west caucasian tur (Capra caucasica) Case Study
Home > Biodiversity Nature & People > Conservation Philanthropy > Grants > MBZF Grant 12253470
Continent: Asia
Country: Georgia
Grant Amount: $8,300
Awarded Date: June 20, 2012
Tamar Khardziani
Youth Conservationists Group
22-B Building, VI Block, Dighomi District
Tbilisi
Tbilisi
0159
Georgia
Tel: +995322515767
Mob:
Determining the statuts of the west caucasian tur in a potential new national park area
The project objectives are to: a) evaluate current status of west Caucasian tur in Svaneti; b) promote establishment of new protected area; c) establish a basis for community involvement in conservation activities. Series of meetings with local population for resource user groups identification and leaflets distribution will be conducted. On the basis of meetings and questionnaires areas under high poaching pressure will be identified. Selected areas will be stratified for detailed studies. Animal counts in the selected areas using direct count method and adaptive cluster sampling (Thompson, 1992) will be conducted. This sampling technique is suitable for rare and clustered species and it would allow maximum coverage of the study area. Threats and habitat assessment using habitat suitability analysis and special field form to record current threats will be carried out. The form will incorporate the major threat types outlined in IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. All available information will be analyzed with Geographic Information System and thematic maps will be produced. Information on current species status will be updated and the recommendations for necessary conservation measures will be developed. As the study area is proposed as candidate for National Park status, it is essential to raise public awareness in the region and form attitudes towards legal protection of the species. Limited public awareness poses a particular problem for protected areas development. The local population knows very little about new initiatives and government plans concerning protected areas, and they are not adequately informed about the roles and importance of national parks. Informal Workshops with local stakeholder and secondary-school students to show the role of tur in whole ecosystem, the threats that influenced on its number, the significance of this species to attract tourists’ attention toward Svanetia will be held. Meetings with local stakeholders will be organized to promote establishment of new protected area. The results from community meetings will be analyzed to assess West Caucasian tur conservation problems and to find possible solution for its improvement.
Youth Conservationists Group (YCG) is Georgian nongovernmental organization established in 2007 year. YCG species conservation and research activities have focused on rare and endangered large mammals, reptiles and amphibians, plants and invertebrates. Within the framework of our projects, YCG facilitates cooperation between local government authorities and local communities, non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders. YCG is active in most regions of Georgia. The main activities include: Conducting basic and applied research of species and ecosystems; Support to NGOs and CBO through the implementation of grant programs, specialized training and other technical assistance; Implementing public awareness and environmental educational activities targeted at the general public and users of biological resources; the production of environmental educational materials. The organization has more than 50 members, mainly based and active in Tbilisi, Mestia and Tetritskaro. YCG has already undertaken several projects that were focused on deer, West Caucasian Tour, Eurasian otter, jungle cat and different habitats including riparian forest as well as high mountains. Geographical area of the project is Svaneti, Great Caucasus, Georgia.
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