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Kirsty Simkin, kirsten.simkin@some.ox.ac.uk
University of Oxford
There is a need for high quality impact evaluation in
conservation biology. In response to this need there is a growing
body of work on how best to evaluate conservation interventions.
However, often these methods are too time-consuming or
resource-heavy for small NGOs to carry out. The Theory of Change
approach has the potential to be a useful and feasible approach for
small NGOs. As part of my undergraduate degree I used the Saiga
Conservation Alliance's work in Uzbekistan to trial the Theory of
Change approach to impact evaluation.
Jürgensen, J., D.G. Drucker, A.J. Stuart, M. Schneider, B.
Buuveibaatar, H. Bocherens. 2017. Quaternary Science Reviews.160:
150-161.
The saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica) is one of the typical late
Pleistocene species of the cold and arid mammoth steppe that
covered a large area of northern hemisphere. The species is
currently endangered and persists only in small areas of the
Central Asian steppe and desert ecosystems.
Alyona Krivosheyeva, Association for the Conservation of
Biodiversity of Kazakhstan, alyona.krivosheyeva@acbk.kz
Sudden death of 200,000 Critically Endangered saiga antelopes was caused by unusual environmental conditions
The sudden death of over 200,000 saiga antelopes in Kazakhstan in May 2015, more than 80% of the affected population and more than 60% of the global population of this species, baffled the world.
In just three weeks entire herds of tens of thousands of healthy animals, died of haemorrhagic septicaemia across a landscape equivalent to the area of the British Isles in the Betpak-Dala region of Kazakhstan. These deaths were caused byPasteurella multocidabacteria.
Our friends at Nautilus Magazine have created a beautiful short film about the challenges of saiga conservation in recent years.
The film sets the scene, helping us understand why saigas are in the critical position they are currently in.
It then brings us up to date, reporting on the results into months of research into what caused the tragic loss of over 220,000 saigas over 13 different populations in Kazakhstan in 2015.
One of the reasons our favourite Critically Endangered species still faces an uncertain future is due to the increasing demand for its horns in the traditional Chinese medicine trade. Singapore is a major hub for the global trade and an important consumer country, with saiga horn products widely available in the domestic market.
For the full article, first published in Natural History Magazine's April 2018 issue please click here
Professor Amankul Bekenov was voted the Saiga Conservation Alliance's (SCA) first Honorary Member in recognition of his tireless service for saiga antelope conservation over many years. The Steering Committee of the SCA is proud to have served with this distinguished scientist. He is also the first Saiga Hero.
E.J. Milner Gulland, Chair of the Saiga Conservation Alliance, pays tribute to Amankul
Amankul Bekenov's research covered both field work and analysis, and concerned the ecology and conservation of a range of mammal species.