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Enhancing the conservation of flagship migratory mammal species of Central Asia through climate change-informed management and decision making

Central Asia is highly vulnerable to climate change, which threatens both humans and wildlife. Migratory species such as the argali sheep, snow leopard, etc. adapt by altering their movement patterns and habitat use, which may render existing Protected Areas (PAs) ineffective and expose animals to new threats. Fences and roads pose barriers to the movement of flagship species in search of suitable habitat and food, reducing their resilience. In addition, livestock grazing has increased in duration and shifted to higher elevations due to climate change, often leading to human-wildlife conflict, poaching and encroachment on species habitats. In addition, low awareness exists of the impacts of climate change on biodiversity and associated ecosystem services, and for human communities. Integration of climate change considerations into biodiversity and ecosystem management is not yet sufficiently applied, in particular in the management of PAs and in decision-making. The project goal is therefore to increase the resilience of Central Asia flagship mountain and other migratory species (not limited to migratory species as per CMS definition) (snow leopard, argali, Central Asian ibex, Tien Shan maral, Bukhara deer: selection of species to be confirmed), associated ecosystems and communities to climate change and related threats. It will benefit both wildlife and local communities in pilot sites in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan by supporting climate change-informed, community-based wildlife management in and outside of PAs, reducing human-wildlife conflicts, and contributing to landscape permeability.