Regional Network meeting for Russia

Network meeting for the Russian region and species

On 10 and 11 of May 2011 the LHNet-team organized a regional and focussed network meeting in Moscow, combined with a field visit to two potential areas for free roaming European bison.

Identification of challenging areas and planning of the activities of LHNet in Russia for 2011 - 2013 for:

• European bison
• Kulan
• Reindeer
• Bukhara deer
• Saiga antelope

The objectives of the meeting

1. Review the role of LHNet for the large herbivores in Russia and Central Asia for the period 2011 – 2013
2. Review the status of selected species
3. Agreement on priorities, leading to effective projects
4. Establish concrete activities

In more detail:

1. To discuss the content / updates of the webpages on species, regarding Russia and Central Asia (European bison, Reindeer, Kulan, Bukhara deer, Saiga, depending of the special niche LHNet can develop)
2. To work-out our thoughts, dreams, wishes on the needed long term results (a “sketch” what the situation should be in let’s say in >25 years)
3. To decide what the steps should be in the coming 1 - 3 – 5 years (and the steps beyond) to make a start for this long term “journey’
4. To work out these steps in concrete project proposals (output –leading to future results) to present to potential sponsors (accompanied by publicity and communication)
5. To identify partners to make this true (both from the ecological field, and many other – hopefully unexpected and creative fields)
6. To identify the potential sponsors, and the best way to approach them.

Expected results

1. Field visits to the potential areas for European bison: Orel-Bryansk (450 km SW of Moscow) and Vologda (500 km NE of Moscow and 600 km east of St Petersburg)
2. Identification and agreement on priorities for selected species
3. Project concepts for selected species
4. Recommendations for fundraising
5. Identification of experts ready to support in LHNet activities in Russia and Central Asia and agreement on tasks
6. Workable ideas on fundraising
7. Identification of new experts on the species and landscapes

Program

• 3 - 8 May: field visits to Orel-Bryansk and Vologda region
• 10 and 11 May: meetings at WWF-Russia, Moscow office
• 12 May: meeting with staff and students at the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution RUSSIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

Report

See library