Wildlife Conservation Trust Inc

STRENGTHENING THE PROTECTION OF AND IMPROVING CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN IMPORTANT TIGER POPULATIONS IN INDIA

STRENGTHEN WILDLIFE POLICY AND LEGISLATION, AND APPLICATION OF WILDLIFE PROTECTION LAWS, PROMOTING THE INVESTIGATION, ARREST, PROSECUTION, CONVICTION, AND SENTENCING TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW OF THE CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT PERPETRATE WILDLIFE

THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO PROTECT THE PLOUGHSHARE TORTOISE (PT), MADAGASCAR BIG HEADED TURTLE (MBHT) AND THE FLAT TAILED TORTOISE (FTT) POPULATIONS FROM POACHING FOR INTERNATIONAL TRAFFICKING FOR THE PET TRADE, EXPLOITATION FOR MEAT AND EGGS, AND HABITAT LOSS. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE (1) SUPPORTING COMMUNITY LED MONITORING ACTIVITIES IN BALY BAY NATIONAL PARK (2) CONDUCTING A RANGE WIDE SURVEY AND DEVELOPMENT OF A SPECIES ACTION PLAN FOR MBHT, AND NEST PROTECTION FOR MBHT IN TWO NATIONAL PARKS (3) IMPLEMENTING SUPPLEMENTARY RELEASES OF 114 CAPTIVE BRED MBHT IN THE ANKARAFANTSIKA WETLANDS (4) COMPLETING SURVEYS FOR FTT AT POTENTIAL RELEASE SITES AND REINTRODUCTION OF 50 CAPTIVE FTT AT VIABLE SITES WITH FOLLOW UP RADIO TRACKING ASSESSMENTS AND (5) IMPLEMENTING MAINTENANCE OF CAPTIVE POPULATIONS OF ALL THREE SPECIES AT THE CHELONIAN CAPTIVE BREEDING CENTRE IN AMPIJOROA.

