1. Kumtor Snow Leopard Project Cholpon K. Dyikanova June 19, 2006 CommDev Workshop, Washington, D.C.

2. 2 Kyrgyzstan and Kumtor Kyrgyzstan – Central Eurasian Country: –Area 198,500 km 2 –94% of land above 1,000 m (highest peak Pobeda 7,439 m) –Population 5 million people –2% of world’s flora: endemic species –3% of world’s fauna: snow leopard, golden eagle, Marco Polo sheep, etc. Kumtor Deposit: –in the top 10 world’s largest gold deposits –Over 7% of Kyrgyzstan’s GDP

3. 3 Creation of Bashat (CBF) In 1999, need for increased dialogue between local communities and the Kumtor Gold Mine emerged IFC EBRDSupported by IFC and EBRD, Community and Business Forum (CBF) was established in 1999 as a mechanism for facilitating a dialogue between local communities and other stakeholders of the Kumtor Operating Company

4. 4 Bashat (CBF) and Partners International Snow Leopard Trust (Seattle, USA)International Snow Leopard Trust (Seattle, USA) – 25 years of acknowledged leadership in SL conservation –In Kyrgyzstan since 2002 Fauna & Flora International (Cambridge, UK)Fauna & Flora International (Cambridge, UK) – established in 1903, the world’s oldest international conservation body –In Kyrgyzstan since 1997

5. 5 Bashat (CBF)/ISLT Work Three main components: –Research and monitoring –Community based conservation (Snow Leopard Enterprises) –Environmental education and public awareness program New direction: eco-tourism (initiated jointly with UNDP/GEF) KOCKOC provides financial and technical support to CBF/ISLT project activities

6. 6 Bashat (CBF)/FFI Work FFIFFI helped to establish CBF, facilitate effective cross- sectoral dialogue and collaboration between business and local communities, and set up an important mechanism to support further development and growth of the local NGO community Project: “Institutional Capacity Building for Biodiversity Conservation in Kyrgyzstan”Project: “Institutional Capacity Building for Biodiversity Conservation in Kyrgyzstan” –Funded by IFC and EBRD –KOC committed EUR 40,000 to technical and logistics costs of the project – good example of corporate social responsibility –Main Components: Full Management Plan Biodiversity Monitoring Strategy for the whole reserve Anti-Poaching Strategy for the snow leopard and its prey species Resource provision

7. 7 Bashat (CBF)/FFI Work (cont’d) HuntersLocal communitiesTourists ShepherdsHunting agenciesVulnerable women FarmersSchool childrenTourism companies Cattle breedersWomens’ groupsCommunity based organisation’s ForestersReserve staffInternational NGOs Kyrgyz Environmental NGOs PoachersVillage administrations Ak Shirak local association Village Government of Ak Shirak Development and support of initiatives that aim to link improvements in local livelihoods with the conservation of the reserve and its biodiversity Identified Stakeholders

8. 8 Future Activities Development of community projects (EUR 33,000) –Regular capacity building trainings for local CBOs –Establishment of new NGOs to strengthen capacities of local communities –Work with village government to enhance benefits of project activities Quarterly Steering Committee meetings, project reports/updates, publicity, newspaper articles, website updates

9. 9 Thank You! Photo credits to FFI and ISLT/Kyle McCarthy Trap Camera Project