news

Quarterly newsletter for the Conservation Leadership Programme (formerly the BP Conservation Programme) — a partnership between BirdLife International, BP, Conservation International, Fauna and Flora International and the Wildlife Conservation Society. Please contactclp@birdlife.org, with comments and queries or visit our website at www.ConservationLeadershipProgramme.org.

The BP Conservation Programme becomes the Conservation Leadership Programme!

We are excited to announce that the BP Conservation Programme has officially launched its new name – the Conservation Leadership Programme – at the 21st Annual Society for Conservation Biology meeting in Port Elizabeth, South Africa (1st to 5th July 2007).

The new name clearly reflects what this successful, long-running initiative is trying to achieve and marks the end of a considerable period of development. Over the past year, the Programme has made some key changes to focus on the development of biodiversity conservation leaders in a set of 20 focus countries that are of significant business interest to BP.

With more emphasis on capacity building, the initiative now supports an increased range of support – from the well-known team awards, to research fellowships, scholarships, internships, training and networking opportunities. This set of offerings will help awardees gain skills and move up the conservation career ladder. It may take some time to get used to our new name, but please spread the word!!

As of June, a new Programme Assistant has joined the CLP team. Maina Macharia is based at BirdLife International and will be offering assistance to project teams, and he will be providing much needed administrative help. He is from Kenya, but has been studying in the UK for the past seven years and is a keen birdwatcher and committed conservationist. He gained practical experience working in the field in Kenya prior to coming to the UK and is looking forward to assisting CLP award winners!

We finally had the opportunity meet 27 of this year’s winning team representatives for our annual training in South Africa at the end of June. The training course offers an opportunity for participants to gain skills and reinforce knowledge of multi-disciplinary conservation methodologies in areas including project planning, long-term sustainable management, education and communications. It also links participants to a strong, professional network and facilitates future collaboration.

After the training, over 70 CLP grant recipients (current and past) attended the SCB Annual Meeting in Port Elizabeth, with about half of them giving oral or poster presentations.

Please note the next team award deadline is 23rd November 2007. Visit www.ConservationLeadershipProgramme.org for information on how to apply.

Marianne Carter, Executive Manager

19 – 31 August 2007 Economic Tools for Ecosystem Conservation Training Course,,Palo Alto, CA

29 August – 24 October 2007 SCB Annual Meeting 2008: Call for symposia, discussion groups, workshops and short courses

17 – 28 September 2007 Field Techniques for Conservation Research Training Course, Washington, DC

30 September – 6 October 2007 II Latin American Parks and Protected Areas Congress, Bariloche, Argentina

14 – 21 October 2007 4th International Symposium on Galliformes, Sichuan, China

18 – 20 October 2007 Bolivian Ornithology Congress, La Paz, Bolivia

31 October – 4 November 2007 World Owl Conference,Groningen, Netherlands

31 October – 16 January 2007 SCB Annual Meeting 2008: Call for contributed papers, posters & speed presentations

26 – 28 November 2007 4th International Conference on Environmental Education, Ahmedabad, India

6 – 16 January 2008 Leadership and Communication Tools for Environmental Management Training Course,Washington, DC

19 – 26 January 2008 28th Annual Sea Turtle Symposium,Baja California Sur, Mexico

13 – 16 May 2008 World Environmental & Water Resources Congress,Honolulu, Hawaii

7 – 11 July 2008 11th Annual Coral Reef Symposium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA

13 – 18 July 2008 SCB Annual Meeting, Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA

5 – 14 October 2008 World Conservation Congress, Barcelona, Spain

24 – 29 November 2008 VIII Latin American Herpetology Congress, Topes de Collantes, Sancti Spiritus, Cuba

Chameleons for Conservation: Surveying and Monitoring in Menabe Central, Madagascar (2006)

The Chameleon Conservation Project started in December 2006 with the preparation of materials and meeting with our partner, the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust. Fieldwork took place from 26th January to 7th April 2007 and chameleons were surveyed at nine different sites within the Menabe Central region, an area that has been designated as a new protected area and represents the largest forest block in western Madagascar. Population densities were estimated using distance sampling from transects that were searched at night. The work focused on three forest habitats subject to 1.) low disturbance, 2.) high disturbance and 3.) forest dominated by baobab trees.

Chameleons were surveyed along a total of 92 forest transects (38 in less disturbed forest, 36 in more disturbed forest and 18 in other forest with more Baobab trees) and 15 path transects. A total of 671 individuals were found, including three Furcifer species and Brookesia brygooi. The most frequently encountered species was B. brygooi (492), followed by Furcifer labordi (90), F. nicosiai (70) and F. oustaleti (19). Chameleons were more abundant in forest subjected to low disturbance than in patches of high disturbance. Brookesia brygooi was more abundant than the Furcifer spp. in all sites except the baobab forest.