CWT FY 17

RT1839-TIGERS INDIA

OBJECTIVE 1 ELIMINATING CRITICAL THREATS TO TFTS IN VIETNAM AND THE REGION FROM HUNTING AND TRADE AND TRAFFICKINGACTIVITY 1 COMBATING TFT CRIME AND TAKING DOWN CRIMINAL NETWORKSACTIVITY 2 STRENGTHENING LAW AND POLICY AT THE CENTRAL AND LOCAL LEVEL TO ENHANCE THE PROTECTION OF TFTS IN VIETNAM PARTICULARLY IN REGARDS TO COMMERCIAL TFT FARMING AND THE GROWTH OF THE EXOTIC PET INDUSTRYACTIVITY 3 ENGAGING AND ENHANCING THE CAPACITY AND WILL OF KEY STAKEHOLDERS WITHIN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TO EXERCISE APPROPRIATE AND IMPACTFUL APPLICATION OF RELEVANT LAWS AND POLICIESACTIVITY 4 MOBILIZING PUBLIC SUPPORT AND PARTICIPATION IN COMBATTING ILLEGAL TFT TRADE BY ENCOURAGING PUBLIC REPORTING OF TFT CRIMES TO AUTHORITIES OR THROUGH THE ENV WILDLIFE CRIME HOTLINEACTIVITY 5 PROMOTING AND ENGAGING VOLUNTEERS NATIONWIDE TO HELP PROTECT TFTS THROUGH GRASSROOT ACTIVITIES SUCH AS AWARENESS EVENTS AND ASSISTING ENV WITH MONITORING BUSINESSES TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAWACTIVITY 6 DETERRING ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES THROUGH A ROBUST COMMUNICATION PROGRAM REACHING THE PUBLIC THROUGH MASS MEDIA AND THE INTERNETACTIVITY 7 SHARING INFORMATION AND CONDUCTING ANALYSES OF TFT TRAFFICKING OPERATIONS IN SUPPORT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES WITH THE INTENT OF FACILITATING ARRESTS AND PROSECUTIONS OF MAJOR TFT TRAFFICKERSOBJECTIVE 2 INCREASING THE CAPACITY OF INDIVIDUALS AND INSTITUTIONS AT THE LOCAL AND NATIONAL LEVELS TO CHAMPION CONSERVATION OF TFTSACTIVITY 1 INVESTMENT IN ENV CAPACITY TO CHAMPION TFT CONSERVATION THROUGH A TWO YEAR APPROACH TO EFFECTIVELY INTEGRATE AND SUSTAIN TFT FOCUS INTO ENV ENFORCEMENT AND LAW AND COMMUNICATION ACTIVITIESACTIVITY 2 ENGAGING LOCAL PARTNERS IN UNDERTAKING MEASURES TO IMPROVE THE PROTECTION OF TFTSMAJOR PROJECT OUTPUTS AND OUTCOMESMINIMUM OF 800 TFT CRIME CASES REPORTED TO ENV EACH YEARFOUR INTERNET CRIME CAMPAIGNS EXECUTED AND 70 PERCENT OF THE ONLINE VIOLATIONS ADDRESSED SUCCESSFULLYENGAGEMENT WITH PAGODA LEADERS RESULTS IN VOLUNTARY TRANSFER OF CAPTIVE TURTLES IN 90 PERCENT OF RELEVANT CASESPROPOSALS FOR FULL PROTECTION STATUS OF MANOURIA IMPRESSA AND POTENTIALLY OTHER HEAVILY TRADED TFT SPECIES FOLLOWING CONSULTATIONS WITH THE VIETNAM SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITYEIGHT TOTAL QUARTERLY COMMUNICATIONS TO 1000 PAGODAS VIA OUR TFT COMMUNICATIONS CAMPAIGN AIMED AT REDUCING TFT RELEASES BY BUDDHIST PATRONSTIGHTER REGULATIONS TO HELP ELIMINATE LAUNDERING OF TFTS THROUGH LICENSED COMMERCIAL FARMSPROGRESS IN SECURING LEGISLATION WHICH MORE EFFECTIVELY REGULATES THE TRADE OF EXOTIC SPECIES IN VIETNAM AND CORRESPONDING APPLICATION OF EXISTING AND POTENTIAL NEW REGULATIONSMINIMUM OF 50 TO 60 DIRECT CONSULTATIONS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND THE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND POLITICAL LEADERS PROVIDING GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT ON TFT CASES6 TO 8 COMMUNICATIONS TO 1500 MEMBERS OF ENV CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM NETWORK PROMOTING TFT PROTECTION80 PERCENT OF ALL SERIOUS CRIMINAL CASES INVOLVING TFTS SUCCESSFULLY PROSECUTEDPUBLICATION OF AN ANNUAL LAW GUIDANCE WITH A FEATURED COMPONENT ON TFT LAW BASED ON AN EXTENSIVE TFT LAW AND REGULATION REVIEWMEDIA COVERAGE OF MINIMUM 50 TV INSERTS AND MEDIA ARTICLES ON TFT PROTECTION EACH YEARFOUR TFT FOCUSED TV PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS PRODUCED AND AIRED ON MINIMUM 50 NATIONAL TV CHANNELS TO RAISE AWARENESS AND PROMOTE PUBLIC REPORTS OF TFT CRIME AND CREATE WILDLIFE CRIME DETERRENCEMONTHLY VIRAL ADVERTISING CREATING DETERRENCE AND PROMOTING REPORTS OF TFT CRIMESMILLIONS OF VIETNAMESE CITIZENS REACHED THROUGH 4 NATIONAL TFT FOCUSED VOICE OF VIETNAM RADIO SHOWS AND 24 MONTHS OF RADIO ADVERTISING ON VOV TRAFFIC CHANNELMINIMUM OF 400 NEW VOLUNTEERS RECRUITED AT UNIVERSITIESFOUR MAJOR RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING EVENTS CARRIED OUT IN PRIORITY AREAS AND 36 TFT FOCUSED AWARENESS EVENTS CONDUCTED BY VOLUNTEERS IN 9 CITIES

THE PURPOSE OF THIS TWO-YEAR PROJECT IS TO SUPPORT CONSERVATION EFFORTS IN SAINT LUCIA FOR THE CRITICALLY ENDANGERED SAINT LUCIA RACER BY IMPLEMENTING KEY ACTIONS IDENTIFIED IN THE SPECIES CONSERVATION ACTION PLAN 2015-2024. THE SAINT LUCIA RACER IS ARGUABLY THE WORLD'S RAREST SNAKE. WITH A POPULATION OF LESS THAN FIFTY INDIVIDUALS, RESTRICTED TO A SINGLE 9.4 HECTARE ISLET, THE SPECIES IS AT HIGH RISK OF EXTINCTION FROM INVASION BY NONNATIVE PREDATORS AND STOCHASTIC EVENTS. THIS PROJECT BUILDS UPON PREVIOUS USFWS SUPPORT TO PROJECT PARTNERS WHICH FUNDED THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SPECIES ACTION PLAN. SPECIFIC PROJECT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: (1) ESTABLISHING A CAPTIVE BREEDING PROGRAM FOR THE SAINT LUCIA RACER TO PROVIDE AN ASSURANCE POPULATION AND PROVIDE OFFSPRING TO CREATE A FUTURE SECOND POPULATION AT A FUTURE MAINLAND ISLAND SITE; (2) UNDERTAKING RESEARCH ON THE WILD POPULATION TO IMPROVE THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE SPECIES TO INFORM THE CAPTIVE BREEDING AND FUTURE REINTRODUCTIONS TO THE MAINLAND ISLAND SITE; AND (3) CARRYING OUT A PUBLIC OUTREACH AND EDUCATION PROGRAM TO REINFORCE BIOSECURITY MEASURES ON THE ISLAND AND INCREASE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT OF THE ST. LUCIA RACER CONSERVATION PROGRAM.

