A report to the Persian leopard status and conservation in the Iranian part of the Caucasus ecoregion PREPARED FOR THE CAUCASUS LEOPARD EXPERT'S WORKSHOP, GEORGIA, OCTOBER 2014

By: Arezoo Sanei*¹ and Mohamad Reza Masoud² ¹ Executive Director, Asian Leopard Specialist Society ² Head of the Wildlife Monitoring Department, East Azarbaijan Provincial DoE

Report No.: ALSS/2014/Cau/7-1

* Email: [email protected] ² Email: [email protected]

www.leopardspecialists.com

www.Persian-leopard.com

Table of Contents CONTENTS Abbreviations

1

Introduction: Regulatory measures and national law enforcement

1

1- RESEARCH

2

Regional distribution modeling of the Persian leopard in Iran (countrywide program including the Caucasus eco-region) 2 Identification of the Persian leopard habitats and corridors in East Azarbaijan province of Iran

3

2- Training, education, community based and awareness raising programs 6 Persian leopard regional workshops (countrywide program - including Caucasus eco-region)

6

Empowerment of the local communities in Kaghaz Konan PA for conservation of the Persian leopard, East Azarbaijan province 7 Empowerment of local communities in Kiamaki PA and Kantal NP 3- Habitat conservation achievements Upgrading conservation status of the main leopard habitats in east Azarbaijan province 4- Knowledge management and analysis of information Establishment of an innovative system for recording, storage and analysis of information (countrywide program – including Caucasus eco-region) 5- Knowledge sharing with international organizations Supporting materials

8 8

8 10

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A report to the Persian leopard status and conservation in the Iranian part of the Caucasus eco-region

ABBREVIATIONS ALSS……….. DoE…………. PLRW………. PLOP………... BR PA NP NHA

Asian Leopard Specialist Society Department of Environment of Iran Persian Leopard Regional Workshops Persian Leopard Online Portal Biosphere Reserve Protected Area National Park No Hunting Area

INTRODUCTION: Regulatory measures and national law enforcement The leopard has been protected in Iran since 1999 by national wildlife conservation law. The principal protection areas for the leopards are represented as national parks (NP), wildlife refuges (WR) and protected areas (PA). However, short-term protection are also offered by no-hunting areas (NHA) which are effective for a certain period of time which is usually 5 years to enable wildlife to recover (Sanei et al., in press). There are several main issues regarding the law enforcement (applicable to the Iranian Caucasus ecoregion) that is already considered in the Conservation Road Map of Cats of Iran (2012): 1- To have efficient law enforcements, we need more cooperation among various organizations. 2- More supports for wildlife wardens across the country must be implemented. 3- Proper procedures for efficient law enforcement must be developed. 4- There is no difference between fines for illegal hunting in and outside of protected areas. 5- Fines for hunting of leopards and their prey species must be considerably higher than its current rate (currently it is under consideration).

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A report to the Persian leopard status and conservation in the Iranian part of the Caucasus eco-region

1- RESEARCH 

PROJECT TITLE: COUNTRYWIDE DISTRIBUTION MODELING OF THE PERSIAN LEOPARD IN IRAN (Including the Caucasus eco-region) PROJECT LEADER: AREZOO SANEI, ASIAN LEOPARD SPECIALIST SOCIETY SOURCE OF FUND: GEF SMALL GRANT PROGRAM AT UNDP PROJECT NO.: IRA/SGP/OP5/Y2/STAR/BD/12/02(168) YEAR IMPLEMENTED: 2012-2013 Comparison among leopard presence areas compiled from 2002 to 2006 in Iran (Sanei, 2007) with those from 2007 to 2011 (Sanei et al. in press), suggested that there is a considerable gap in leopard presence areas in northwest of Iran. To examine the hypothesis addressing presence of very few leopard signs and records in provinces of Kermanshah, Kurdestan, and South of West Azarbaijan, Hamedan, Ghom and Markazi in the recent years, we developed a new study to assess leopard potential habitats in Iran including this region in northwest of the country. For this reason, we divided all 31 provinces of Iran to 5 regions. This classification was based on various factors including climate and habitat types. Developing the leopard potential distribution maps in Iran verified that leopard habitats in northwest of the country (containing Caucasus eco-region) are very scattered, isolated and small areas with lack of corridors among them. The maps verify that the leopard distribution in Iran is splitting to two northern and southern fragmented parts. The Persian leopard population in Iran is supporting leopard survival in neighboring countries of Caucasus eco-region through trans-boundary movements. This study identified very few habitats that can supports these movements. Some of the remaining key habitats in this region are still unprotected and may go under construction activities any time. Therefore, very urgent action is required to address these few remaining habitats. One of them is an area called Tarom which is extending from Ghazvin province to Zanjan province. This area is one of the critical habitats that connects leopard population in north (Gilan province) to those in Southern Ardebil province and then, East Azarbaijan province with trans-boundary habitats in Caucasus eco-region. We have already proposed this area (the portion in Ghazvin province) to be urgently upgraded in terms of protection status. One more research phase is still required to assess detail information on the main corridors among the identified habitats.

