The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Concerning Conservation, Restoration and Sustainable Use of the Saiga Antelope is a Multilateral Environmental Memorandum of Understanding and came into effect on 24 September 2006 under the auspices of the Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), also known as the Bonn Convention. The MoU covers five range States (Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russian Federation, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan), all of which have signed. A number of cooperating organizations have also signed the MoU.
Development of MoU To implement the decision of the Seventh Conference of the Parties of CMS to list the Saiga Antelope (Saiga tatarica) on Appendix II of the Convention as a consequence of its endangered status and the conviction that conservation efforts of this species are dependent on international collaboration between the range States, an Article IV agreement was concluded and took effect on 24 September 2006 after signature by the third range State.
Signatories to the Saiga Antelope MoU:
Turkmenistan (23 November 2005) Uzbekistan (23 May 2006) Kazakhstan (24 September 2006) Russian Federation (24 June 2009) Mongolia (10 September 2010) In addition, the following organizations have signed the MoU:
UNEP/CMS Secretariat (23 November 2005) Ministry of Nature and Environment of Mongolia (23 November 2005) International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation (23 November 2005) IUCN/SSC (23 November 2005) WWF International (23 November 2005) Fauna and Flora International (24 September 2006) Frankfurt Zoological Society (24 September 2006) Wildlife Conservation Society (24 September 2006) ACBK Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan (10 September 2010) The Saiga Conservation Alliance (10 September 2010) NABU Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union Germany (29 October 2015)
Aim of MoU Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Saiga populations declined by more than 95% (scientists estimate that only 64,400-69,400 Saigas remain from a former population of nearly 2 million), primarily due to poaching for the species’ meat and horn and Chinese traditional medicine. Being one of the fastest population collapses of large mammals recently observed, the MoU aims to reduce current exploitation levels and restore the population status of these nomads of the Central Asian steppes.
Species covered by MoU Until 2002 only the sub-species Saiga tatarica tatarica was listed on the CMS Appendix II and thus the scope of the MoU was limited to this sub-species. In 2008 however, all Saiga spp. were listed on Appendix II and at the Second Meeting of Signatories the species coverage of the MoU was extended to the entire species.
Fundamental components All Signatories agree to collaborate to improve the conservation status of the Saiga antelope throughout its range, and undertake national and joint activities to conserve restore and sustainably use the species and those habitats and ecosystems important for its long-term survival. Therefore, they shall, individually or collectively:
Provide effective protection for the Saiga antelope and, where feasible and appropriate, conserve, restore and sustainably use those habitats and ecosystems that are important for its long-term survival Implement the provisions of the Action Plan, adopted in 2006 Assess regularly the implementation of the Saiga antelope MoU and the Action Plan Facilitate the exchange of scientific, technical and legal information to undertake coordinated measures to conserve, restore and sustainably use the Saiga antelope, and cooperate with other States, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations and other bodies interested in the implementation process Provide to the CMS Secretariat detailed reports on the implementation of the MoU The MoU took effect immediately after at least three of the range States signed it (24 September 2006) and shall remain in effect indefinitely subject to the right of any Signatory to terminate its participation by providing one year’s written notice to all of the other Signatories.
Meetings
Meeting of Signatories Meetings of Signatories are organized regularly to review the conservation status of the Saiga antelope and the implementation of the MoU and Action Plan. National reports by individual Signatories and a report prepared by the Secretariat are also submitted. The First Meeting of Signatories took place in Almaty, Kazakhstan, 25–26 September 2006. Previous to the meeting a two-day Technical Workshop was organized. During the First Meeting of Signatories the following points were addressed:
Share information on the conservation status of the Saiga antelope within the respective range States and the status of implementation of the Action Plan Adopt a Medium Term International Work Programme to support the implementation of the MoU and Action Plan The Signatories represented at the meeting were Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. The other two range States, the Russian Federation and Mongolia, were also represented. Additionally, China and the United States were also present. Finally, a number of organizations such as UNDP Kazakhstan, NABU and TRAFFIC attended the meeting. The Second Meeting of Signatories was convened by CMS and took place in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, 7–10 September 2010, preceded by a technical meeting. The Meeting of Signatories:
Adopted a Medium Term International Work Programme for 2011-2015 Agreed to expand the MoU to cover all Saigas, and thus to amend its title to refer to “Saiga spp.” instead of only “Saiga tatarica tatarica”. This meant that Mongolia became a formal Range State to the MoU and its signature was welcomed The Signatories represented at the meeting were Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation and Mongolia. China as well as a number of organizations such as IUCN, CITES and IFAW also attended the meeting.
Other Saiga meetings
… excerpt ends here. Continue reading the full article.