Furcifer labordi is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and in this study, it was associated with the least disturbed forest, suggesting that it is sensitive to habitat degradation. The highest density of F. labordi was found inside the Bedo baobab forest followed by the path transects in Kirindy CFPF. We collected tissue samples, faeces and insect samples by sweeping vegetation in each habitat type. Preliminary results were presented in March to the third meeting of the Researchers Group of Menabe in Kirindy CFPF Madagascar, where Christian Randrianantoandro gave an oral presentation.

Operation Moheli, Comoros (2006)

In April, Melissa Hauzer and Rozenn Le Scao held a workshop on C3’s project – Operation Moheli – funded by the Conservation Leadership Programme and the Ministry of the Environment in Fomboni, Mohéli. Topics included: What do stakeholders really think of the park? Ecotourism: What is the future for Mohéli? Marine endangered species: here today, gone tomorrow? Many people attended the workshop, including government officials, ecoguards, staff and management committee, various local developmental and environmental organizations and interested individuals. The workshop proved to be a great success with interesting discussions and ideas for future projects on Mohéli.

C3 went back to Mohéli in early April to hold a stakeholder workshop at the Ministry of the Environment. There were many questions asked and lively discussions regarding all topics, from turtle poaching, to marine park management, dugong hotspots and recommendations for the development of ecotourism. Several members of the audience asked when the team would be back again and they committed to continuing work with the villagers of Hoani, who are developing a turtle-watching ecotourism enterprise.

During the month of May, the C3 field team was stationed in Mitsamiouli to conduct intensive seagrass surveys and mapping throughout the northern region. Seagrass beds are the primary food source and habitat for the endangered dugong and green sea turtles, and provide important nursery grounds for juvenile fish. This research is an essential first step for creating a long-term seagrass monitoring program for the region and increasing understanding of these vital habitats. The work will also contribute to the National Conservation Action Plan for the dugong, funded by a Rufford Small Grant for Nature Conservation and the PADI Foundation. The team has completed all fieldwork and is currently writing up results.

Over the coming months, the team is looking forward to developing a National Conservation Action Plan for the dugong – while some team members are writing reports, others are mapping the seagrass beds of Anjouan and Grande Comore. Support from the CLP has provided C3 the means to train a strong team of local and international conservationists and to build a good reputation in the country. As a result, they have decided to stay on and continue their work by expanding into other priority areas, such as fisheries management and improving tertiary education.

A Participatory Wildlife Count in the Maasai Steppe of Northern Tanzania Fortunata Msoffe, WCS Research Fellow (2006)

The Tarangire-Simanjiro ecosystem is a wildlife-rich area in Tanzania and an important tourist destination, which includes Tarangire and Lake Manyara National Parks, Mkungunero Game Reserve and several game control areas (GCA) for tourist and resident hunting. The rest of the rangeland is inhabited by agro-pastoralists, the majority of which belong to the Maasai tribe. For many years the Maasai have managed to co-exist with wildlife in this ecosystem. However, over the past three decades there has been a notable increase in agriculture in this area that could lead to negative consequences for both wildlife and their pastoralist lifestyle.

The current research project is looking at the impacts of land-use and land-cover change on wildlife, people and the environment. Data will be collected on species diversity, density and distribution in the landscape, while empowering local communities by teaching them wildlife monitoring techniques. Data will be spatially analyzed and compared with other land-use patterns, particularly agriculture and settlements.

An intensive five-day training course was held at the end of April to teach community members wildlife surveying techniques. A team of 20 volunteers from the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) helped with the training, and participants included community members, district officers from the Livestock and Natural Resources Departments), researchers from the Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute, community members from Kenya Maasai lands and a community facilitator. A participatory wildlife count was conducted in May 2007 by this same group with the help of ILRI using Distance Sampling Techniques.

Bat Conservation Madagascar (2005)

Madagascar is a priority area for biodiversity conservation based on the high degree of endemic species and ongoing habitat degradation. Although bats make an important contribution to biodiversity in the tropics, they were neglected by scientists in Madagascar for many years. Capacity building projects to address this situation were successful in creating a group of skilled Malagasy bat workers but didn’t establish an organization from where this unique team could operate.

Accordingly, a priority task for the team after winning a Consolidation Award in 2005 was to create a sustainable Malagasy bat conservation organization. Madagasikara Voakajy was launched in May 2005 and is now the leader in bat conservation and employs a total of 24 people. During 2004/05 our team and co-workers described three new species of endemic bat, set up Madagascar’s first bat monitoring programme, launched a bat conservation education initiative for primary schools and surveyed bats in forests and caves across the island. The information collected during their fieldwork has already been used to update the IUCN Red List and to raise the conservation profile of bats in many protected areas.