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A report to the Persian leopard status and conservation in the Iranian part of the Caucasus eco-region

(A)

3

(B)

N N N

Fig. 1. (A): Leopard presence areas as recorded from 2007 – 2011. C1: Confirmed presence, C2: Probable presence (Source for the map: Sanei et al. in press. Status assessment of the Persian leopard in Iran. Cat News: Special Issue of Felids of Iran). (B): Potential leopard distribution habitats in northwest of Iran (Caucasus eco-region). As shown in this map, there are very few habitats and corridors remained to support leopard trans-boundary movements from Iran to neighboring countries in Caucasia. Considering rapid developments in recent years, urgent actions are required to address these few remaining habitats and corridors. (Source for the map: Sanei. in press. Status assessment of the Persian leopard in Iran, Vol. 2. In English).



PROJECT TITLE: IDENTIFICATION OF THE PERSIAN LEOPARD HABITATS AND CORRIDORS IN EAST AZARBAIJAN PROVINCE OF IRAN PROJECT LEADER: AREZOO SANEI, ASIAN LEOPARD SPECIALIST SOCIETY COLLEAGUE: MOHAMAD REZA MASOUD, HEAD OF THE WILDLIFE MONITORING DEPARTMENT, EAST AZARBAIJAN PROVINCIAL DOE SOURCE OF FUND: EAST AZARBAIJAN PROVINCIAL DOE YEAR IMPLEMENTED: 2012 In 2012, a research was developed and conducted to identify leopard potential habitats and corridors in East Azarbaijan Province to provide a basis for leopard conservation and management programs in trans-

A report to the Persian leopard status and conservation in the Iranian part of the Caucasus eco-region

boundary areas in Northwestern Iran. It is worth mentioning that among three bordering provinces of Ardebil, West and East Azarbaijan, study province has the longest borderline (45 km) and the main common leopard habitats with two neighboring countries of Armenia and Azerbaijan Republics. In this study, a total of 37 discrete areas were identified with more than 23% probability of presence of the leopard in the areas located among 37° 00̕N - 39° 00̕N and 48 00 E - 45 00 E. Localities of predicted potential habitats were identified in each township. Amount of available suitable habitats with variety of probabilities of leopard presence in each habitat is presented in Table 1.

Table 1. Area of suitable habitats available in each sector of East Azarbaijan province (source: Sanei, Masoud and Mohamadi. in press. Trans-boundary habitats and corridors in the Caucasus eco-region Case study: East Azarbaijan province, Iran In Status assessment of the Persian leopard in Iran, Vol. 2.) Probability

of

Area in sector 1

Area in sector 2

Area in sector 3

Area in sector 4

leopard presence (km²)

%

(km²)

%

(km²)

%

(km²)

%

>0.77

925

7.75

1400

12.84

0

0

200

1.28

0.38-0.77

1700

14.25

2000

18.34

125

1.96

525

3.36

0.23-0.38

2050

17.19

1625

14.90

550

8.66

978

6.24

<0.23

7250

60.79

5875

53.89

5675

89.37

13925

89.12

Total area

11,925

100

10900

100

5350

100

15625

100

Sector 1: mainly includes areas of Kalibar, Ahar and Haris townships located in Northeast of the province, above 39º 00´ N. Sector 2: includes parts of Marand, Shabestar and Tabriz townships located in Northwest of the province, between 39º 00´ N - 38º 00´ N. Sector 3: includes parts of Bonab, Maragheh, Tabriz townships located in southwest of the province from 38º 00´ N - 37º 00´ N and 46º 30´ N - 45º 00´ E. Sector 4: includes parts of Sarab, Haris, Mianeh, Bostan Abad and Hasht-Roud townships located in Southeast of the province between 38º 00´ N - 37º 00´ N and 46º 30´ E and 48º 00´ E.

