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PROJECT NEWS

Electric fences used to reduce conflict with Tibetan brown bear

With increasing conflict between Tibetan herders and brown bear in many parts of the Tibetan Plateau, Plateau Perspectives has begun to trial the use of solar powered electric fences to prevent intrusions by brown bear into the herders' homes. Nearly all bear intrusions occur when the herders leave their homes unoccupied as they move to their summer pastures. Initial results are promising and this exciting project has been expanded in 2010. More info in International Bear News.

Conservation of snow leopard and other endangered wildlife in the Yangtze River headwaters

Working with local Tibetan communities and organizations as well as Sanjiangyuan Nature Reserve staff, Plateau Perspectives has assisted in the development, over the past decade, of a more people-centred approach to biodiversity conservation in the Tibetan plateau region. One focal species for capacity building has been the snow leopard -- initially through community-based monitoring, undertaken in cooperation with the grassroots Upper Yangtze Organization, and more recently with automatic camera traps to supplement Tibetan herders' direct observations and records. Similar monitoring schemes have also been carried out over the past few years as part of a collaborative conservation project between Plateau Perspectives, the nature reserve and local community members (nature reserve wardens) for a variety of other endangered species as well, including the Tibetan antelope, Tibetan wild ass, wild yak, and black-necked crane.

Recent photographs taken of snow leopard and Pallas cat, with use of camera traps in the headwaters of the Yangtze River.

All rights reserved. All copyrights in full partnership with project partners. Copyright (c) Plateau Perspectives et al 2010.

Improving rural health services for Tibetan pastoralists in the high grasslands

Plateau Perspectives has always maintained that conservation can best be achieved when working as genuine partners with local communities, and conversely that sustainable community development must consider the protection of natural resources as fundamental to any long-term strategy. In addition, not only are these 'programme areas' synergistic with the other, but they both also have real and intrinsic value. In the light of this, over the past decade we have responded to many requests from local communities and local government, including on-going professional development (i.e., training courses) for village doctors and veterinarians and the construction of nearly a dozen village clinics (co-funded with health bureaus). In geographic terms, these community-focused development activities have been located in the headwaters of the Yangtze and Mekong rivers. More information can be found here.

30 March 2010