Saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica)

Mohamed bin Zayed Species project number 10251571

The Saiga Conservation Alliance (SCA) is a network of conservationists working together towards the mission of restoring the saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica) to its position as the flagship species of the Central Asian and pre-Caspian steppes, reflecting the species’ cultural and economic value to local people and its fundamental role in the steppe ecosystem. We work collaboratively, and freely share our expertise and enthusiasm for saigas. We disseminate our work widely - to those working for saiga conservation, the public throughout the world, governments and the wider research and conservation community.  The SCA was established in 2006 and registered as a UK charity in 2010. It is an international organisation, with a focus on the saiga's range states: Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and on China.

Our primary objectives are conservation of the Saiga antelope through:

• Grassroots and international level research, education and training on saiga biology, habitat and its role in the ecosystem

• Capacity building among researchers and conservationists in the saiga range states, particularly through our small grant programme dedicated to supporting individuals and grassroots initiatives carrying out saiga conservation in the wild

• Dissemination of information about saiga conservation activities through a bi-annual newsletter Saiga News published in six languages (Russian, Uzbek, Kazakh, Mongolian, Chinese and English) to the local, national and international audience

 

• Development of alternative livelihoods for poor people in the saiga range, including traditional embroidery and a rotating cows scheme.

• Including local people in conservation through participatory monitoring of saigas and the development of local filials in each range state.

• Increasing awareness about saigas’ plight through a local-level programme of education aimed at schoolchildren, including visits, cartoons, books and art competitions, and internationally through films, articles, talks and a website www.saiga-conservation.com.

• Networking and bringing together scientists from saiga range countries annually, to a common platform to discuss research, conservation issues and exchange of best practice in the form of a SCA network meeting.