Persian Leopard National Action Plan
Participatory Persian Leopard National Action Planning in Iran in now completed
Together with Department of Environment, we have been in the progress of preparation of the Persian Leopard National Action Plan in Iran. We have developed an innovative model suitable for local conditions and status of the leopard in the country and the work is a participatory process.
The plan was finalized and endorsed on January 2016 and it is covers the following main subjects:
(1) Awareness raising, training and empowerment
(2) Habitat
(3) Media
(4) Veterinary and disease
(5) Rehabilitation centers
(5) Trans boundary habitats and international cooperation
(6) Genetic conservation
(7) Innovative Persian Leopard Insurance Program
(8) Persian Leopard National Network
(9) Research, evaluation and monitoring
(10) Protection unit and wildlife wardens
(11) Laws and regulations.
Progress:
The first program entitled the Innovative Persian Leopard Insurance Program is being conducted in a national scale since March 2016.
Opening ceremony for the first series of the payments to compensate the losses of local people as a result of leopard-livestock conflicts
Summary: While the typical wildlife conflict compensation approaches include cash payments upon livestock losses, supporting schemes to improve husbandry practices and promoting insurance for livestock owners, we developed an innovative compensation program using capabilities associated with insurance industry in Iran. Even though the Persian leopard Panthera pardus saxicolor is an endangered subspecies with the main population inhabiting in Iran, more than 71% of the leopard mortalities during 2007 – 2011 are recorded as revenge killing and intentional hunting. Developed insurance program addresses 3 main subjects of (i) damages to the natural ecosystems because of leopard mortalities, (ii) injuries/maim/death because of human-leopard conflicts and (iii) livestock depredation by leopard. Since the wolf Canis lupus distribution is comparable with leopard range in the country, the program also compensates depredation by wolf wherever it can be determined that wolf-livestock conflict may causes leopard mortality in the area. Training programs for wildlife wardens associated with provincial DoE offices who are familiar with wildlife sign surveys is conducted to introduce the insurance regulations and laws. The trained persons will take a part in identification of responsible species in livestock - carnivore conflicts. While livestock owners would not be charged for the insurance premium, improvements in husbandry practices, linking the payments to the acceptable husbandry enhancements and participation in reducing risk of damage from carnivores by local people are some of the instructions to improve the program efficacy and outcomes.
