Green and White Annual Report
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ANNUAL REPORT 2 0 1 5 - 2 0 1 7 F I N A N C I A L Y E A R S ABN 32143935769 www.wildlifeasia.org.au © Wildlife Asia Images courtesy of Paul Hilton, Adam Oswell and Tony Lynam 1 DIRECTORS REPORT 2 VISION-MISSION 4 PROJECT OVERVIEW 21 IN THE COMMUNITY 22 FINANCE REPORT 26 MEET THE TEAM 27 SUPPORTERS “The world is a dangerous place, not because of those S who do evil, but because of T those who look on and do nothing.” Albert Einstein N E F T O E N L B O A T C executive directors report The 2015-2017 years have been a formative period for Wildlife Asia and we are enormously proud to have generated almost 3 million dollars for W I L D L I F E A S I A conservation projects in Asia during that time. We have now established S T A N D S B E S I D E ourselves as a major player in several regions. L O C A L N G O S A N D Through a process of genuine relationship building with local leaders and community representatives,Wildlife Asia has developed successful C O M M U N I T I E S , working relationships in areas difficult for the large international non- S U P P O R T I N G government organisations to access. This has created a solid platform for T H E I R V I S I O N the collaborative protection of wildlife and wilderness, providing support F O R A to leaders and civil society organisations, which are able to effectively S U S T A I N A B L E direct and deliver the public communication required for sustainable F U T U R E . A long term development. Recognising and respecting both the environmental and political sensitivities as well as the values of these F U T U R E T H A T regions to be protected and conserved has been essential to our success. E N S U R E S T H E P E R S I S T E N C E Wildlife Asia maintained focus during this period on two core projects O F P E A C E , encompassing critical habitat and wildlife protection in areas of C U L T U R A L significantly high biodiversity and political sensitivity. Both the Leuser Ecosystem in Aceh, Indonesia and the Dawna-Karen Hills in Karen State, V A L U E S A N D Myanmar present the most promising opportunities for protection of vast T R A D I T I O N S , expanses of forests, rich in biodiversity and teeming with wildlife. They S U S T A I N A B L E offer the very real possibility of preventing extinction of the high profile, D E V E L O P M E N T critically endangered species that our partner projects represent; O P P O R T U N I T I E S including Sumatran rhinos, orangutans, tigers, elephants, bears and A N D O F C O U R S E gibbons. They also offer a window of opportunity to establish sound and lasting protection status and management strategies that will support T H E the mitigation of climate change. P R O T E C T I O N O F W I L D L I F E . Once again, our annual report this year incorporates the project and financial reports of two of our partners, the Asian Rhino Project (ARP) and the Silvery Gibbon Project (SGP) reflecting our ongoing process towards the consolidation of these partners for more efficient operations. We thank you sincerely for your support of our collaborative approach to conservation and for choosing to be a part of the solution. Clare Campbell Executive Director 0 1 making a genuine difference . vision and mission Wildlife Asia’s VISION is to ensure the preservation of sustainable, functioning ecosystems across Asia for the benefit of biodiversity and society. Our MISSION is to protect Asia’s tropical forests and key landscapes which host the highest levels of biodiversity and iconic mega fauna habitat. We VALUE respect, integrity and universal responsibility. YOUR DONATION WILDLIFE ASIA INTERNATIONAL Your donation is fully tax- Wildlife Asia provides resources PARTNERS deductible in Australia and the and funding to field projects Wildlife Asia collaborates with US and 100% of donations go and directly assists with international partners to directly to field programs conservation programs maximise the efficiency of every throughout Asia dollar we spend. LOCAL PARTNERS Local organisations, communities and authorities are the key to effective wildlife conservation. Our implementing partners are on the frontline protecting wildlife and habitat and we strive to build their capacity to enable long-term self-sufficient biodiversity conservation. PROTECTED COMMUNITY WILDLIFE CARE RANGERS AREAS SUPPORT In collaboration with partners we support the rescue, We train, equip and Wildlife Asia provides rehabilitation and deploy Wildlife Protection funds for the purchase of We empower communities reintroduction of wildlife, with Units across Asia directly critical rainforest habitat to find solutions to living genuine conservation protecting Critically as well as supporting the sustainably with wildlife and outcomes for endangered Endangered species designation of new protecting their natural species. under threat. Protected Areas. heritage. 