CMS Distribution: General CONVENTION ON UNEP/CMS/COP11/Inf.21 MIGRATORY 16 July 2014 SPECIES Original: English 11th MEETING OF THE CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES Quito, Ecuador, 4-9 November 2014 Agenda Item 23.3.1 ASSESSMENT OF GAPS AND NEEDS IN MIGRATORY MAMMALS CONSERVATION IN CENTRAL ASIA 1. In response to multiple mandates (notably Concerted and Cooperative Actions, Rec.8.23 and 9.1, Res.10.3 and 10.9), CMS has strengthened its work for the conservation of large mammals in the central Asian region and inter alia initiated a gap analysis and needs assessment, including status reports of prioritized central Asian migratory mammals to obtain a better picture of the situation in the region and to identify priorities for conservation. Range States and a large number of relevant experts were engaged in the process, and national stakeholder consultation meetings organized in several countries. 2. The Meeting Document along with the Executive Summary of the assessment is available as UNEP/CMS/COP11/Doc.23.3.1. For reasons of economy, documents are printed in a limited number, and will not be distributed at the Meeting. Delegates are requested to bring their copy to the meeting and not to request additional copies. UNEP/CMS/COP11/Inf.21 Assessment of gaps and needs in migratory mammal conservation in Central Asia Report prepared for the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. Financed by the Ecosystem Restoration in Central Asia (ERCA) component of the European Union Forest and Biodiversity Governance Including Environmental Monitoring Project (FLERMONECA). Maria Karlstetter and David Mallon 2014 UNEP/CMS/COP11/Inf.21 Table of contents Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................. v Executive summary ..................................................................................................................... vi Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 1 The CMS Central Asian Mammals Initiative ............................................................................................ 3 The wider socio-ecological and political setting of the Central Asian region ......................................... 4 Methodology ............................................................................................................................... 5 Assessment methodology ....................................................................................................................... 5 Priority species ........................................................................................................................................ 6 Geographical scope ................................................................................................................................. 7 Species assessment ...................................................................................................................... 8 Bukhara/Yarkand deer Cervus elaphus yarkandensis ........................................................................... 11 Wild camel Camelus bactrianus ............................................................................................................ 13 Wild yak Bos grunniens ......................................................................................................................... 15 Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus ..................................................................................................................... 17 Snow leopard Uncia uncia ..................................................................................................................... 19 Saiga antelope Saiga tatarica and S. borealis mongolica...................................................................... 21 Argali Ovis ammon ................................................................................................................................ 23 Mongolian gazelle Procapra gutturosa ................................................................................................. 25 Goitered gazelle Gazella subgutturosa ................................................................................................. 27 Kulan/ onager Equus hemionus ............................................................................................................. 28 Kiang Equus kiang .................................................................................................................................. 31 Chiru Pantholops hodgsonii ................................................................................................................... 33 Przewalski’s horse Equus caballus przewalskii ...................................................................................... 35 Tibetan gazelle Procapra picticaudata .................................................................................................. 36 State of species knowledge and commonalities of threats ........................................................... 37 State of species knowledge ................................................................................................................... 37 Commonalities of threats ...................................................................................................................... 38 Habitat ....................................................................................................................................... 42 Species specific habitat requirements .................................................................................................. 42 Ecosystem review .................................................................................................................................. 43 Stakeholder review .................................................................................................................... 47 Governmental stakeholders .................................................................................................................. 47 International donors .............................................................................................................................. 47 United Nations organisations ................................................................................................................ 50 International conventions ..................................................................................................................... 52 International organisations ................................................................................................................... 55 National organisations .......................................................................................................................... 69 International scientific institutions ....................................................................................................... 70 International programmes/ initiatives .................................................................................................. 71 Private sector......................................................................................................................................... 73 Regional transport infrastructure development initiatives .................................................................. 74 ii UNEP/CMS/COP11/Inf.21 Review of current management/ conservation instruments ........................................................ 76 CMS instruments ................................................................................................................................... 76 Instruments under other MEAs ............................................................................................................. 79 Other national or multilateral instruments ........................................................................................... 82 International financial institution and private sector performance standards and principles ............. 84 Commonalities of conservation efforts ....................................................................................... 88 Species and country focus of stakeholders ........................................................................................... 88 Conservation measurements ................................................................................................................ 89 Financial means ..................................................................................................................................... 92 Gaps and needs, and options for enhanced synergies .................................................................. 93 Key obstacles ......................................................................................................................................... 94 Successes and supporting factors ......................................................................................................... 95 The legal framework .............................................................................................................................. 97 The role of CMS ................................................................................................................................... 100 Options for enhanced synergies