New international conservation pact for saiga antelopes

For the next five years, the international work program for the saiga antelope will provide a new framework to conserve and sustainably use the species throughout its migratory range.

The new work program was agreed at the fourth meeting of the signatory states to the CMS memorandum of understanding concerning conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of the saiga antelope held online last month.

The agreed work program considers different approaches to saiga conservation depending on the individual status of the species in the four range states.

While the population is dwindling in Uzbekistan, it has increased tenfold in Kazakhstan since 2015. In both Mongolia and Russia, the population is increasing but remains low.

CMS Executive Secretary Amy Fraenkel told IANS: "The adoption of the new work program by the four saiga range states underscores the importance of transboundary conservation. The seasonal migrations of the saiga antelope show why ecological connectivity -- the unimpeded movement of wild species -- is so vital."

The meeting also endorsed the report "Sustainable use of the saiga antelope: Perspectives and prospects", prepared by the Saiga Conservation Alliance on behalf of the CMS Secretariat, in close consultations with all range states.

The report seeks to guide the establishment of sustainable use of saigas, where this is possible, taking into account population dynamics and threats to saiga antelopes across the range.

According to the report, the current number of saiga in the rural population in Kazakhstan is sufficiently high for the government to consider sustainable harvest of the animals.

The most recent population counts have shown an increase in saiga numbers in three range states, and especially in Kazakhstan, where their total population has increased from about 83,000 in 2015 to 842,000 in 2021.

The conservation efforts of the range states, scientific institutions, and NGOs facilitated by the CMS and CITES secretariats have played a significant role in this positive dynamic.

Range states and NGOs reported on current conservation programs, including anti-poaching efforts that were stepped up in recent years.

Sergey Anoprienko, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russia and Chair of the meeting, said: "Conservation and sustainable use of the saiga antelope is an important issue for Russia, considering that the species is included in the Russian Red book.

"Thanks to the conservation efforts undertaken by the Russian Federation, the number of the pre-Caspian saiga population in Russia increased from 3,500 in 2015 to currently 10,000 animals."