Don’t Let the Snow Leopard Disappear

Don’t Let the Snow Leopard Disappear

To the Environment Ministers of Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan

Excellencies,

Your nations are home to the endangered snow leopard. For centuries, your people have been the guardians of this majestic cat, and many of your legends and folk tales reflect the deep relationships your cultures have with this animal. Indeed, today this majestic cat is a symbol of healthy mountains, water sources, healthy human-wildlife coexistence, and our rich cultural heritage.

However, both the snow leopard and the mountain communities that share its habitat have come under increasing pressure in the last decades. Poaching and the loss of habitat and prey have pushed these cats to the brink of extinction, while local people continue to struggle to make a living in a rapidly changing environment.

There still is hope for this cat and the people who live alongside it - thanks to your leadership. In 2013, your governments came together and agreed to the Bishkek Declaration on the Conservation of the Snow Leopard. This historic agreement has led to a massive international effort to secure not only this cat’s future, but also the future of the ecosystems it shares with local communities.

Together, your governments have identified 23 key snow leopard landscapes, totaling about a quarter of the snow leopards’ global range, to be to be brought under protection through community-based conservation. You’ve mobilized significant support and funds, and have already begun the complex, difficult work of putting these ambitious plans into action. 

We are grateful for your efforts to secure the snow leopard’s future, and we urge you to not just carry the current momentum forward, but to intensify these efforts further. Today, the snow leopard needs us all more than ever - and so do the people who share its mountain home.

The population size and conservation status of this cat remain largely unknown. Despite great efforts, less than 2% of its habitat have been surveyed by scientists to date. At the same time, the threats the snow leopard is facing are more serious than ever. Management plans for the landscapes are currently being prepared by in country experts as blueprints of securing these. These plans will need all the support and funding from your governments to be implemented.

We urge you to do everything in your power to not let the snow leopard disappear. This cat is not only an ambassador of your unique mountain ecosystems - it is an essential part of the cultural fabric and the natural heritage of your great nations and thus the entire world.

Thank you for your leadership and guidance.