At Saiga Conservation Alliance international networking, collaboration and capacity building is a key strand of our strategy to achieve our mission of restoring the saiga antelope to its position as the flagship species of the Central Asian and pre-Caspian steppes. Also, by working through local partnerships and to focus on sustainable long-term solutions that are based on sound science.
The annual awards programme is one of the vehicles to achieve this. The awards are ‘Small Grants Programme’, ‘Young Conservation Leaders’, and ‘Excellence in Saiga Protection’ and the programme aims to build capacity, promote excellence and increase grassroots participation in saiga conservation, and is a key part of delivering the SCA’s mission within the saiga range states (Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia) and consumer countries (China, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia).
Through YCL we aim to increase the number of students and young people working with the SCA as young conservation leaders of the future.Through SGP we aim to build capacity among SCA members for more effective conservation, and information-sharing. Through ESP we acknowledge committed individuals, rangers, police, governmental or nongovernmental staff for their dedication and inspirational work to help conserve this critically endangered species.
For over 15 years, starting with SGP in 2008 adding YCL and ESP in 2014. Saiga Conservation Alliance, supported by Wildlife Conservation Network has made about $15,000 USD available annually to be awarded to seven successful candidates.
In those years, SCA has established some solid and fruitful relationships through the Annual Awards Programme, some have even joined the alliance as staff or and steering committee.
They include but are not limited to:
Vera Voronova: Executive Director, Association for the Conservation Biodiversity of Kazakhstan
Buuveibaatar Bayarbaatar: Conservation Scientist, Wildlife Conservation Society (Mongolia)
Karina Karenina: Research Associate, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Saint Petersburg State University
Olga Esipova: Research and Development Officer, Saiga Conservation Alliance
Through these relationships, founded by the annual awards, we work collaboratively, and freely share our expertise and enthusiasm for saigas. We disseminate our work widely – to those working for saiga conservation, the public throughout the world, governments and the wider conservation community.