New global initiative established to preserve snow leopard habitat
November 2013: Officials from 12 central and South Asian countries have made an historic pledge to protect snow leopards and their habitat in the high-mountain landscapes of Asia. Government ministers from Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan all signed the declaration, agreeing to ‘intensify conservation efforts’ and ‘take firm action to stop poaching and illegal trade of snow leopards’, during the Global Snow Leopard Conservation Forum, which took place in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic.
It is estimated that fewer than 7,500 snow leopards remain in the wild. The goal of the initiative is to protect the 20 snow leopard landscapes that have over 100 breeding adults by 2020 and promote sustainable development in the areas where the species live. “By endorsing the Bishkek Declaration on Snow Leopard Conservation and the Global Snow Leopard Ecosystem Recovery Program range, countries are committing to scaling up joint snow leopard conservation efforts,” said Almazbek Atambayev, President of the Kyrgyz. “If we do not take decisive measures to protect the snow leopard today, we will forever lose this priceless animal.”
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