2012 : FIRST PHASE OF CONCRETE MONITORING

In the south of the Russian Far East The first phase of monitoring tiger (WWF Russia, yesterday).

In Primorye, the Office ohotnadzora with FED RAS and involving experts from WWF held the first phase of monitoring the Amur tiger. For 14 years, thanks to this paper can track changes in the population.

For a long time, the organization has been monitoring the initiative of public and scientific organizations.  In certain periods of time, some state agencies were involved in his conduct, but mostly as supervisors. Despite the fact that in 2005 the decision was approved by the Ministry of Natural Resources   "Guidelines for the organization of accounting and the Amur tiger in the Russian Federation", they are often not performed or information obtained had a different interpretation depending on the interests of organizations that analyze data and provide a summary report.  There was also the problem of providing timely report in the government responsible for making decisions on conservation of the Amur tiger and its prey.

"This year, we hope, was a turning point. For the first time in the execution of its powers specially authorized by the Primorsky Territory Administration for the means of subventions conducted monitoring of the Amur tiger in areas under its account, "- said the program coordinator of WWF-Russia Amur branch biodiversity party monitoring tiger Sergei Aramilev.

Important is the fact that with the signing of agreements on cooperation in organizing and conducting accounting and monitoring of the Amur tiger and its habitat, being established system for the exchange of information between the Office of hunting supervision of Primorsky Krai and protected areas of federal significance, the Office of Natural Resources hunting Khabarovsk Krai Office of Wildlife Conservation of the Amur region, the Office for Protection and use of animals of the Government of the JAR.  Thus, in essence, a unified national system for tracking changes in the number of the Amur tiger, which can promptly and adequately respond to the changing situation. On the territory of Primorsky Krai inhabit most of the Amur tiger and logical that the structure of this region will be the center, analyzing the situation of the subspecies as a whole.

"Public administration finally began to fulfill its obligations, including those made ​​by our country at the International Forum on tiger conservation in 2010. Officials did not 'Reinventing the wheel ", and used the approved guidelines in the design of which was attended by the best specialists in this area.  This approach does not lose continuity of data.  The use of devices GPS, video and photo fixing tiger tracks significantly simplifies and speeds up the processing of monitoring data, as well as improve control and increase the credibility of the results.  This situation can not but rejoice.  Now conservationists can engage in social control and monitor the conduct of work, but do not execute them, - says Sergey Aramilev. - On the other hand, the calculation system of subventions requires revision, since the money from the subject from the center on the protection of species listed in the Red Book, is not enough.  They are so minimal that even somehow awkward to articulate.  The allocated amounts can not even fully monitor the red-listed species, not to mention the safety and security groups to prevent conflict between tigers and humans.  And this situation throughout the country, and that's forced the subjects to seek assistance from community organizations.  In this case, carry out works on three platforms for monitoring tigers in the Khabarovsk region financed by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) ».

By January 25 the first phase of monitoring is completed on all 16 sites in Primorye and Khabarovsk regions. Already summed up to 8 sites in Primorye, subordinate to the Office of hunting supervision, analyzes data from other sites.  Premature to draw final conclusions, but it received interim data give an answer to some questions. Widespread harvest of cedar and good litter in the summer of 2011 led to an increase in wild boar population, whose numbers in recent years was in a depression, which affects the distribution of tigers in the user areas. There has been a stabilization of the Amur tiger population at the last four years.

"Most likely, the failure of a number of monitoring sites on a tiger last year was caused by both objective data and methodological violations - said S. Aramilev. - There is still alarming situation at three sites in Primorye accounts: «  "Sandagou" Olginsky area "Iman" Dalnerechensk area and  "Blue" Chuguev area where there is a gradual 14 years decline of the Amur tiger.  We attribute this low level of hunting and forestry, livestock impacted hoofed animals - tigers prey bases.  We hope that the information obtained will serve as a signal to government agencies for inspections of the users of hunting and forest resources in these areas. "

The second stage of monitoring is planned for February 2012.