As the SCA’s annual awards programme returns in 2023 – read more about the full programme – we look back on 10 years of the programme and understand the impact on international networking and capacity building.
Excellence in Saiga Protection closed on Friday 2nd June 2023- Download the application form
Excellence in Saiga Protection is one of those awards. 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.
In 2014 SCA announced Baljinnyam Batsaikhan, state environmental inspector and a leader of the Saiga ranger network team, working with the WWF Mongolia Programme since 2006.
Baljinnyam supervised 12 Saiga rangers and about 60 volunteer rangers which cover over 14 thousand km2 of saiga territory in Mongolia
In 2014 Illegal poaching was one of the major threats to the Mongolian Saiga. Baljinnyam played a key role in the fight against wildlife crime, due to his efforts cooperation between law enforcement agencies was improved and 89,4 % of the detected cases have been prosecuted by the courts, he has personally led detections of 57 cases of illegal hunting and crimes, whose offenders paid compensations of MNT 1 billion 200 million as of 2013.
Alongside his main conservation duties, he also established close collaboration with kids’ eco clubs, on being asked about his motivations Baljinnyam told us he believed ‘environmental education of children can change the behaviour of adult family members involved in illegal hunting and trade’.
Through his work incidents of illegal hunting were reduced and rational use of rangeland was introduced in local areas. Through this activity Baljinnyam witnessed ‘the pressure and threats to Saiga antelope is reduced and positive impacts on Saiga antelope populations are seen’.
Consequently, the species populations are increasing from year to year. Following his award Baljinnyam focused on building a saiga conservation supporter network concerned with improving natural resource management and stewardship by local communities. He is keen to improve community awareness towards nature and wildlife conservation, carrying out public awareness activities to reduce instances of poaching.
Excellence in Saiga Protection closed on Friday 2nd June 2023 – Download the application form