Even though, much of the leopard habitats in East Azarbaijan province of northwest of Iran are scattered and isolated (or in the process of isolation), few main habitats were found to be reasonably vast and connected to each other yet. However, these areas are surrounded by cultivation lands and settlement areas. Presence of livestock and poaching of prey species are other risks available in these regions. In Yekanat Mountains, alternation of pasture to cultivation lands and developing road networks is further threatening the habitats’ suitability.

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A report to the Persian leopard status and conservation in the Iranian part of the Caucasus eco-region

Surrounding wire fences and developments of Aras free trade and industrial zone is affecting connectivity of the critically important habitats located in Northern parts of the province in terms of wildlife movements and dispersal. Furthermore, establishment of an airport close to the Marakan PA will result in fragmentation of potential habitats of Kiamaki WR from those in Marakan PA. We suggest that improving protection status of the continuous mountains of Agh-Dagh, Kaftar-Lin and Abdol-Ali Dash is essential to secure connectivity of potential habitats of Marakan PA to those in Kiamaki PA. Previously we proposed Tarom in Qazvin province to be upgraded to protected area. The area is critically important as it connects leopard habitats in Hyrcanian forests of Northern Iran to those in Southern Ardebil and South-eastern Azarbaijan provinces. It’s worth mentioning that more detailed studies in each region is required to (1) identify more detailed and accurate information on corridors connecting existed identified habitats.

Fig. 2. Location of sectors and main identified potential leopard habitats in East Azarbaijan province, Iran (source: Sanei, Masoud and Mohamadi. in press. Trans-boundary habitats and corridors in the Caucasus eco-region - Case study: East Azarbaijan province, Iran In Status assessment of the Persian leopard in Iran, Vol. 2.) . Each cell covers an area of 5 km X 5 km. Habitat suitability is decreasing from L1 to L4.

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A report to the Persian leopard status and conservation in the Iranian part of the Caucasus eco-region

2. TRAINING, EDUCATION, COMMUNITY BASED AND AWARENESS RAISING PROGRAMS  PROGRAM TITLE: PERSIAN LEOPARD REGIONAL WORKSHOPS (including Caucasus ecoregion) PROJECT LEADER: AREZOO SANEI, ASIAN LEOPARD SPECIALIST SOCIETY SOURCE OF FUND: GEF SMALL GRANT PROGRAM AT UNDP COLLEAGUES (FOR 1ST AND 2ND COURSES): CONSERVATION AND HUNTING MANAGEMENT GENERAL OFFICE OF DOE, PROVINCIAL DOE OFFICES OF WEST AZARBAIJAN, GHAZVIN, GOLESTAN, LORESTAN, BOUSHEHR, NORTH-KHORASAN, ALBORZ, UNIVERSITY OF ENVIRONMENT PROJECT NO.: IRA/SGP/OP5/Y2/STAR/BD/12/02(168) & IRA/SGP/OP5/Y3/STAR/BD/13/07(183) YEAR IMPLEMENTED: 2012-2013 & 2014 - 2015

Since 2011, ALSS classified all the provinces of Iran to 5 regions and since then, conducts training and educational workshops in a regional scale (Fig. 3, 5 regions including Iranian part of the Caucuses eco-region) covering the entire country. The subjects vary based on the latest assessment of the requirements/research and conservation demands. Currently, the second course of these workshops are ongoing. In these workshops, main subjects are (1) research, (2) participatory and periodical monitoring of the Persian leopard in Iran, (3) awareness raising and community based programs, (4) media and its use in conservation. Worth mentioning that, various subjects included in the road map of cats of Iran (developed in Sari, 2011) are also included in this program. Participants are about 600 individuals from members of the Persian Leopard Online Portal. Four working groups with the subjects mentioned above are being established for further activities.

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A report to the Persian leopard status and conservation in the Iranian part of the Caucasus eco-region

Fig. 3. The map shows 5 regions classified by ALSS for conducting periodical and national Persian Leopard Regional Workshops in Iran (Map: Sanei. In press. Status assessment of the Persian leopard in Iran, Vol. 2 - in English).



