CONSERVATION OF THE CAPRA SPECIES IN GEORGIA
Two species of tur are found in Georgia: East Caucasian Tur (Capra
cylindricornis) and West Caucasian Tur (Capra caucasica). Both IUCN and Georgian
Red Lists of Threatened Species classify the East Caucasian Tur as vulnerable
(VU) and West Caucasian Tur as a critically endangered (CR) species.
During 2005-2006, NACRES implemented the project Conservation of the Capra
Species in Georgia supported by Critical Ecosystems Partnership Funds (CEPF) and
WWF Caucasus Programme Office.
The project was dedicated to the conservation of the endangered tur species
in Georgia through the development and adoption of the National Tur Conservation
Action Plan.
The project began in Autumn 2005. Field surveys were carried out in Lagodekhi
Nature Reserve in 2005, and in the Kazbegi and Svaneti regions in 2006. On the
basis of fieldwork data and existing literature, a population viability analysis
for the two species was completed. It demonstrated that at the current
unsustainable hunting levels extinction of the tur population in Georgia over
the span of the next 50 years is highly probable. Consequently urgent action is
necessary to eliminate the current high rate of poaching.
A comprehensive report describing the status of the endangered tur species
was elaborated, based on which the draft Tur Conservation Action Plan for
Georgia was then developed for these two species. The draft document was
distributed among various stakeholders, including relevant governmental
agencies, NGOs, research organisations and other interested individuals. It was
also presented at a special stakeholder workshop. Many of the comments and the
feedback received from the stakeholders were then incorporated into the final
draft document. Subsequently a final report was prepared and published in
Georgian and submitted to the Ministry of Environment, which is now to be used
as a guideline document for the conservation of Georgian tur species.
The project was assisted by Dr. David Mallon, an international respected
consultant for the project, as well as by various NACRES volunteers.
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