Conservation Asia 2018 Mainstreaming Conservation in a Changing Asia Book of Abstracts Organizers and Partners: Conservation Asia 2018 Mainstreaming Conservation in a Changing Asia Book of Abstracts ISBN 987-9967-28-567-5 American University of Central Asia 7/6 Aaly Tokombaev Street Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic 720060 Tel.: +996 (312) 915000 + Еxt. Fax: +996 (312) 915 028 Conservation Asia 2018 The Society of Conservation Biology – Asia Section Mainstreaming Conservation in a Changing Asia The Society of Conservation Biology (SCB) is dedicated to advancing the science and practice of conserving Earth’s biological diversity. SCB is a global community of conservation professionals, with thousands of members from more than 100 countries. SCB’s Asia Section organized its biennial international conference, called Conservation Asia 2018, which was hosted at the American University of Central Asia (AUCA) in Bishkek, the capital city of the Kyrgyz Republic. As an institution of higher learning, AUCA’s mission is to carry out research, conservation, and education, with research focusing on forest ecology, conservation biology, and resource plant development as well as environmental management and sustainable development, EIA, GIS application in environmental management and R-programming. It is a therefore a hub for addressing conservation challenges and for presenting new research in conservation science and practice throughout Asia. Conservation Asia was also co-hosted by the Snow Leopard Trust (SLT), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and various other regional donors and organizations. This international conference took place over a 4-day period, from 6th-10th August 2018. The academic theme of Conservation Asia 2018 was “Mainstreaming Conservation in a Changing Asia”, reflecting the intersection between AUCA’s expertise and the foci of SCB, SLT, and UNDP. The conference aimed to engage conservation scientists and practitioners from Russian-speaking countries, therefore all sessions had simultaneous translations in both Russian and English. Conservation Asia 2018 attracted 250 participants including academics, conservation agencies, and NGOs from 44 different countries. More than 200 talks and posters were presented during 15 thematic symposia. There were six plenary talks from David Borchers, Vidya Athreya, Lu Zhi, Olga Medeova, Koustubh Sharma, and Simon Hedges. Simon Hedges was awarded the Distinguished Service Award for his 30-year contribution to saving Asian elephants and their habitats. Numerous hands-on workshops were held throughout the duration of the conference, including workshops on conservation storytelling, population assessment and distribution of elusive species, conservation in Central Asia, and project management for wildlife conservation and adaptive management using the Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART). After the conference, participants enjoyed a selection of field trips to appreciate the spectacular Kyrgyz countryside and culture. 3 SCB Asia board members also ran workshops on policy, diversity and inclusion, journals, and Chapters. As a result of these engagements, participants at the conference are forming two new SCB Chapters: one for Central Asia, and another for Pakistan. SCB further expanded with many new member sing-ups, including members joining from new countries such as Tajikistan, where SCB previously had no representation. SCB supported the travel costs of 10 international students, facilitating their journeys to Bishkek with over $6,000 awarded in travel grants. Partner organizations such as the Snow Leopard Trust supported around 10 early career conservationists working in the field of snow leopard conservation to attend the conference. Conservation Asia 2018 was a social media storm, with the hashtag #conservationasia2018 accumulating nearly 1.5 million impressions, reaching 60,000 people in 701 posts by 301 users. 4 Table of Contents 3 Conservation Asia 2018 5 Table of Contents 7 Organizing Committee 8 Scientific Committee 9 Abstracts 9 Plenary Sessions 12 Oral Presentations 12 Community-Based Conservation 18 Species-Specific Conservation Programs 24 Conservation Genetics 27 Ecosystem-Based Conservation 36 Wildlife and Infrastructure 40 Illegal Wildlife Trade and Poaching 44 Rangelands of Central Asia 47 Animal Diets 50 Species Interactions 52 Technology in Biodiversity Conservation 56 Recent Developments in Population Ecology 62 Symposia 62 Strengthening Capacity for Reducing Illegal Wildlife Trade in Asia 66 Illegal Wildlife Trade in Big Cats 68 Ecosystem Financing & Resource Mobilization for Conservation 71 Exploring Collaborative Solutions for the Recovery of Globally Endangered Fruit Tree Species in Asia 5 75 Mainstreaming Conservation