The Madagasikara Voakajy team levered over $500,000 of additional funding, a feat only possible because of the sound base that the new institution provided for scientists to raise funds. Madagasikara Voakajy has just celebrated its 2nd birthday and projects continue to be successful in the east, west and southeast of Madagascar. Efforts to study, conserve and protect the island’s bats continue through collaboration with Malagasy government, universities, NGOs and local communities. None of this would have been possible without the support from the Conservation Leadership Programme, the legacy of which is intrinsically linked to Madagasikara Voakajy.

Conservation Comores (2005)

After months of manoeuvring and hard work, Conservation Comores is finally moving ahead. We have completed our initial project, and through the Bristol Zoo Gardens and with the support of academics from the Universities of Oxford and East Anglia, team leader Hugh Doulton will be heading out to the Comoros in October. The team will be starting the process of developing forest management plans with local communities and other relevant stakeholders from local NGOs and the government. We plan to start work on the smallest of the islands, Moheli, as we develop the process and build up support for the project. If all goes well, we will proceed to Anjouan and Grande Comore in the following years. Wish us luck!

Mpingo Conservation Project, Tanzania (2004)

Working with local foresters and using the East African Blackwood, one of the world's most valuable timbers, as a flagship, the Mpingo Conservation Project (MCP) has been making great strides in their efforts to develop sustainable forestry practices in Tanzania under the management of local communities. A management plan for Kisangi Kimbarambara has been drafted; work is under way and preliminary surveys have been completed in two additional Village Land Forest Reserves (VLFRs) in Kikole, and new plans are being developed in Ruhatwe and Migeregere.

A team from the Ministry of Lands came to Kilwa District earlier in the year to map village boundaries, which is a big step forward, and this will allow participatory forest management to proceed in many more villages. Unfortunately due to time and budget pressures, and difficulties accessing some areas due to the wet season, they were unable to visit all proposed boundary points. Low levels of understanding amongst rural people about the importance of the land demarcation process means that boundary decisions must be carefully supervised, and thus some of the government team’s work will regrettably have to be re-visited.

The MCP facilitated a training provided by the Tanzania Forest Conservation Group under the EMPAFORM programme for community based organizations on good governance. The training also advised community members on how to advocate at a local level for improved services, and in particular how to deal with challenges posed by illegal logging. The training along with work carried out by the MCP on village governance issues appears to be paying off – villagers from Migeregere recently called their Village Executive Officer to account for his support of logging (legal and alleged illegal) taking place in the village without explicit approval by the elected Village Natural Resources Committee.

Rugezi Wetland, Rwanda (2002)

Rugezi swamp is a large wetland covering almost 6735 ha in northern Rwanda. It is known as a host of the very large population of grauer swamp warbler, Bradypterus graueri, an endemic bird in the Albertine Rift high mountain swamps. The wetland was appointed in July 2005 as the first Ramsar site of Rwanda and is now benefiting from legal protection. However, the protection of the wetland, which lies within a highly populated area, can’t truly be protected unless alternative livelihood opportunities are developed.

Ecotourism is one opportunity that is being explored. A biodiversity survey of the swamp has been conducted, and in addition to the grauer swamp warbler, the swamp also hosts a number of crowned cranes, Balearica regulorum, and diverse botanical species, including many orchids and the uncommon and carnivorous plant, Drosera madagascariensis. With the very charismatic crowned crane and beautiful plants, there is great value in conserving the swamp; their survival is linked to the welfare of local communities. This is the challenge for Rwandan conservationists.

Conservation of Threatened Migratory Birds in the Eerguna-Midflow Trans-boundary Wetland, China/Russia (2007)

In April, relevant bird experts and researchers gathered data throughout the northeast part of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous region – the intersection point of China, Russia and Mongolia. The key species in this region include Red-crowned crane, White-naped crane, Swan goose and Great bustard. The area is also a stopover point for migrating birds, such as Whooper swan, Tundra swan, White spoonbill, Hooded crane and Common crane, which were also critical species to monitor.

Data gathered at this time provided useful references for bird observations and social surveys that were carried out in early May. Team members were trained how to identify typical birds, terrain and habitat – skills that were mastered by the group. Fixed-point observations took place at sunrise and sunset when a large number of birds migrate. Early findings include a new breeding habitat for Red-crowned crane at Moergol River and pre-breeding aggregations of Swan geese at the Middle Erguna, Moergol and Genhe River mouth.

Social surveys have been an important part of the project to understand the human impacts and attitudes in this region. They have provided the team with information on potential breeding habitat for key species and information on the way locals are using these species and their habitats. Their way of life includes grazing, fishing, and reed and willow cutting – all activities that have an impact on bird habitat. Large scale construction projects also pose a major threat to important habitat. For example, international highway #301 near Zhalainor City dissects Erka wetland, a stop-over point for thousands of migrating geese and ducks.

