Monitoring the most threatened species in sites across Indo-Burma

David EmmettResearch & monitoring

Conservation International Indo-Burma Program

Sites and Species in Indo-Burma

450+ known KBAs in Indo-Burma

500+ known globally threatened species

Six countries, > 2 000 000 km² total area

Low financial investment in conservation

Need to identify priorities for action and monitoring

Need to ensure actions are effective

The Stronghold

Definition: We define strongholds as sites containing the world’s largest populations of species of high conservation concern

Goal: to identify all stronghold sites for all priority species in Indo-Burma, and then monitor the status of each population on an annual basis

Result: annual trends in status of the region’s most threatened species in their strongholds

Example: Global strongholds for Siamese Crocodile (CR)

Many stronghold sites will already have conservation projects in place, but some do not

Therefore, monitoring the status of threatened species at stronghold sites allows us to assess the effectiveness of

existing conservation projects at those sites…

…and to identify other sites where future conservation efforts should be prioritised

•To monitor the largest populations of the most threatened species in Indo-Burma,

•To use the resultant monitoring data to identify global trends for these species,

•To support IUCN Red List updates,

•To show where large populations of threatened species are most threatened with extinction,

•To indicate where conservation interventions are needed, where interventions are successful, and

where they are failing.

Objectives of strongholds monitoring

This approach can indicate where conservation interventions are successful, and where they are failing

How?

By providing baseline information on the state of a site and its stronghold species, and the pressures at that site, prior to project

implementation

By providing annual trends in the status of the stronghold species at the site during project implementation

By allowing comparisons of trends in the status of stronghold species at sites with conservation projects against ‘control’ sites where there

is no conservation investment

This approach can support adaptive management at your site during project implementation

How?

By highlighting negative trends in state of key species at your site

By showing what works at other sites

By supporting the diagnosis of causes of decline of species

Pilot StudyThe Process

We used the IUCN Red List, AZE database and SSG discussions to identify those species in Indo-Burma most threatened with

extinction (i.e. CR, EN, some DD, restricted range) and therefore most in need of conservation interventions and monitoring

We then used the KBA database and other sources to identify all known global sites containing populations of each of these species

We then identified the five global stronghold sites for each species using direct data whenever possible (e.g., actual density data), or indirect information if necessary (e.g.,

habitat size)

Finally, all of the stronghold sites that occur in the Indo-Burma Hotspot were targeted for baseline data collection

and monitoring

Pilot Study (cont.)

We field-tested this concept on a subset of the most threatened species.

These encapsulated a wide range of taxa, threats, distributions, ecological requirements and other factors.

We identified the stronghold sites.

We developed a template for a ‘Trends Database’ that records annual trends in

status of species at each stronghold site.

Data Collection

We collected data on sites and species from a wide range of sources:

Scientific papers

Books, Reports

Government documents

Management plans

Websites (e.g., IUCN, AZE, CITES)

Museum records

Universities (national and international)

International NGOs

Species Specialist Groups

Personal communications with international scientists

Data Sources

We collected standard baseline state (e.g., forest cover) and pressure (e.g., types of

threats) information for each stronghold site.

We recorded quantitative measures of habitat requirements in the strongholds for each species, and graded the severity of direct threats (e.g., deforestation, poaching).

We recorded whether the stronghold sites had a management plan, governance structure,

resources to implement a management plan, or long-term financing (OM indicators).

Data Collection

To identify strongholds when data are limited we set up a grants scheme, and trained and funded national students and graduates to

survey for highly threatened taxa at candidate strongholds (national RAP teams)

Up to 15 field survey teams systematically collecting data at any given time

Quality control by CI’s regional team, international specialists, and PhD students

Develops national capacity while filling gaps

Teams then monitor the stronghold sites

Low cost

Addressing Knowledge Gaps

Scientific NameCommon

NameIUCN Status

CITES Status

Global Population (estimate)

Stronghold Population Sites

(KBAs)Country

Estimated % of

global popn

1995-2005

2005 2006 2007

Arborophila davidi

Orange-Necked

PartridgeEndangered

Not Listed

250-999

Cat Tien Vietnam 20-40%  

Cat Loc Vietnam 20-40%  

Snoul-Keo Sema-O Reang

Cambodia 5-10% ? ? ?  

Mauremys annamensis

Vietnamese Pond Turtle

Critically Endangered

II <1,000 Quang Nam province Vietnam 90-100%    

Nomascus nasutus

Eastern black crested gibbon

Critically Endangered

I approx. 50

Phong Nam-Ngoc Khe Propoased

Species/Habitat Conservation Area

Vietnam 67% ?  

Bangliang forest, Jingxi county

China 33% ? ?  

Trachypithecus poliocephalus

Cat Ba LangurCritically

Endangered  64 Cat Ba National Park Vietnam 100%  

Trend

For your site with your project, you can assess the effectiveness of your conservation interventions against target species by looking at historical and current trends in status. Can compare to other sites that hold that species, to assist with your review of the effectiveness of your interventions.

Summary: Practical links between strongholds and Intervention Monitoring

For your site with your project, you can assess the effectiveness of your conservation interventions against target species by looking at historical and current trends in status. Can compare to other sites that hold that species, to assist with your review of the effectiveness of your interventions.

Can review the project to see if all your target species are covered by conservation actions, and adapt project activities

to cover those species exhibiting negative trends.

Summary: Practical links between strongholds and Intervention Monitoring

For your site with your project, you can assess the effectiveness of your conservation interventions against target species by looking at historical and current trends in status. Can compare to other sites that hold that species, to assist with your review of the effectiveness of your interventions.

Can review the project to see if all target species are covered by conservation actions, and adapt project activities to cover

those species exhibiting negative trends.

Can add more species to the trends database if they are target species for a given conservation project

Summary: Practical links between strongholds and Intervention Monitoring