Pear sp. (Pyrus tadshikistanica)

Mohamed bin Zayed Species project number 11252685

FFI works by invitation around the world to save species from extinction, habitats from destruction and to encourage sustainable development. Formed in 1903 in the United Kingdom, FFI acts to conserve threatened species and ecosystems worldwide, choosing solutions that are sustainable, are based on sound science and take account of human needs. We work through partnerships that ensure local ownership and lasting results and believe success lies in devising strategies that both conserve biodiversity and contribute to human development. Our guiding principles are to: respond to local needs, respect national priorities, develop strategic partnerships and strengthen our partners’ capacity. Our program of activities in Africa, the Americas, Asia Pacific, and Eurasia is delivered principally through: building capacity to equip local people and agencies to manage their natural heritage; monitoring causes of biodiversity loss and its impact on local people, identifying and implementing solutions that benefit people and wildlife; and securing threatened areas of high biodiversity importance through land purchase and local conservation agreements. FFI has been active in Eurasia since 1995. As one of the few international conservation NGOs working in this region we have established a strong reputation for dealing with the unique problems for biodiversity resulting from economic transition in many countries. We focus operations in three core sub-regions: Central Asia, Caucasus, and Eastern Europe/Balkans. We have built significant experience in endangered species conservation, conservation capacity building, working with local communities, biodiversity planning and public awareness. The Global Trees Campaign (GTC), a partnership between FFI and Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), was established to take action for threatened tree species. GTC aims to save the world's most threatened tree species and their habitats through provision of information, conservation action and support for sustainable use. FFI/GTC has been working in the fruit and nut forests of Central Asia since 2006 when a GTC workshop in Kyrgyzstan assessed the conservation status of 96 tree species according to IUCN Categories and Criteria, and the resulting publication, The Red List of Trees of Central Asia, identified 68 species that are threatened, near threatened or data deficient. Field activities then began for fruit and nut forests, initially in Kyrgyzstan, and extended to include Tajikistan, in 2008. FFI is working to conserve threatened tree species and address the threats to the walnut-maple forests in the Childukhtaron region of southern Tajikistan. Since 2008 we have been working with a national NGO Zan va Zamin, on a community conservation project to bring together local communities, State Forest Service and other stakeholders to participate in community restoration through establishment of school nurseries and raising awareness about these threatened trees. With previous support from MBZSCF, two focus groups helped establish and maintain these nurseries and will direct the planting out of the young tree species into the forest when they have reached the appropriate size, and monitor their after-care. An initial baseline threatened tree species survey in Childukhtaron Reserve has been conducted and preliminary results highlighted the presence of one of Tajikistan’s highly threatened pear species, Pyrus korshinskyi. The support of the Mohammed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund has made a significant impact on the success of this project to date. Overall, the project has increased the knowledge of rare and threatened tree species of the fruit and nut forest in Childukhtaron Zakaznik through the completion of a baseline survey, increased the capacity of the local state forest service staff through training, established two school nurseries growing seedlings of threatened and rare tree species and increased awareness and understanding of the importance of threatened tree species and reasons for their conservation through school workshops and village events. Over one hundred and thirty-five people have been directly involved in the threatened tree species project and the number will increase through dissemination of printed materials. Thus, a significant population of the local constituency within the Zakaznik has been sensitized and empowered on the value of these threatened tree species that are unique to the fruit and nut forest of Childukhtaron and geared towards ensuring their conservation. In addition, the support of the MBZSCF has helped us leverage funding from Disney Friends for Change Program ($5,000), the Fondation Franklinia (€9,000), and the Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust (£2,500), allowing us to magnify the conservation impacts and benefits for these floral species in a region that still struggles to secure conservation support. As a result, we have been able to grow the project and are now positioned to expand to new species and additional conservation activities identified through these projects.