The team has invited local students to assist with social and biological surveys and encouraged them to set up their own student conservation association for long-term work on bird protection, and they have already succeeded in getting support from their college. Several team members remain in the region to continue with long-term observations at Huliyetu – the heart of the Argun Wetlands and the Moergol River.

Ecology of Threatened Bird Species at Laojunshan, Southern China (2007)

Laojunshan is national nature reserve, as well as a Global 200 Ecoregion (WWF) and an Important/Endemic Bird Area. The local subtropical broadleaf forests are threatened by conversion to agriculture, exploitation for timber, construction and tourism. However, information about its avifauna and the status of endangered species found here is quite limited.

Hence, the team’s first field survey took place between April and June this year, and they recorded a total of 68 bird species. They found the nest of an endangered species, Arborophila rufipectus, the third to be recorded and the first in the past 15 years. The nest was found in a bamboo shrub (Bambusa species), which appeared after the primary forest was logged.

Unfortunately, the mate was likely predated as of many male feathers were found nearby and the female finally deserted the nest, even though the eggs had reached their latter stage of incubation. Additionally, the team found the first nest of a vulnerable species Liocichla omeinsis.

CROC Project, Philippines (2005)

The Philippine crocodile is the most threatened crocodile species in the world. A small population survives in the Northern Sierra Madre, a remote mountain region in the Philippines. Conserving this endemic freshwater crocodile seemed an almost impossible task – seventy-two crocodiles amidst thirty-six thousand poor farmers. In fact, conservationists had almost given up hope for the Philippine crocodile. In 1997, the Wildlife Conservation Society of the Philippines said that there was little future for the species in the wild.

The CROC project has worked with rural communities and local governments to conserve the endemic crocodile in its natural freshwater habitat. It all started in 2002 with a gold award of the BP Conservation Program. Six years later, through follow-up support, a lot has been achieved. Three breeding sites are now protected by local communities and village councils have banned fishing with dynamite, chemicals and electricity.

Most people now know that crocodiles are officially protected by Philippine law. Perhaps even more important is that people take pride in the fact that the Philippine crocodile can still be found in the wild. The local government has declared the Philippine crocodile the flagship species of the municipality, and has allocated budget to pay guards for the crocodile sanctuaries.

However, conservation action has to continue in the coming years to really make a difference on the ground. Five young conservationists are working full-time in the CROC team: Jessie, Sammy, Mari-Tes, Dominic and Bernard. They monitor the crocodile population on a quarterly basis, locate crocodile nests, work with rural communities to conserve the environment, assist students in research activities, maintain contacts with the local government, develop information and education materials for the public awareness campaigns and take care of the head start program.

Over the past five years, the CLP has financially supported these activities. But funding will not last much longer. Other donors have stepped in: Conservation International, the Netherlands Committee for IUCN and the Van Tienhoven Foundation. The CROC project has established partnerships with international zoos: Melbourne Zoo in Australia and the Cullen Vivarium and Gladys Porter Zoo in the US actively support the conservation of the Philippine crocodile. In addition, the CROC project is working with crocodile farms in the Philippines to create a link between the crocodile leather industry and in-situ crocodile conservation in the Northern Sierra Madre. These are important steps… but it’s not enough. The CROC project needs US$ 40,000 per year to implement the in-situ conservation strategy for the Philippine crocodile.

The CROC project is often considered the only hope for the survival of the Philippine crocodile in the wild. At present it is the only in-situ conservation program for the critically endangered species. The CROC project is now working hard to ensure the continuity of conservation activities in the coming years. The CROC project has proven that the Philippine crocodile can be saved from extinction in the wild. There is a future for the Philippine crocodile and we need your support!

Extending Chelonian Research, Education and Conservation in Cambodia (2005)

Chey Koulang, a master student from the Royal University of Phnom Penh has joined the project for monitoring the vulnerable impressed tortoise Manouria impressa first found by the team in Cambodia in 2004. The monitoring site is located in O’som commune, Veal Veng district, Pursat province in the northern part of the Central Cardamom Protected Forest (CCPF).

The team recently visited to the site to conduct interviews and a short field survey to look for the species and attach a radio tracking device for further monitoring. Conversations with local people strongly confirmed the presence of the species in the area, but after 18 hours of searching they were unable to locate the species. They did identify one endangered elongated tortoise Indotestudo elongate and two Asian box turtles Cuora amboinensis. The shell of an adult giant Asian pond turtle Heosemys granis was also identified. The team negotiated with the local people and agreed that if they find an impressed tortoise, the team will exchange an item of equal benefit (such as a chicken) for the tortoise.

