settlements, schools, colleges and higher educational institutions. Also they will be distributed among all interested parties at lectures, meetings and conversations. The poster and the calendar have the logotype of the Wildlife Foundation and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation/Save the Tiger Fund. The total number of the poster “Save the Amur Tiger” is 500 copies and the calendar “The Amur Tiger” is 1000 copies.

5.6. Development, typing and distribution of a brochure on prevention of fires in tiger’s habitat. The territory of Khabarovsky Krai is approximately 787,600 sq. km and 523,00 sq. km of the area is forested. Forests of the Sikhote-Alin are home to the last viable, wild population of the Amur Tigers. Habitat decline due to fires represent major threat to biodiversity in the region, including one of the most endangered large mammal species - the Amur Tiger. People attending places of tigers’ habitat do not realize that fires are the great danger for biodiversity at all. That was why the project executors developed and typed a brochure on prevention of fires in tiger’s habitat “Tiger in fire ring”. The total number of the brochure is 1000 copies. The brochure will help to decrease the number of fires, to safe the beautiful nature of Khabarovsky Krai and its unique animal - the Amur Tiger. The brochure is distributed by the following channels: conversations, lectures, meetings, conferences and the journalist’s club.

5.7. Distribution of leaflets on tiger conservation issues. Leaflets are one of the best sources of getting information by people living in the remote places. Three types of leaflets were disseminated among local community: 1. “Tiger conservation, its fodder resources, habitat”. 2. “ ”Precautionary measures and safety tips for people in Amur Tiger habitat”. 3. “Humans and the tiger: peaceful coexistence ”. The total number of distributed leaflets is 3000 copies.

5.8. Participation in working meetings on protection and using the Amur Tiger habitat. The experience gained by the previous projects shows that participation of the project performers at various meetings, conferences and workshops is a highly effective method of sharing information with the concrete group of people on nature resources use in the tiger habitats and provide them with various printed materials: books, brochures, calendars, etc. In the frame of the project there were conducted a number of meetings. The first meeting took place in December 2002 with the representatives of Hunting Control Service and hunting users. The total number of listeners was 30. The participants of the meeting have exchanged information and were provided with environmental education materials. In December 2002 the Wildlife Foundation participated in the seventh regional Environmental Exhibition where leaflets, brochures about the Amur Tiger and specially protected territories were distributed. In January 2003 there was organized a meeting with the representatives of Hunting Control Service and hunting users by the results of tiger monitoring. In March 2003 there was arranged a conversation for schoolchildren at the age of 12-13 in the children’s library by tiger conservation issues. The children received leaflets and brochures about the Amur Tiger. The conversation was conducted by a highly qualified specialist Mr. Dunishenko. Another conversation for children was organized in May 2003. The total number of the children was 26. In January, February, March 2003 the NGO “Kasatka” helped us to conduct conversations about the Amur Tiger. 400 schoolchildren were involved in environmental education process. A meeting by tiger conservation issues with the chiefs of forest industries was organized in June 2003. Books, brochures, calendars, leaflets on tiger conservation issues were disseminated by the key project executors at the conferences which took place in the city of Khabarovsk in December 2002 and in September 2003. 6. CONCLUSION The project “Environmental Education for Amur Tiger-IV” (environmental education activities on the Amur Tiger conservation) was realized on the territory of Khabarovsky Krai. Many people were involved in the process of environmental education and enlightenment by the Amur Tiger conservation issues. The executors of the project used different methods and technologies of environmental education. Among them was an environmental field school for teachers of biology and schoolchildren. The main purpose of the field school was to acquaint the schoolchildren and teachers with the tiger life and problems of its protection directly in its habitat; to form an active position of the schoolchildren on a tiger and its habitat protection issues basing on development of ecological thinking, ecological culture and ecologically sound practices. Environmental field school taught 60 schoolchildren and prepared 25 teachers-trainers. They received not only theoretical but practical knowledge too. Received knowledge will be used by them in practice. There was made a video subject about the work of the field school and shown by local TV. A large article was written about it in the magazine “Rodnoye Priamurye”. The key project executors tried to involve in environmental education not only the teachers and schoolchildren but their parents. The main task of such work was to increase knowledge of a separate family by tiger conservation issues and reveal good attitude to this beautiful animal. The volunteers from the State Teachers’ Training University, the members of the journalists’ club helped us to outreach the people. In order to decrease the number of fires, to safe the beautiful nature of Khabarovsky Krai and its unique animal - the Amur Tiger were published the book “The Amur Tiger”, 3 kinds of leaflets, the brochure “Tiger in fire ring”, the poster and calendar with tiger’s symbol. All these materials were distributed free of charge through conversations, lectures, meetings, conferences, the journalist’s club. In order to increase the interest of journalists to the problem of the Amur Tiger conservation and its habitat there was announced the competition of journalists’ works devoted to this theme. The purpose of the competition was to assist the journalists in obtaining an additional information on problems of the Amur Tiger conservation and its habitat and through materials of the competition to expand knowledge of local population about the Amur Tiger and its protection, to show a role of a tiger as of element of culture of local peoples of the Russian Far East. In the result of journalists’ competition was published a digest of best works. There was given a number of interviews in tiger’s protection and by the results of monitoring, there was shown video subject about it. All these measures promoted to form a positive image of the Amur Tiger among population, to increase their knowledge about it, to decrease poaching and reveal good attitude to the unique animal of the Ussuri taiga – the Amur Tiger.