23 November 2011: At the first meeting of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Bukhara Deer, its Parties Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, committed to an Action Plan outlining increased efforts for protection of the deer and other species.

The endangered Bukhara Deer is endemic to Central Asia and threatened by hunting, logging and unsustainable agricultural practices. The meeting took place on the first day of the 10th Conference of the Parties (COP 10) of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), being held in Bergen, Norway, from 19-25 November 2011. Under the agreed Action Plan, governments will pursue economic incentives to encourage people to manage natural resources sustainably, such as through sharing income from controlled hunting and eco-tourism.

According to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the deer and other species – such as wild camels, wild asses, antelopes, gazelles, Argali mountain sheep and snow leopards – are threatened by habitat degradation due to climate change, overgrazing, natural disasters, unsustainable irrigation systems, infrastructure projects linked to exploitation of oil, gas and mineral reserves, and other factors. The resulting habitat degradation also threatens people’s livelihoods.

Elizabeth Mrema, CMS Executive Secretary, noted that the Action Plan identifies a strategy for increased transboundary collaboration among governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and local communities to enhance research, wildlife law enforcement and information exchange. [UN Press Release] [UNEP Press Release] [IISD RS Coverage of CMS COP 10] [Publication: Report of the First Meeting of the Signatories (Released 12 February 2012)]