In order to inform students about turtle conservation, the team is producing coloring books on turtles to distribute to local students along with a turtle board game. The team is working with the Fishery Administration to produce a National Species Red List in the next few months and they will also be working with local people to create a community-led ranger program to patrol turtles in their area.

Otter Conservation in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam (2006)

Vietnam supports four otter species, including the hairy-nosed otter (Lutra sumatrana), smooth-coated otter (Lutra perspicillata), Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) and oriental small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinerea). Their current status is uncertain and they are significantly threatened by habitat disturbance and hunting for skins, medicine and meat. Human impacts on their habitat include modification of water bodies, water pollution, uncontrolled use of pesticides and destruction of wetlands for logging and agriculture. This has fragmented their populations and could be causing an Allee effect.

This combination of factors places Vietnam’s otter populations at serious risk. All four species are listed on the IUCN Red List (2003). L. sumatrana, listed as Data Deficient, is believed to be the rarest of the Asian otters. The IUCN/SSC Otter Action Plan has defined L. sumatrana as one of five otter species of global conservation concern. Surveying and research is critically important to understand all aspects of their ecology and biology.

This year, the team has initiated the small carnivore status and conservation project in the Mekong Delta with a major objective to obtain reliable data on the status and ecology of priority small carnivores, particularly L. sumatrana. Their methods will include semi-structured interviews with local people and rangers, field surveys and camera trapping. Information will be used to develop sustainable conservation recommendations for the U Minh area. The project will also provide a sound foundation to develop ex situ and in situ conservation programs for L. sumatrana in the future. They will provide decision makers, NGOs and local authorities with the results of the project as one means to improving biodiversity conservation for the benefit of future generations.

Distribution, Abundance and Conservation Status of the Fijian Ground Frog (2003)

Team leader Joape Kuruyawa sends greetings to his fellow conservationists: I have had a tremendous time reading the efforts of people with the likes of us out in the world trying to make a difference. I am motivated to share with you some of the experiences our team has had ever since our first project with the BP Conservation Programme in 2003. We initially gathered baseline data about our only endemic frog in 2003. Members of our team are now working in their home countries heading conservation efforts in their island nations. Tamara Osbourne and Nunia Thomas have completed their theses working with frogs, and no doubt are two of the first in their field. I am currently involved with invasive species management running rat eradication programs.

The University of the South Pacific is currently attempting an island eradication of cane toads. This effort is headed by Dr. Craig Morley, our advisor for the Fijian ground frog project. Through our project we were able to raise awareness for the endemic ground frog (Platymantis vitianus) and it has become a national icon. A stamp was recently released that had our frogs on it, which was a big victory for the team. We hope that you are experiencing similar successes in your countries; keep working to make the world a better place to live in for now and the future.

Pelican Conservation Project of Sri Lanka (2003)

The Pelican Conservation Project (PCP) has been extended for another year with the support of UNDEP/GEF small grant and the Whitley Fund for Nature. The team successfully completed fieldwork in the north, east, north-central and western provinces of Sri Lanka that was initiated with CLP support in 2003. This is the 4th successful year for the project and they have moved into the southern part of Sri Lanka with the aim to complete an island-wide field survey while raising awareness on pelicans. This year they are working more closely with the community and it has been challenging and interesting to work with the Department of Wildlife Protection, Sri Lanka Army and with Community-based organizations. ECO-V, the organization formed by the pelican project team, is popular in Sri Lanka and they continue to gather information on threatened Pelicans and their habitats.

Supporting Conservation of West Caucasian Tur (Capra caucasica) in Georgia (2006)

The team is currently working on their final report after analyzing results from community meetings and expeditions and assessing conservation issues for the West Caucasian Tur. The team is happy with the work they were able to accomplish. Thematic maps for Capra caucasica where produced using GIS. The team organized several presentations for the Georgian Protected Areas Development Centre at the I.Chavchavadze State University of Tbilisi, which was also attended by local government entities, NGOs and university students. A document summarizing project results was made available to relevant stakeholders at the Ministry of Environment of Georgia. Results where also included in the “Status Report and Conservation Action Plan: Tur in Georgia”. A Capra caucasica website is currently under construction.

Darevsky’s Viper, Armenia (2007)

The Transboundary Joint Secretariat (TJS) for the Southern Caucasus was recently established to facilitate cooperation for biodiversity conservation initiatives in Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. The TJS will oversee the establishment of three new national parks – Samur Yalama in Azerbaijan and in the Javakheti regions of Armenia and Georgia – by assisting with terms of reference with the national park projects and establishing a transboundary coordination board that will coordinate management of the Armenia and Georgia parks in the Javakheti region. The TJS has a regional office in Tbilisi and country offices in Baku, Tbilisi and Yerevan

The TJS began operating in 2007 and funding is provided by KfW Development Bank on behalf of the Government of Germany in the framework of the Caucasus Initiative. The national park project will include investment in infrastructure, such as ranger stations, recreation facilities and trail development. Projects will promote concepts for “minimum impact” tourism involving local people in the management of the parks and working with local communities to develop sustainable employment opportunities.

