Executive Manager's Message

There is quite a bit to report as Conservation Leadership Programme activities for 2009 move into full swing. We are in the midst of a three-year strategic planning process and will be implementing that plan in the coming months.

Additionally, we are very happy to announce that the BP Foundation has made a new commitment to the CLP with a three-year grant totaling $4.8 million dollars! With this support, the CLP has the opportunity to open up the awards once again to individuals working in the majority of countries across the globe. Please check our website for more details on geographic restrictions going forward.

CLP Executive Committee and management team

The CLP remains committed to building the capacity of emerging conservation leaders so that they are prepared to address the most pressing conservation issues of our time. While the challenges are great, we have total confidence in the individuals we meet through the CLP and that they are well-equipped to meet these challenges.

In March, we selected the 2009 Team Award Winners and we are excited to meet them in June at our International Award Winners’ Training, which will be followed by the 23rd Annual Meeting of the Society for Conservation Biology, in Beijing, China. Visit the Latest News section to see the full list of award winning projects.

I hope you enjoy reading this issue of the newsletter and updates from the many diverse projects supported by the CLP. There are exciting developments from all corners of the globe. And please don’t hesitate to get in contact with questions or comments.

Robyn Dalzen, Executive Manager

20 April - 1 May 2009 8th Session UN Forum on Forests, New York, USA

20 - 24 May 2009 International Marine Conservation Congress, Washington DC, USA

11 - 16 July 2009 SCB 2009: Harmony for Nature and Society, Beijing, China

1 – 3 June and 9 – 11 September 2009 Conservation and Conflict: An Experiential Training in the Skills, Theory and Process Conservation Professionals Need to Better Analyze and Address Conflict, Washington DC, USA

14 - 27 June 2009 Latin America Seminar on Forest Policy & Management, Santa Cruz, Bolivia

6 – 1 July 2009 VII International Convention on the Environment & Development, Palacio de Convenciones de La Havana, Cuba

11 – 22 August 2009 11th annual Economic Tools for Conservation international training, California, USA

2009 CLP Award-Winning Projects

First Artificial Imperial Eagle Nest in Georgia

CLP Alumnus Wins 2009 Future for Nature Award

A Splendid New Butterfly to Science

News From the Field

Team Awards are granted to teams of three or more individuals who are undertaking high-priority conservation projects. The awards are arranged in a tiered system to allow for progression and include the Future Conservationist Award, Conservation Follow-up Award and Conservation Leadership Award.

AFRICA

Study of the Impact of Plant Exploitation on the Habitat, Population & Behaviour of Mountain Gorilla, Democratic Republic of Congo (2001)
The Forest where Chifundera’s team works is recognized by BirdLife International as an 'important site of priority for conservation' because of its rich biodiversity and endemic species.

Conservation of the Medemia argun and the Nubian Oases Biodiversity, Egypt (2008)
Since the launch of this project in September 2008 the team has conducted a survey in Wadi Allaqi and discovered two sites each with a single Medemia palm, made several visits to Kurkur and Dungul Oases to study wildlife, and patrolled around the Nubian Oases with the Army to stop illegal hunting.

Read more about projects in Africa...

ASIA

Monitoring and Conservation of Tibetan Antelopes and Other Mid-large Size Mammals Along Qinghai-Tibet Railway and Highway (2007)
The Qinghai-Tibet Highway is important for carrying materials to and from Tibet, yet it poses a major threat to migrating animals such as the Tibetan Antelope (Pantholops hodgsonii also known as chiru) as no wildlife crossing structures were considered when it was being developed.

Bat conservation at Cat Ba Biosphere Reserve, North-east Vietnam (2006)
From April 2006 and September 2008, bat surveys were conducted throughout the Cat Ba Biosphere Reserve in north-east Vietnam. Several globally rare bat species were recorded including an unusual adult male hipposiderid (leaf-nosed) bat which has been identified as Hipposideros khaokhouayensis.

Nepenthes Project 2000, Indonesia (2002)
After publishing details of Nepenthes rigidifolia in Reinwardtia Journal in 2004, the team has been monitoring the impacts of Nepenthes trade in Indonesia, focusing particularly on West Sumatra.

Community-Driven Conservation of Cambodian Chelonians (2007)
In November 2008 and March 2009, the Cambodian Turtle Conservation Team visited primary schools in four villages in the Koh Kong province to conduct turtle conservation training. Lessons were taught on the threats (illegal trade, collection, habitat loss) and conservation measures, the role of turtles in Cambodian culture (the Royal terrapin [Batagur Baska] is the national symbol in the Kingdom of Cambodian reptile species), their role in the food web, and to encourage their protection.

