The Saiga Conservation Alliance 2015 Awards Event took place on Thursday 29th October 2015 at Hotel Uzbekistan in Tashkent. Presentations were made by winners of awards and small grants from the SCA over the last few years, and the 2015 winners were presented with certificates. These awards and grants recognise individuals or teams for their contributions to saiga antelope conservation, and support for their ongoing work.
USFWS Funded SCA Small Grants
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service funded small grant aims to build capacity at the grassroots level for the conservation of saiga antelope in the wild.
The Use of High Resolution Satellite Images to Monitor Saiga Populations
Dr Anna Yachmenikova, Institute of Ecology & Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences
Monitoring the Abundance and Distribution of Saiga Antelopes in Mongolia
Buuveibaatar Bayarabaatar, Wildlife Conservation Society, Mongolia
SCA Award for Excellence in Saiga Protection
The Award for Excellence in Saiga Protection is for individuals or groups who have shown outstanding dedication and success in combating saiga antelope poaching. This award is in memory of Uldis Knackis, a ranger who was killed while pursuing a saiga poacher.
Experiences of Effective Protection of the Irgiz-Turgai Reserve
Mereke Zhubaniyaz, Irgiz Turgay Reserve, Kazakhstan
Use of Informant Networks to Improve the Detection of Wildlife Crime
Enkhbat Enkhjargal, Mongolian State Police
Engaging Local Communities as Volunteer Rangers
Batsaikhan Baljinnyam, WWF-Mongolia
Experience of Effective Law Enforcement on the Ustiurt Plateau
Makset Kosbergenov, Gosbiocontrol, Uzbekistan
SCA Young Conservation Leaders Award
The Young Conservation Leaders Award recognises the contributions by the next generation of saiga conservation leaders.
Engaging School Children Through Mural Painting and Other Activities
Olga Esipova, Westminster International University, Uzbekistan
Identifying Saiga Breeding Sites in Mongolia
Sergelen Erdenebaatar, Altain Nuudelchid NGO, Mongolia
Engaging Children Through the “Jetkinshek” newspaper and “Ekoha’retek” Wildlife Club
Begis Sultamuratov, Karakalpak State University, Uzbekistan
Please join us in congratulating this year’s Saiga Conservation Alliance award winners – Begis Sultamuratov, Enkhbat Enkhgargal and Makset Kosbergenov (who was highly commended.)