The Darevsky’s viper team met with the Armenian National Coordinator and the regional team leader for TJS and to share information about the Darevsky’s viper project in northwest Armenia and the team’s efforts to protect this critically endangered species. They urged the TJS to include important habitat sites for the species in transboundary park delineations for Armenia and Georgia and both parties agreed to collaborate further in the future.

Advancing Seabird Conservation in Peru’s Artisanal Fisheries through Education and Research, Peru (2007)

The Pro Delphinus team was recently granted a Follow-up Award by the CLP to continue their efforts toward seabird conservation in Peru. Results from the team’s 2005 CLP supported seabird project and previous research brought to light significant threats to the waved albatross (Phoebastria irrorata). The team will be participating in an upcoming international meeting sponsored by the Peruvian government and will be developing the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP) – an action plan to conserve waved albatrosses.

Pro Delphinus will also be implementing an education program and the team has identified an excellent “fisherman ambassador” within the fishing community. In May and June, working with the team, Francisco “Chaval” Bernedo conducted talks about seabird conservation with fishermen and local authorities in ten ports along the Peru coast. Chaval not only shared his experiences with seabirds and fisheries, but also introduced talk attendees to seabird conservation initiatives taking place in other countries. The team has also started trials with time-depth recorders to help characterize gear features in the longline fishery and their relation to incidental seabird captures.

Conservation of Cuban Cacti (2007)

The Cuban Cacti project aims to promote the conservation and sustainable management of Cuban cacti and their habitat in Cuba. This programme is coordinated by a group of conservationists at the Cuban National Botanical Garden in partnership with researchers and experts from botanic gardens and protected areas around the country.

Several expeditions took place between January and March to complete the herbarium collections of Melocactus species (M. nagyii, M. evae, M. borhidi, M. halowii and M. acunae) described in the south coast of Granma, Santiago de Cuba and Guantanamo provinces and to collect material from M. holguinensis, the unique species that grows in northeastern Cuba. All specimens are available in the herbarium of the Cuban National Botanical Garden for ongoing review of the family. Seeds of each species were also collected to establish ex situ collections in botanic gardens and contribute to the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation.

In May 2007 the Programme organized an exhibition in the National Museum of Natural History to increase public awareness about the diversity and distribution of cacti in Cuba and worldwide, as well as to identify the main threats and economic importance of these plants. In late May, a workshop on environmental education for conservation was organized to train environmental educators from protected areas and botanic gardens in Cuba, which was attended by 27 educators. Finally, the first issue of Bissea, a newsletter on plant conservation, was published in July. This quarterly newsletter aims to report on the work of various institutions involved in plant conservation in Cuba.Visit: http://www.uh.cu/centros/jbn/textos/16.html

Project Atelopus, Colombia (2007)

The Project Atelopus team recently had the exciting discovery of a species new to science – the Andean poison frog species of the genus Ranitomeya from the Cordillera Oriental region of Cundinamarca municipality. This new species has been described and named “Rana Dorada de Supata”. It is distinguished from close relatives by its particular yellow and coffee dorsal coloration and pattern. The black ventral coloration with circular blues distinguishes the other species of the genus in the region. The population appears to be large. This is especially intriguing as it is the only recent study of an anuran species and there have been no long-term studies in the Cordillera region. It is hoped that the discovery of this new species will open the way for further studies of Andean poison frogs in Colombia.

Meetings and conversations were conducted with local people in Supata around each selected site with the aim of raising awareness. Additionally, colored Rana Dorada de Supata field guides, posters, brochures and newsletters were distributed in the region. This has been an important part of the project, as development of a reserve caretakers network in Supata is a priority objective of the project. Conversations with local people during project field trips helped the team identify some caretakers who will be involved in future reserves.

Bloody Bay Poison Frog, Trinidad & Tobago (2006)

The project’s most significant finding to date is the detection of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in our target species Mannophryne olmonae. The significance of this cannot be understated because it is believed to be one of the main factors responsible for the global decline in frog species. We don't know the nature of the pathogenicity of this fungus in M. olmonae, so we can't make the statement that it is or was responsible for the decline in population here in Tobago, but we can state that the fungus is spreading. This is the first time that the fungus has been detected in screened samples; while previous screenings showed no presence. Further studies are required to determine the extent of the spread in Tobago and ascertain the impact on local amphibian populations.

