On October 22 and 23, the Global Snow Leopard Conservation Forum will be held in Bishkek. In attendance will be representatives of the 12 countries with snow leopard habitats: Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Russia is home to the northernmost snow leopard population, with most animals found in the Altai-Sayan eco-region, which includes the mountains of the republics of Altai, Tuva and Buryatia and the south of the Krasnoyarsk Territory.

The purpose of the forum is to draw the world’s attention to the threat of extinction facing the snow leopard and to discuss efforts to preserve its habitats. Forum participants are expected to adopt a declaration on the preservation of the snow leopard and its habitats, as well as a global strategy for snow leopard conservation, which will include priority national programs. In addition, a proposal will be introduced to declare 2015 the Year of Snow Leopard.

The Russian delegation will include representatives of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment: Deputy Head of the Federal Service for the Oversight of Natural Resources Amirkhan Amirkhanov and Deputy Director of the Department for International Cooperation Irina Fominykh. Also participating will be representatives of the Khakassky Reserve, the Association of Natural Reserves of the Altay-Sayan Region, and scientists of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Prior to the forum, international organisations and countries with snow leopard habitats held three international meetings to set national priorities for the preservation of the snow leopard and its habitats and to develop national conservation programs. One of the meetings took place in Moscow in June 2013.

Experts say there are from 3,500 to 7,500 snow leopards in the world, with 70-90 living in Russia. The global population of snow leopards has been declining steadily. Countries with snow leopard habitats must work together closely to preserve this rare animal.