Monitoring the most threatened species in sites across Indo-Burma

1. Monitoring the most threatened species in sites across Indo-Burma David Emmett Research & monitoring Conservation International Indo-Burma Program

2. 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

3. 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

4. Example: Global strongholds for Siamese Crocodile (CR)

5. Many stronghold sites will already have conservation projects in place, but some do notTherefore, 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

6. Objectives of strongholds monitoring 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.

7. This approach can indicate where conservation interventions are successful, and where they are failing How? By providing baselineinformation 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

8. 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

9. Pilot Study The 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

10. Pilot Study (cont.) 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

11. Data Collection 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.

12. Data Sources 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

13. Data Collection 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).

14. Addressing Knowledge Gaps 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

15. Trend

16. 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.

18. 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.

20. 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