Turtles and Tortoises of Northeast India: Saving them from Extinction (2006)
Several field visits have been carried out by the team in recent months and they have met with renowned naturalists, park wardens, and other NGO staff, who have offered their time, support and expertise to the project.

Bengal florican conservation and research initiative in BTAD, India (2008)
We have started the survey of Bengal florican at the end of February 2009. The survey is being conducted in potential habitats within the proposed study area and so far we have surveyed the eastern-most range within Manas National Park.

Bat Count Philippines (2006)
In October, the team helped organise the second part of the 8th Annual Youth Environment Camp which was attended by 20 Sangguniang Kabataan (local youth council) members of Barangay Palinpinon from the municipality of Valencia, Negros Oriental. The Camp aims to educate youth leaders on the importance of biodiversity – more significantly, the forest ecosystem, to strengthen their leadership skills, and challeng them to reevaluate their relationship with the environment.

Gharial Conservation in India: A Research, Outreach and Training Programme (2008)
The Gharial team has been very busy over the last few months in Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, and things are getting even busier. During our winter population surveys we counted a maximum of 126 gharial, 10 of which were mature males.

Community-based wildlife monitoring in West Kalimantan, Indonesia (2008)
Fish are the most important natural resource in the Danau Sentarum wetland in the interior of West Kalimantan. Virtually all households in the area depend on fish for subsistence and income generation.

Wintering ecology of Hooded Crane at Chongming Dongtan, China (2008)
Our fieldwork on the Hooded Crane finished in March when the cranes started their northward migration, leaving Chongming Dongtan. They have stayed in Chongming Dongtan for approximately five months, spending most of their time feeding on the natural intertidal flat.

Read more about projects in Asia...

EURASIA

Community-based Conservation of Lake Kuyucuk, Kars, Turkey (2008)
The team has had some excellent press coverage to highlight their work to conserve endangered bird species at Lake Kuyucuk.

Conservation of Rare Plants of Lake Baikal, Russia: Monitoring of Plants and Education of Local Community, Russia (2008)
From December to March, the team organized a number of workshops and seminars for local school teachers in the Buryatia district regarding the conservation of rare and endangered plants.

Read more about projects in Eurasia...

LATIN AMERICA

Five Threatened Species At Western Andes Of Colombia (2008)
The goal of this project is to determine the population density of five threatened bird species in two protected areas, and to promote the conservation action of five threatened species and their habitat, as well as involving local communities and raising their awareness.

Advancing Seabird Conservation in Peru’s Artisanal Fishery Through Education and Research (2007)
The team has been focusing recent seabird conservation efforts on the waved albatross (Phoebastria irrorata).

Assessment and conservation of Cundinamarca Antpitta at Farallon de Medina, Cundinamarca, Colombia (2008)
Scant information has been published on the rusty faced parrot (Hapalopsittaca amazonina) and yellow flame parakeet (Pyrrhura calliptera), two endangered Colombian endemic species. Updating the available information on their status and distribution is therefore of high priority for developing plans for their conservation.

Project Chicamocha II: Saving threatened dry forest biodiversity, Colombia (2008)
The team would like to report two pieces of really exciting news. Firstly, they achieved their main objective – to create a natural reserve in the dry forest of the Chicamocha Canyon.

Alder Amazon Project: conservation through borders, Argentina - Bolivia (2008)
The Yungas (subtropical montane forests of Argentina and Bolivia) is a region of high biodiversity with many endemic species that are threatened due to forest transformation, unsustainable logging and overgrazing.

Environmental Planning and Education Programme in Cerro Verde, the First Coastal-Marine Protected Area in Uruguay (2007)
Cerro Verde and the La Coronilla Islands are part of the Eastern Wetlands and Coastal Biosphere Reserve and are designated RAMSAR sites.

Read more about projects in Latin America...

Click here to read the latest Intern updates

CLP Alumni: Where Are They Now?

A moment to catch up with the ever-busy Marcela Beltran

 Marcela has been part of the CLP network since 2004 when she was part of a team working in Colombia to conserve the Niceforo’s Wren and Chestnut-bellied Hummingbird. Since then she has travelled to London, volunteered in the entomology collection at the Natural History Museum, worked as a micro-biologist, and had several journal articles published! She has also been part of a very successful Follow-up project.

Read the full story...

Final Reports Received

These recently concluded projects have had some exciting results. For a copy of the full report, send an email request to clp@birdlife.org.

Project Websites

Check out project websites for updated news and images from award winning teams in the field: