Bio-diversity

Head of rivers Kasan-Sai and Gava-Sai are one of the rare places where one can see Menzbir marmot. Menzbir marmot is an endemic of West Tyan-Shan and included into the Red Data Book of International Union of nature preservation. One of the main reasons of disappearance of marmots is human factor. People hunt for marmots because of fat used in the folk medicine and fur used for making caps. Killing of marmots by shepherds dogs is an additional factor. There is no tradition here to feed dogs regularly and so dogs find food by hunting for marmots, birds, small rodents, turtles, and frogs. The purpose of the project is to raise awareness of the local population about uniqueness of the Menzbir marmot and to stop its killing. In the course of the project implementation it is intended to get results having ecological and social-economical meaning: For the first time natural habitat of Menzbir marmot will be described and its population will be determined outside the neighboring state reserve Besh-Aral It is expected that as a result of project activities there will be made decision on allotment of pasture in another place where there is no Menzbir marmot. Such measure will immediately decrease killing of marmots by dogs. Plan of obtaining additional income will be tested from selling of souvenirs and posters, calendars with a picture of marmot. Such plan will demonstrate to the population opportunity of obtaining income from existence of marmot without its killing. Actions to be undertaken by Public Association Andromeda AB 1. Conducting 3 training seminars for the local population. 2. Conducting 2 competitions among the students about preservation of Menzbir marmot 3. Community research and inventory of Menzbir marmot. 4. Publishing 2000 posters, 100 brochures and 2000 calendars. 5. Using incomes from selling posters and brochures to organize volunteer patrol for preservation of Menzbir marmot in spring-autumn time. 6. Information campaign. One of the main groups of population involved in the project are inhabitants of villages Tereksai and Akterek, and also employees of Tereksay forestry that live nearby of marmots habitat. On the whole the project is directed at achieving global environment benefits due to reducing rate of killing of the endemic specie. Demonstration of using nature resources without their withdrawal is considered as economic benefits to the population.

Kyrgyzstan