Rethinking Participatory Management & Biodiversity Conservation: Toward an Ecoregion-based Design in Trinidad & Tobago Ainka Granderson, RFP Grantee (2006)

Implementing participatory management at the landscape-scale is seen as problematic (Blomquist and Schlager 2005). I designed a framework to evaluate the effectiveness of participatory management, and applied it to six case studies operating under different contexts and scales, to help guide biodiversity conservation in Trinidad and Tobago. I found that the success of a participatory approach was not closely linked to the project's size, but government involvement proved very influential. Building government capacity, as well as fostering public-private partnerships, will be vital to any participatory management system in Trinidad and Tobago that hopes to address conservation threats at multiple scales.

Habitat Assessment for a Threatened Keystone Marsupial in Patagonia, Argentina Mariano A. Rodriguez-Cabal, RFP Grantee (2006)

The South American marsupial Dromiciops gliroides (Philippi 1893, monito del monte) is the only living representative of Microbiotheriidae. This family constitutes one of the oldest lineages of marsupials. Morphological, chromosomal and molecular studies of D. gliroides suggest that this living fossil shares greater phylogenetic affinity with the Australian marsupials (Diprotodontia) than with other South American marsupials (Didelphidae).

Monito del monte is endemic to the northern portion of the temperate forest of southern Patagonia, where it inhabits mainly old-growth Nothofagus forest. Its geographic range coincides with the region of temperate forest of southern Patagonia that is most threatened by anthropogenic activities, such as deforestation and cattle grazing. This arboreal mammal is an important component of an ecological community with low redundancy, in which many plant species depend in a few mutualistic animals.

Monito del monte is the only disperser of mistletoe Tristerix corymbosus in this temperate forest, which represents the main winter food source for the hummingbird Sephanoides sephaniodes, which pollinates about 20% of the woody plants in the forest. Reduction in abundance or distribution of any one of these three species has the potential to disrupt the integrity of this temperate forest.

The effect of seed dispersal on plant populations and dynamics in natural habitats have been the focal point of many studies in ecology and conservation, however very few studies have addressed the role of plants in regulating the abundance of seed dispersers. The goals of this study are to 1.) test the hypothesis that the presence and abundance of the marsupial seed disperser might be principally related to the abundance of the mistletoe and 2.) to identify other habitat variables that determine the distribution and abundance of this marsupial so that potential anthropogenic impacts on this species can be assessed.

So far, the results of this study are showing that the abundance of monito del monte is greater than what has been described, which was one individual per two hectares. Already, we have captured more than 200 individuals. Sites with abundant mistletoe Tristerix corymbosus show three times more monitos than those sites without mistletoe. This important finding will increase our knowledge about the biology of this important marsupial for the conservation of the temperate forest of Southern Patagonia.

Titicaca Flightless Grebe, Bolivia (2006)

In April 2007 the team participated in a bi-national meeting with numerous stakeholders, including government officials from Peru and Bolivia, as well as private institutions and local community members from the area of Lake Titicaca. The objective of the meeting was to present the project aims and objectives and the management activities that are being carried out in the area for the purpose of developing a strategy for integrated conservation of the Lake Titicaca basin and the Polylepis Forest.

Research carried out between February and April included aquatic and terrestrial censuses and the team conducted 143 sampling points to determine the density and relative abundance of the Rollandia microptera population. Team member Raquel Garzon completed a second GIS module that will permit the team to advance the analysis process of satellite images. Additionally, team member Faviany Lino directed monitoring of fishing activities and their impact on Grebe populations.

Soul of the Andes, Argentina (2003)

Since 2005, the Soul of the Andes project for the conservation of the Andean cat has focused its activities in the Argentine region of Las Chinchillas Provincial Reserve, bordering Bolivia and Chile. In this region, the field team is now carrying out a new intensive photo trap survey aiming to provide the first population density estimate of the extremely elusive cats occurring in the high altitude Andes. The study site is located in the same remote area of very broken terrain where last year we collected 30 photographs of Pampas cats and 12 Andean cats, the largest sample of pictures ever obtained on these carnivores. Meanwhile, our EduGat Program keeps progressing in its local community participation efforts. Its most recent activities include the organization of the second workshop for High Andes Educators and the training of two local secondary school students as education officers.

Project Persian Leopard (Panthera pardus saxicolor) in Sarigol National Park, Iran (2006)

As a result of a camera trapping survey in Sarigol National Park during the winter of 2006 – 2007, a total of 5 different leopards have been captured, which is near the preliminary estimate of 6 to 8 animals within the park before using the camera traps. Meanwhile, a seven-month long awareness raising campaign recently came to an end and a total of around 1000 students from 9 villages with the highest level of conflict with the park have been educated about the leopards in the National Park. Now back at home after finishing the field surveys, the team is busy analyzing data and samples to conclude their reports.