0 2 HIGHLIGHTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS Training and deployment of 8 Wildlife Protection Units in Karen State, Myanmar. With 86 rangers patrolling 4 protected areas, this strong deterrent to poachers ensures the immediate safety of Critically Endangered wildlife populations Demarcation and designation of the Kaydoh Mae Nyaw Wildlife Sanctuary in Karen State, Myanmar The operation of Rhino Protection Units in the Leuser Ecosystem has ensured the protection of the largest remaining population of Sumatran rhino Camera trap surveys and publication of the first data from Karen State has highlighted the importance of protecting this pristine region rich in biodiversity and culture Reintroduction of 16 Javan gibbons back to the forests of Java, creating a new population monitored by the first ever Gibbon Protection Unit Deployment of the first Elephant Patrol Teams in Leuser to monitor and protect one of the last Sumatran elephant populations 0 3 saving burma's last eden K A R E N W I L D L I F E C O N S E R V A T I O N I N I T I A T I V E , M Y A N M A R Karen State, Myanmar, is a world-renown biodiversity hotspot and home to endemic and critically endangered wildlife species of global conservation priority. Large expanses of forest and wildlife populations including tigers, leopards and Asian elephants have essentially been preserved by over 60 years of civil war. The forested landscapes are not void of human activity; they are inhabited by Karen indigenous communities who have collectively and sustainably managed their resources until today, despite the decades-long armed conflict. These communities have played a crucial role in conserving these resource-rich landscapes. It is essential that these communities are both equal players in and benefactors from any future conservation efforts. Community-led, ground-based conservation planning, management and practice have gained international recognition as more effective, durable and responsible conservation strategies. The work of this project recognizes that successfully achieving locally appropriate biodiversity and wildlife conservation management requires that: • indigenous people are at the frontline of conservation planning, management and implementing activities, • indigenous peoples socio- cultural understanding of nature and traditional ecological knowledge must be integrated with scientific knowledge systems. Although Karen State has largely been protected from foreign invested development and industrial schemes, or large-scale local exploitation, these threats are likely to rapidly accelerate in the next five years. Hydropower schemes, agriculture and plantation expansion and the development of infrastructure are likely to become considerable threats in the very near future, making this a critical time for Karen to implement strategic protected area management and implement direct and effective biodiversity protection mechanisms before high profile species are lost. 0 4 Geographically, Karen State sits within a major international wildlife trade hub. The extraction, trade and consumption of wildlife for the expanding black markets in East Asia presents the most immediate and extreme threat to wildlife species in this area. Hunting and trade threaten a large number of mammal species, as either direct targets or incidental by-catch. Big cats, particularly tigers, are targeted for their coats, bones, teeth and claws, which are used in traditional medicine and as trophies. Demand in China and Vietnam remains particularly high for these species. Pangolins, primates, reptiles, otters and raptors are also in high demand. Poaching and trade threaten both species of bears present in Karen State. The Asiatic black bear and Malayan sun bear are targeted for body parts and bile, which is used in traditional medicine. Bear meat is served at wildlife restaurants. As the Karen emerge from political turmoil they stand firm on their commitment to preserve biodiversity and to manage development opportunities in a way that ensures long-term sustainability and the preservation of peace and culture. bringing back tigers ONCE WIDESPREAD IN MYANMAR, THE TIGER POPULATION HAS DECLINED DRASTICALLY OVER THE LAST DECADE. VERY LITTLE INFORMATION IS CURRENT ON THE NUMBER OF TIGERS REMAINING IN THE DAWNA-KAREN HILLS, HOWEVER, NON-TARGETED RAPID CAMERA TRAPPING SURVEYS CONDUCTED BY WILDLIFE ASIA OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS HAS CONFIRMED THE PRESENCE OF SEVERAL ADULT MALE AND FEMALE TIGERS ALONG WITH A HEALTHY PREY BASE AND WOULD INDICATE THAT THIS REGION WILL LIKELY BE CONSIDERED A “GLOBAL PRIORITY” TIGER CONSERVATION LANDSCAPE, DESIGNATED AS THE HIGHEST PRIORITY FOR WILD TIGER CONSERVATION.