PROJECT TITLE: EMPOWERMENT OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN KAGHAZ KONAN PA FOR CONSERVATION OF THE PERSIAN LEOPARD, EAST AZARBAIJAN PROVINCE

PROJECT LEADER:

MOMAD

REZA MASOUD, EAST AZARBAIJAN WILDLIFE & AQUATIC CONSERVATION

SOCIETY; HEAD OF THE WILDLIFE MONITORING DEPARTMENT, EAST AZARBAIJAN PROVINCIAL DOE SOURCE OF FUND: GEF SMALL GRANT PROGRAM AT UNDP YEAR IMPLEMENTED: 2011-2014 In Kaghazkonan PA, Agh-kand district 2 villages namely Mendojin and Astaneh Jin were selected to conduct this project. Target groups and organizations were selected in terms of their influence on the community. Educational classes, meetings and workshops were held in the schools (for school children) and mosques. Face to face educations conducted for various target groups of women, shepherds,

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A report to the Persian leopard status and conservation in the Iranian part of the Caucasus eco-region

herders and farmers. Meetings were held in governmental organizations identified for their influence on habitat protection in the region.



PROJECT TITLE: EMPOWERMENT OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN KIAMAKI PA AND KANTAL NP

PROJECT LEADER: MOMAD REZA MASOUD, EAST AZARBAIJAN WILDLIFE & AQUATIC CONSERVATION

SOCIETY SOURCE OF FUND: DONATION FROM DR. SEDAT KALEM AND DR. NARGES YAZGAN YEAR IMPLEMENTED: 2014 (ONGOING) Since 2014, using a total fund of 5000 USD donated by Dr. Narges Yazgan and Dr. Sedat Kalem, an empowerment program for local communities is ongoing in the critical habitats of kiamaki PA and Kantal NP. One of the outputs of this program so far was a gathering in this area in which hunters broke their guns as a promise for wildlife conservation in their region.

3- HABITAT CONSERVATION ACHIEVEMENTS UPGRADING CONSERVATION STATUS OF THE MAIN LEOPARD HABITATS IN EAST AZARBAIJAN PROVINCE RESPONSIBLE ORGANIZATION: EAST AZARBAIJAN PROVINCIAL DOE

Since 2011, several habitats (e.g. Kantal National Park, Dizmar PA, Kaghaz Konan NHA, Yai-Gari PA, Bozgush PA and Horand) was upgraded in terms of the protection status. Following table shows the protection status of the habitats and the upgrades.

Table 2. Protection status of the habitats and the upgrades since 2011, in East Azarbaijan province (Source: East Azarbaijan Provincial DoE) NO. TYPE

NAME OF AREA

AREA (HA)

PROTECTION DATE

1

PA

ARASBARAN

80255.23

BEFORE 2011

2

PA

MARAKAN

47522

BEFORE 2011

3

WR

KIAMAKI

95741.84

BEFORE 2011

4

NHA

KAGHAZ KONAN

128689.3

BEFORE 2011

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A report to the Persian leopard status and conservation in the Iranian part of the Caucasus eco-region

5

NHA

SAHAND

245.81

BEFORE 2011

6

NHA

GHAREH - GHESHLAGH

103.61

BEFORE 2011

7

NHA

CHAR OISAGH

210.93

BEFORE 2011

8

NHA

YEKANAT

131.77

BEFORE 2011

UPGRADES 1

NP

KANTAL

6866.34

AFTER 2011

2

NP

ARASBARAN

59.7

AFTER 2011

3

WR

KIAMAKI

89142.2

AFTER 2011

4

PA

DIZMAR

68430.44

AFTER 2011

5

PA

SAHAND

48193.6

AFTER 2011

6

PA

BOZ GHUSH

40212.1

AFTER 2011

7

PA

YAI GHARI

71444.1

AFTER 2011

8

PA

ARASBARAN

80170.36

AFTER 2011

9

PA

MARAKAN

47522

AFTER 2011

10

PA

CHAR OISAGH

72886.2

AFTER 2011

11

PA

SUFI CHAI

13097

AFTER 2011

12

PA

YEKANAT

12487

AFTER 2011

13

NHA

KAGHAZ KONAN

80762.29

AFTER 2011

14

NHA

HORAND

51718

AFTER 2011

15

NHA

GHAREH GHESHLAGH

13865

AFTER 2011

16

NHA

YEKANAT

61002

AFTER 2011

17

NHA

SAHAND

63125

AFTER 2011

TRANS-BOUNDARY PARK 32000 (IRANIAN SIDE OF THE AREAS)

4- KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND ANALYSIS OF INFORMATION 

PROGRAM TITLE: ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INNOVATIVE SYSTEM FOR RECORDING, STORAGE AND ANALYSIS OF INFORMATION

PROJECT LEADER: AREZOO SANEI, ASIAN LEOPARD SPECIALIST SOCIETY

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A report to the Persian leopard status and conservation in the Iranian part of the Caucasus eco-region

SOURCE OF FUND: GEF SMALL GRANT PROGRAM AT UNDP PROJECT NO.: IRA/SGP/OP5/Y2/STAR/BD/12/02(168) & IRA/SGP/OP5/Y3/STAR/BD/13/07(183)

There is an organized center for storing and information analysis (also including Iranian part of the Caucasus ecoregion)

which

is

endorsed

by

Department

of

Environment of Iran. Persian Leopard Online Portal is a database storing system recording all data concerning the leopards from all over the country including mortalities (hunting/road kill/illegal trade/etc.), observations, leopard presence localities, reports, threats, human-leopard conflicts, leopard studies and relative projects across the country. These reports are made by knowledgeable local people/experts/DoE wildlife wardens/DoE staff and any knowledgeable person from across the country. Assessments and analysis of records is on the periodical basis. Earlier, there was a database established since 2002 including both the current data (e.g. mortalities -hunting/road kill/illegal trade/etc., observations and detections, leopard presence locations, threats, human-leopard conflicts, biometry data, habitats and coexisted species) and historical data, documented and hearsays (Sanei. 2005 and 2007. Status assessment of the Persian leopard in Iran (Vol. 1). Sepehr Publication Center: Tehran. In Persian language).

PLOP, together with storing the data from all over the country, also works as: 

Identification of volunteers (knowledgeable local people, experts, students, local NGOs, DoE staff and wildlife wardens, etc.) who are willing to co-operate in leopard activities.



Receiving the reports, we will be able to plan for the suitable actions (research, compensation, etc.) required.



We are able to plan for the human resources who are willing to co-operate in research/conservation activities.

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A report to the Persian leopard status and conservation in the Iranian part of the Caucasus eco-region



Sharing information (scientific, news, training courses, etc.) with members with taking into account the access level of each member to the relevant information (as considered in the road map of cats of Iran).

5- KNOWLEDGE SHARING WITH INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS Results related to the latest assessment of necessities of the community based programs in terms of leopard conservation in each region, distribution modeling of the Persian leopard in Iran, human-leopard conflicts and other threats (assessed in each region, Fig. 3) are under publication as an English book to be shared with international communities - title: Status assessment of the Persian leopard in Iran (Vol. 2). We regularly publish projects’ and ALSS newsletters. Other information are also available on the society website, LinkedIn, Facebook and English progress reports on the English language news websites.

SUPPORTING MATERIALS: WWW.LEOPARDSPECIALISTS.COM/INDEX.PHP/ALSS-PROJECTS FORMATION OF AN ACTIVE NETWORK BETWEEN TECHNICAL EXPERTS AND LOCAL ACTIVIST IN SELECTED LEOPARD HABITATS FOR ESTABLISHING PRIORITIES FOR PARTICIPATORY CONSERVATION OF THE PERSIAN LEOPARD IN IRAN (FINALIZED): HTTPS://SGP.UNDP.ORG/INDEX.PHP?OPTION=COM_SGPPROJECTS&VIEW=PROJECTDETAIL&ID=1891 1&ITEMID=205 EMPOWERMENT OF THE PERSIAN LEOPARD NATIONAL NETWORK FOR PARTICIPATORY CONSERVATION OF PERSIAN LEOPARD (ONGOING): HTTPS://SGP.UNDP.ORG/INDEX.PHP?OPTION=COM_SGPPROJECTS&VIEW=PROJECTDETAIL&ID=2130 7&ITEMID=205

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