Coming Full Circle with Two Programme Alumni in Malaysia

By Lynn Duda, CLP Programme Officer

Reuben Sharma and Sumita ‘Sumi’ Sugnaseelan won Conservation Leadership Programme Awards for two projects focusing on the conservation of tortoises in Peninsular Malaysia. This spring, I sat down with Sumi and Reuben during a visit to Malaysia on behalf of the Programme.

As we sat sipping tea in the tropical heat of the courtyard at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), where they are currently both junior lecturers, I asked them where they were ten years ago. They looked at each other, smiled, and replied, “Right here!”

Back then they were undergraduates in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, and now they have returned as Dr. Reuben Sharma and Dr. Sumita Sugnaseelan to teach the next generation. It was then that I realized that Reuben and Sumi are poster children for what the Conservation Leadership Programme hopes to achieve.

In 1999, as undergraduates at UPM, Reuben and Sumi were part of a team that submitted a proposal to undertake the first-ever survey on the distribution, population, ecology and commercial trade of the Impressed, Elongated and Asian Brown tortoises. After they successfully completed this project, they carried forward tortoise conservation in Peninsular Malaysia in 2000, when their team was awarded a follow-up award by the Programme. Some of the results of these studies have been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals.

In 2000, Reuben and Sumi graduated from UPM and left Malaysia to pursue graduate degrees abroad. The two spent four years at the University of Cambridge in the UK; while Reuben studied molecular parasitology in the Department of Biochemistry, Sumi studied stress physiology and animal cognition in the Department of Veterinary Medicine. Both earned their PhDs in January of 2006 and returned to Malaysia to start teaching at UPM six months later.

In addition to their teaching responsibilities, Reuben and Sumi are in the process of reviving the Wildlife Club they set up when they were undergraduates. Their plan is to use wildlife on campus to teach students surveying techniques and identification skills, which they think could be useful for building future teams for CLP awards.

And while Reuben and Sumi are poised to be mentors for the next generation of CLP applicants from Malaysia, they continue adding data to the information they collected during their own project through community surveys. During the course of their project, Reuben and Sumi supplemented data collection with interviews from local people at every survey site. Now, seven years after the CLP project officially ended, the community at their Fraser’s Hill field site is still contributing to the knowledge of tortoises in the area.

As we discussed community monitoring while sitting in his office, Reuben held up a sheet of paper. “This is an encounter record for the Impressed Tortoise. We ask that the locals complete this form if they come in contact with a tortoise.” He then pointed to a photo he had pulled up on his computer of a road-kill tortoise. “This was sent to me by a member of the local community.” Sumi added, “Now that so many people have cameras on their cell phones, we expect to receive many more photos along with the reports.”

Now that they are settled into their new jobs at the university, they are both eager to get back into the field and are in the process of setting up an additional community monitoring project in another area in Peninsular Malaysia called Cameron Highlands.

Many of the individuals supported by the Conservation Leadership Programme go on to pursue conservation careers and become leaders in their countries, while contributing valuable scientific knowledge and sharing lessons learned internationally. We are proud to say that Reuben and Sumi have done just that. We wish them continued success and, through their mentorship, look forward to more project proposals from Malaysia for CLP awards. Stay tuned…

For a copy of the full report of this recently concluded project, send an email request to clp@birdlife.org

• Conservation Comores, Comoros (2005)
• Bat Conservation Madagascar (2004)
• Bat Census in Crimean Caves, Ukraine (2004)
• Project Matsutake, China (2005)
• Action Tayam-Peh, Nicobar Islands (2004)
• Finding Napo, Marshall Islands (2004)

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

• Bat Census in Crimean Caves,Ukraine (2004)
• Calayan Rail Project,Philippines (2007)
• Conservacion Argentina,Argentina (2005)
• Conservation Comores,Comoros Islands (2005)
• CROC Project,Philippines (2002)
• Dolphin Conservation,Chile (2002)
• Giant Otter Conservation,Bolivia (2003)
• Iranian Cheetah,Iran (2006)
• Katala Quest,Philippines (2003)
• Marsh Deer Project,Argentina (2005)
• Mpingo Conservation Project,Tanzania (2004)
• Project Hapalopsittaca,Colombia (2002)
• Project Karumbé,Uruguay (2001)
• Project Knuckles,Sri Lanka (2005)
• Sea Turtle Research and Conservation,Venezuela (1999)
• Assessment of Seabird Bycatch,Peru (2003)
• Tandroy Conservation Trust,Madagascar (2003)
• Operation Moheli – C3,Comoros (2006)


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The Conservation Leadership Programme is a partnership between BirdLife International, BP, Conservation International, Fauna & Flora International & the Wildlife Conservation Society.