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