° 2013 AnnuAl report ° ConservAtion projeCts in the russiAn FAr eAst Office 409, 2 Petra Velikogo Street Vladivostok, Russia 690091 Tel: +7 (423) 220-50-53 Fax: +7 (423) 220-50-48 E-mail: [email protected] Web-site: www.fundphoenix.org Annual report 2013 [PHOENIX FUND] Annual report 2013 BACKGrounD South of the Russian Far East represents the only area in the world where the Amur tigers and leopards still exist in the wild. The species are listed as Endangered by the IUCN and are on CITES Appendix I for protection status. Protected under the Russian and international laws and regulations, these rare predator populations are still threatened by poaching, habitat destruction, prey depletion and conflicts with people. For sixteen 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, 2013. The activities described below are the result of joint efforts of many organizations, both Russian and international, and invaluable contribution of our supporters! [PHOENIX FUND] Annual report 2013 news in tiGer poliCy The year 2013 was declared by Vladimir Putin behind bars. On July 2, 2013, a new article 258.1 as the Year of Environment Protection in Russia. was introduced in the Russian Criminal Code We are glad to witness the ongoing steps by that envisages criminal responsibility for Russian Government to protect Amur tigers and poaching, keeping, acquisition, storage, leopards from extinction. transportation and sale of precious wild animals and water biological resources. Also in July, a First step was made on March 31, 2013 when special fund for Amur tiger conservation was the Russian government increased the formed in Russia at the initiative of Russian compensation due from anyone convicted of President Vladimir Putin. The Fund will be killing or taking from the wild tigers and leopards financed from non-budgetary resources, and other endangered species. According to particularly from grants of the Russian the order, charges for damage, for example, Geographical Society. The Centre of Amur Tiger caused to Amur tiger and Amur leopard have Fund was formed to fulfil the commitments, increased from 500 thousand rubles to 1.1 million which Russia assumed during the International rubles (US$35,000). Tiger Summit in 2010 hosted by Russia in St. Second step was made when Russian Petersburg. President Vladimir Putin submitted a law to On September 19, 2013, Vladimir Putin parliament that would make smuggling of ordered to allot 15 million rubles from the endangered species a criminal offence, presidential reserve fund in 2013 to the meaning those convicted would spend time [PHOENIX FUND] Annual report 2013 Rehabilitation Centre for Tigers and Other Rare in the southwestern Primorye and the creation of Species. As stated in the order published on a united protected area as the main condition official portal of legal information, the funds are for leopard conservation. Additionally, the Far allocated for the maintenance of Amur tigers in Eastern scientists and experts developed a order to ensure their return back to the wild, the detailed action plan for the period up to 2022, purchase of equipment and construction of which was approved on December 13, 2013 at necessary infrastructure. the extended meeting of the Working Group on Rare Species of Large Mammals of Primorye and On November 4, 2013, Russian Prime Minister the Working Group on the Conservation of the Dmitry Medvedev has approved the list of Amur leopard. precious wild animals, birds and fish, which are put on the Red Book or are protected by the We are hopeful that the Russian Government Convention on International Trade of will adhere to a policy of supporting nature Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna. conservation efforts and fulfill its pledges given On November 19, 2013, the Ministry of Natural at the International Tiger Forum in St. Petersburg Resources and Environment of the Russian in November 2010. Federation approved the Amur Leopard Conservation Strategy in Russia by the Decree #29-p. The new edition of the Strategy is based on the latest data on the biology and ecology of the leopard, on the current experience in protection of the predator and its habitat. The document was urgently needed due to the changes in legislation, socio-economic situation [PHOENIX FUND] Annual report 2013 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 2013 we focused our anti-poaching efforts in the five 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 Phoenix has provided anti-poaching units with fuel and spare parts for their patrolling vehicles, incentive payments, as well as training. In 2013 the struggle with poachers was fruitful, and we are happy to share the achievements of the year below. Table 1. Patrol results in five protected areas in 2012 and 2013 Protected area Patrols Violations Criminal cases Rifles seized 2012 2013 2012 2013 2012 2013 2012 2013 Lazovsky NR 569 861 31 42 2 7 3 7 Land of the Leopard NP 910 1107 189 285 7 37 8 9 Sikhote-Alin NR 488 466 11 25 - 8 - 1 Zov Tigra NP 195 293 27 19 - - - - Anyuisky NP 114 153 195 191 2 - - 9 [PHOENIX FUND] Annual report 2013 Since 2010, Phoenix Fund, Zoological Society of London and Wildlife Conservation Society have been introducing a Law Enforcement Monitoring Program (MIST) in protected areas of Primorye. Work with MIST enables managers of 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. Implementation of MIST in 4 protected areas has resulted in a substantial improvement of the protection in 2011-2012, and in 2013 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 4 federally protected areas. • Patrol efforts substantially increased at all 4 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). The patrol monitoring system is based on GIS technology using the software program SMART. All patrol data are linked spatially and can be shown on maps. SMART makes it possible to monitor patrol efforts (e.g. distance covered, time spent on patrols, areas visited) and the results (e.g. the number of confiscated guns or issued fines). In 2014, we plan to expand the program to other protected areas with Amur tigers, including Ussuriisky Nature Reserve in Primorsky Krai. [PHOENIX FUND] Annual report 2013 unMAnneD AeriAl vehiCles Technology is fast developing, so too when it comes to new effective methods to tackle the poaching problems. Drones (or called UAVs: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) have been used extensively for a year now in the fight against poaching of rhinos and elephants in Southern Africa. The U.S. military has been using drones for almost 10 years now in high risk territories such as Yemen, Pakistan and Somalia where hostile 'cells' are taken out. This technology can now be used to detect poaching activities, but also for example to locate wild fires - one of the main threats to the survival of the Amur leopards and tigers. In 2013, Phoenix decided to launch a pilot project in order to assist track and hunt down wildlife poachers and detect forest fires in Land of the Leopard National Park through the use of UAVs. First, the Phoenix’ staff examined the ultramodern and rapidly growing drone market extensively to determine which type is best deployed drones to the extreme conditions in the Russian Far East. In addition to enhance knowledge, a representative of the Phoenix Fund attended an international workshop 'Linking biodiversity conservation science to policy and action', where the use of drones for nature conservation was the central theme. We did not expect that it could take so much time to start, but we are glad to list our first achievements, namely: - An Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Forest Firefighting is signed between the Phoenix Fund and Avialesookhrana (Aerial Forest Protection Service); - Two multicopters and one drone are purchased; - Staff members of Phoenix were trained to use UAVs trough the flight simulator and in the field. In 2014, we would like to purchase more drones taking into consideration all shortcomings identified during the first test flights and to hold first workshops on work with UAVs for wardens and rangers of the protected areas. [PHOENIX FUND] Annual report 2013 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.