Tost Tosonbumba Mountain Range BNG Capacity Building Program

The Leopard Conservation Foundation NGO has been implementing multifaceted community-based conservation programs since 1999, one of which is a community-based monitoring and inspection program using the SMART program.

The program works closely with conservation activists from the BNM communities to increase conservation participation of pastoralists living in snow leopard rangelands, collect regular wildlife monitoring data to improve monitoring, and support the limited resources of government conservationists working in snow leopard rangelands. Each conservation activist will be responsible for organizing 50-120 km of monitoring in the community area for two days per month, depending on the size and accessibility of the SAC.

A monitoring program was initiated in 2016 with 7 communities (9296.6 km2) when the Tost and Toson Buam Mountains were local PAs. The program began using the SMART monitoring program in 2018 and is now being implemented with 32 communities covering more than 21,000 square kilometers.

There are plans to expand the program in phases by supporting rangers with training, field clothing, equipment, insurance, expenses, and incentives needed to conduct inspections.