in China’s Belt & Road Initiative 78 IBAs/KBAs: Implementation of the BirdLife’s Global Species-Oriented Programme in Central Asia 82 An Overview of Climate Change in Central Asia 86 Beyond the 6% Solution: Envisioning a Future for Asia’s Tigers 89 Microcosmic Methods for Snow Leopard Conservation: Innovations and Challenges 93 Finding Common Ground Across the Rangelands of Central Asia and Tibet 99 The Conservation of North Eurasia’s Bustards: Assessment and Action 105 Assimilated Knowledges: An Integrated Approach to Conservation in Snow Leopard Landscapes 108 Free Flying Wings, Migratory Birds Protection in the Context of One Belt and One Road 111 Central Asian Ungulates and Health 115 Conservation Biology in Central Asia 120 Poster Sessions 6 Organizing Committee Conference Chair: – Chingiz Shamshiev (Vice-President / Chief Operating Officer of the American University of Central Asia) Conference Co-chair: – Zheenbek Kulenbekov (American University of Central Asia) Organizing Committee Members: – Jildiz Nicharapova (American University of Central Asia) – Diana Durusbek kyzy (American University of Central Asia) – Kanat Sultanaliev (American University of Central Asia) – Dinara Orozbaeva (American University of Central Asia) – Lilia Muslimova (American University of Central Asia) – Olga Maiorova (American Universtiy of Cetral Asia) – Kubanychbek Jumabay (Snow Leopard Trust & Snow Leopard Foundation of Kyrgyzstan) – Taalai Mambetov (National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic) – Lira Joldubaeva (United Nations Development Programme Kyrgyzstan) – Ahimsa Campos-Arseiz (Society for Conservation Biology Asia Chapter) – Natalia Huang (Ecology Matters Pte Ltd) – Talant Asankozhoev (American University of Central Asia) – Azamat Turdubek uluu (American University of Central Asia) – Baktyiar Asanov (American University of Central Asia) – Koustubh Sharma (Snow Leopard Trust, Global Snow Leopard & Ecosystem Protection Program Secretariat) – Jyldyz Djakypbay kyzy (American University of Central Asia) – Kyial Alygulova (Global Snow Leopard & Ecosystem Protection Program Secretariat) – Suraiya Luecke (Snow Leopard Trust, Global Snow Leopard & Ecosystem Protection Program Secretariat) – Nikolay Shulgin (American University of Central Asia) – Meder Seitkasymov (Regional Environmental Centre for CA, Kyrgyzstan Office) 7 Scientific Committee Scientific Committee Chair: – Koustubh Sharma (Snow Leopard Trust, Global Snow Leopard & Ecosystem Protection Program Secretariat) Scientific Committee Members: – Zheenbek Kulenbekov (University of Central Asia) – Emil Shukurov (EM Aleine) – Lira Joldubaeva (United Nations Development Programme Kyrgyzstan) – Maksim Kulikov (Fauna & Flora International) – Marc Foggin (University of Central Asia) – Aigul Zhusupbaeva (EM Aleine) – Ahimsa Campos-Arseiz (Society for Conservation Biology Asia Chapter) – Suraiya Luecke (Snow Leopard Trust, Global Snow Leopard & Ecosystem Protection Program Secretariat) – Tanya Rosen (Panthera) – Michael Brody (American University, Washington DC) – Veraldo Liesenberg (Santa Caterina State University) – Kubanychbek Jumabay (Snow Leopard Trust & Snow Leopard Foundation of Kyrgyzstan) – Kirk Olson (Wildlife Conservation Society Mongolia) – Kulbhushansingh Suryawanshi (Nature Conservation Foundation of India) – Yash Veer Bhatnagar (Nature Conservation Foundation of India) – Jyldyz Djakypbay kyzy (American University of Central Asia) – Zairbek Kubanuchbekov (Panthera) – Shannon Kachel (Panthera) – Rahim Kulenbekov (Panthera) – Alice Hughes (Chinese Academy of Sciences) 8 Abstracts Plenary Sessions 9 Abstracts Lu Zhi Professor Lu Zhi has worked on the natural history and conseration strategies of endangered species such as the giant panda, the snow leopard, the Przewalski’s gazelle, and the ecosystems these flag species represent in China. In recent years, her interests expanded to understanding the complex interaction between ecosystems and socioeconomic systems, in order to explore practical and equitable solutions for co-existence. She is involved in conservation policy making at regional and national levels and in promoting China’s positive influence in the world. Simon Hedges Asia is in the midst of a biodiversity conservation crisis. Protected Areas (PAs) are expected to fulfill an ever-growing list of functions, but the majority are failing in their most important goal, the protection of wildlife and wildlife habitat. Specifically, traditional PA management regimes are failing to adequately reduce the key threats of intense, unsustainable hunting, as well as habitat loss and degradation. These failings are not restricted to Asia but are seen across the planet. One response, in Africa, over the last 10-15 years, has been for countries to delegate PA management responsibility