THE PROJECT WILL ADDRESS REED CANARYGRASS (RCG) AND OTHER INVASIVE PLANTS WHICH WILL OTHERWISE LIMIT AND DEGRADE ESSENTIAL HABITATS AT THE TWO LARGEST AND KEY POPULATIONS FOR RECOVERY OF OREGON SPOTTED FROG (OSF) IN THE NORTH PUGET SOUND (PUGET TROUGH ECOREGION). THE PROJECT WILL COMBINE ANNUAL MANAGEMENT (ANNUAL MOWING AND MANUAL REMOVAL) WITH LONGER-TERM SOLUTIONS (I.E., REPLACEMENT WITH NATIVE PLANTS THAT ARE COMPATIBLE WITH OSF HABITAT REQUIREMENTS AND THAT WILL BE EASIER TO MANAGE). THE PROJECT WILL COMPLETE THE FIRST PHASE OF HABITAT RESTORATION AT THE SAMISH RIVER PRESERVE, WHERE METHODS HAVE ALREADY BEEN TESTED AND PROVEN, BY REMOVING RCG TO CREATE UP TO 0.6 ACRES OF ADDITIONAL PERSISTENT AQUATIC HABITAT FOR LARVAL REARING AND USE BY POST-METAMORPHIC STAGES 0.4 ACRES OF SHALLOWER SEASONAL WATER (INCLUDING EGG-LAYING OVIPOSITION HABITAT) AND REPLACING RCG WITH SEDGES AND OTHER APPROPRIATE NATIVE PLANTS IN APPROXIMATELY 0.7 ACRES OF FLOATING ROOT MAT. WITHOUT CONVERSION OF THE FLOATING ROOT MAT TO NATIVE SPECIES, THE DENSELY INTERWOVEN AND BUOYANT LAYER OF RCG ROOTS, RHIZOMES, AND ASSOCIATED PEAT, COVERED BY A THICK LAYER OF THATCH, WOULD CONTINUE TO LIMIT OSF HABITAT. AT THE WASH. DEPT. OF TRANSPORTATION S POTTER ROAD SITE, WE WILL TEST AND ADAPT COMPARABLE METHODS TO RESTORE ESSENTIAL HABITATS AND DESIGN A SITE-SPECIFIC MANAGEMENT PLAN. OBJECTIVES AT POTTER ROAD WILL PRIORITIZE RESTORATION OF A 1.0 ACRE HABITAT AREA BY REMOVING AND REPLACING RCG IN SHALLOW OVIPOSITION HABITAT AND REMOVING A DEVELOPING FLOATING ROOT MAT WHICH WILL OTHERWISE EVENTUALLY ELIMINATE DEEPER AQUATIC HABITAT. DEPENDING ON THE PACE OF WORK AT POTTER ROAD, INVASIVE PLANTS MAY BE ADDRESSED IN AN ADDITIONAL AREA OF 0.2 TO 0.3 ACRES. AT BOTH SITES THE PROJECT WILL USE FIELD-PLANTED EMERGENT VEGETATION MATS (EVMS) AND OTHER METHODS TO ESTABLISH NATIVE REPLACEMENT PLANTS. THE EVMS WILL BE COMPRISED OF BIODEGRADABLE COIR (COCONUT FIBER), WHICH SERVES AS A COMBINATION SUBSTRATE MULCH LAYER AND WEED BARRIER, PLANTED AT AN INITIAL DENSITY OF ABOUT 1.2 TO 1.5 PLANTS SQUARE FOOT. EVMS WILL BE MONITORED AND WEEDED AS NEEDED AS THE PLANTS ACHIEVE HIGH DENSITY. THE CRITERIA FOR PROJECT SUCCESS WILL BE THE ACRES OF MANAGED AND RESTORED HABITAT AND RESISTANCE TO REINVASION, SUPPORTED BY OTHER MEASURES OF EFFECTIVENESS OF THE RESTORED AREAS TO PROVIDE FAVORABLE HABITAT AND TO MAINTAIN OR EXPAND OSF POPULATIONS AT THE TWO SITES.

CAPACITY BUILDING IN ASSESSING IMPACT OF LINEAR INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT AND DEVELOPING MITIGATION MEASURES IN TIGER RANGE COUNTRIES

INCORPORATING OREGON SPOTTED FROG HABITAT RESTORATION INTO STEWARDSHIP OF THE WHATCOM LAND TRUST'S CATALYST PRESERVE

OSF HABITAT RESTORATION...SAMISH RIVER..

TO PROVIDE IRRIGATION, GARDEN SET UP, SCHOOL NUTRITION, AND AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT, AND TRAINING ON CLIMATE SMART AGRICULTURE PRINCIPLES.