Conservation Framework for Furcifer Chameleons in Madagascar (2008)
In July an announcement was made by Madagasikara Voakajy to attract a range of stakeholders to participate in a new project to determine the conservation status of all 17 species of Furcifer chameleons and identify priority habitats for protection.

Study of the Impact of Plant Exploitation on the Habitat, Population & Behaviour of Mountain Gorilla (2001)
Between 2001 and 2005 the team has worked with the Gorilla Organization (formerly The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund Europe) on the Mount Tshiabirimu Gorilla Conservation Project, and since 2006 they have been based in the Itombwe Natural Reserve studying the impacts of plant exploitation on gorilla populations.

ASIA

Community-based wildlife monitoring in West Kalimantan, Indonesia (2008)
Less than 1,000 Storm’s stork (Ciconia stormi) exist in the world and the team recorded just one sighting on 30th November in the south-eastern part of Danau Sentarum National Park. Chances to involve local communities in the monitoring of the stork are good since fishermen already recognize the need for active biodiversity management. They have already banned destructive fishing methods and have also organized themselves to fight forest fires in the area.

Calayan Rail Project II: Building stakeholders’ capacity to conserve an island-endemic species (2007)
Owing to the need to raise environmental awareness in the community, focusing particularly on the Calayan rail (Gallirallus calayanensis) and its habitat, a team of ISLA volunteers returned to conduct a series of community consultations in October. The team also reviewed the results of the Action Planning Workshop held in May 2006 to provide updates on the progress of these activities.

Habitat Conservation of Globally threatened Spot-billed Pelicans in Sri Lanka (2008)
The team has had a major breakthrough in convincing the local community to protect the globally threatened spot-billed pelican (Pelecanus philippensis) and its habitat. It has been particularly encouraging to see how enthused the youth groups have become in conservation.

China Wintering Ecology of Hooded Crane at Chongming Dongtan (2008)
Very good progress has been made in all aspects of this project. The arrival of Hooded Cranes (Grus monacha) marked the beginning of a transect surveys to study food availability. Talks about the Chongming Dongtan National Nature Reserve and bird-watching tours led by the team have received very positive feedback from tourists.

Bengal florican conservation and research initiative in BTAD, India (2008)
Field work to identify the potential grassland habitats of Bengal florican (Houbaropsis bengalensis) within the Bodoland Territorial Areas District began in October at the end of the monsoon season. The team has found some of the grasslands suitable for Bengal florican; however, the presence of Bengal florican was not confirmed.

Ecological Studies & Conservation Status Assessment on Threatened Species of Genus Vibrissaphora in China (2007)
The team has finished all planned conservation work to save threatened Vibrissaphora toads in China. In November the popular scientific magazine Chinese National Geography published an article featuring field-work during project implementation which has been widely read.

Conservation Research of Cao Vit Gibbon in China (2008)
The critically endangered Cao Vit gibbon (Nomascus nasutus) has been listed as one of the most Endangered 25 primates in 2008-2010. The aim of this project is to understand the ecological needs of Cao Vit gibbons in their natural habitat.

CROC - Crocodile Rehabilitation, Observance and Conservation, Philippines (2005)
Crocodiles have an image problem. In the Philippines, people associate crocodiles with danger and greed. Crocodiles continue to be killed out of fear or because they are considered vermin. The CROC project aims to mobilize public support for the conservation of the Philippine crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis). 

Small carnivore conservation in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam (2006)
The field team of the Carnivore and Pangolin Conservation Program came face-to-face with two Hairy-nosed Otters during their latest surveys of U Minh Ha National Park, Mekong Delta Vietnam. The Hairy-nosed Otter (Lutra sumatrana) is arguably the rarest species of otter in the world and this is the first time its presence has been confirmed anywhere in Vietnam since 2000. Survey of the Four-horned Antelope in South India (2008)
The team has been surveying scrub forests of the Madanapalle Forest Range in the lower Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh and has now covered 15% of the survey area. Spirits are high as they have identified six middens and many hoof-prints in locations with strikingly similar habitat structure, substrate, and vegetation composition.

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EURASIA

Conservation Action Planning and Sakhalin taimen: Sakhalin, Russia (2008)
The last two months have been a busy period for the team. Two team members travelled to Alaska to participate in a Conservation Action Plan (CAP) workshop which focused on the development of conservation targets, assessing viability, evaluating threats, setting conservation goals, and approaches to monitoring.

Conservation and further research of distribution of the critically endangered Darevsky's viper (Vipera darevskii) in Armenia (2007)
The team has maintained a focus on educating children about ecological problems and nature conservation activities in Armenia, especially regarding the Darevsky’s viper, the threats it faces and the urgent measures being undertaken to conserve the species.

Community-based Conservation of Lake Kuyucuk, Kars, Turkey (2008)
Between August and October the Kuyucuk Ringing Station was run by ringers from South Africa, Hungary and the UK with the support of Rakesh Vyas and 22 university students. 1,813 birds from 68 species were ringed bringing the bird list to a total of 191 species.

Conservation of Rare Plants of Lake Baikal, Russia: Monitoring of Plants and Education of Local Community (2008)
In September representatives from the U.S. Forest Service and from two Mongolian NGOs attended a workshop led by the team to promote collaboration between organizations involved in natural resource use. The goal of the workshop was to provide training and advice to scientists and NGOs which aim to attract members of the public to special events where local knowledge and expertise can be shared.

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LATIN AMERICA

Conservation of threatened wildlife in southwestern Amazonia, Brazil (2008)
To date, the team has completed standardized line-transects with intermittent point-counts in seven logged plots and eight unlogged plotsto estimate the density and/or occupancy of indicator bird species. In addition they characterized the vegetation structure of the point-counts to note differences in habitat between unlogged and logged areas that may affect target species.

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CLP Internship Programme

The aim of CLP internships is to provide future conservation leaders with on-the-job training and exposure to day-to-day workings of conservation NGOs, whilst providing programme partners with talented individuals. Interns are selected by and work with program partners in their respective organisations.

2008 CLP Interns