2022 has been a challenging yet successful year for the Saiga Conservation Alliance and our partners in the 6 Saiga range states. The support you have given to SCA and our partners is invaluable. We wanted to take this opportunity to bring you some of the major highlights from 2022.
In 2022, there is an increase in the population numbers of saiga in several different ranges and we have seen a significant participation uptick in SCA’s Community education and outreach programmes. Significant progress has been made on the ‘Resurrection Island’ Project.
In Kazakhstan, the total number of saiga has increased by 56% to 1,318,000 individuals. According to expert estimates the Russian population is c.8000 in comparison to c.5500 in 2021 – increased by about c.50%. Transboundary populations in Ustyurt (Kazakhstan /Uzbekistan) and Ural (Kazakhstan/Russia) have also seen increases in population. Ural population – 801,000 individuals; Ustyurt population – 28,000 individuals.
The latter, despite the positive trend, still remains in the most critical state, primarily due to the impact of the linear infrastructure such as border fences which block migration routes. Mongolia’s Saiga population remains critically endnagered.
Participation in our flagship Saiga Day and Steppe Wildlife Clubs have increased. In total there are now 35 across Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Mongolia. Close to 900 school children took part in Saiga Day 2022.
In Russia 7 Steppe clubs celebrated Saiga Day and about 300 Children participated in it.
In Uzbekistan 5 Steppe clubs and 5 new schools celebrated Saiga Day, and about 500 people participated in it. In Kazakhstan 3 Steppe clubs celebrated Saiga Day and about 90 people participated in it.
Steppe clubs conducted various events within the Saiga Day this year – quizzes, drawing contests, poetic contests, open lessons, lectures, master-classes, and so on. With almost 900 children taking part, Saiga Day is to be the main celebration of the year for the Steppe Wildlife clubs so it draws a lot of attention, inspiration and creativity.
Significant progress has been made in the ‘Resurrection Island’ Project which aims to improve economic and conservation outcomes in the Aral Sea region. On March 4, 2022 Aral-Kum National Park was created via Presidential Decree #93, Project partners have been preparing the zoological and botanical justifications for the precise zoning of the protected area. Social surveys and market analyses suggested skills training to assist the local communities provide homestays in the Aral region for visiting tourists. Identified as a priority for development during year 1 of the project. This training was consequently provided by partners over summer of 2022.
25 representatives of the local population planning to open guest houses in the Aral Sea region and on the Ustyurt plateau of the Republic of Karakalpakstan on the topic “Organization of the guest house” in Muynak (Karakalpakstan) and Khiva (Uzbekistan). The main goal of the training is to strengthen the capacity of entrepreneurs, local communities and activists, and other stakeholders in the development of sustainable ecological and rural tourism.
We thank all our donors and supporters for the support in 2022 and we look forward to an exciting 2023 with you at our side. It’s never too late to make your impact felt – Donate what you can today.