Back ground information for the protection of the large herbivores in Eurasia

The fact sheets

• The Species Overview Report will give a complete overview of all the large herbivore species in Eurasia.
• These fact sheets of all species will also regard the sub-species, only in specific situations a fact sheet will be made for certain sub-species; an example is the Bukhara deer, for which is also a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) developed under the auspices of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS).
• We consider a back ground report, that could lead to several publications. The following subjects seems necessary to get a full insight in the problems, chances and challenges to protect the large mammals in Eurasia, and to restore the populations on the ecosystem level.

A description on the level of the Living Landscapes

• Robust ecosystems, well connected through ecological networks
• The new wilderness concept with or without sustainable human use
• The impact of climate change, the questions and the ecological answers for a sustainable protection and development through ecological restoration
• The role of large herbivores in development of ecosystems - natural processes
• Sustainable ecological networks with large herbivores, large carnivores and destructors, carrion eaters

A description of the present situation of the large herbivores

• A graphical overview of the species in their level of threat
• Show the reality of the threat per quantity level

A description of the species in all their aspects

• The species description can be done in a continuous process, in groups of 10 selected species
• Cover both their ecological role, its behaviour, its description, the way and level of protection, the needed management and what kind of action is necessary for its protection, see the fact sheets.

A description about the global, regional and national policy and conventions

• Convention on Biodiversity Diversity (CBD), protected areas approach, includes large mammals in their ecosystems in Eurasia
• International conventions include the large mammal strategy, comparable with the influence of organisations as BirdLife for birds
• Compare actions with the BirdLife Preventing Extinctions Programme and Global programmes, or with Wetlands International and the Ramsar Convention for the protection of the wetlands in the world
• Find out for which species international support and action is necessary, and assess the protection of the species, that are already covered through conventions, such as CMS and the MoU's for certain species

A view on the socio-economical aspects of large mammals

• How can robust and healthy nature care for local and / or national income?
• How is it possible to develop a sustainable and extensive market oriented demand that stimulates a sustainable use of wild nature?

The role of zoos, ex situ protection

• What is the role of zoos for the protection and redevelopment of populations of species?
• Which LHF-species do occur in which zoos?
• What programs do the zoos have on that species?
• How effective are these efforts?
• What could be the role of the public of the zoos (children, adults and companies)?

Communication and information

• Communication and information strategy
• Target group identification
• Find partners that are well equipped and have good skills for communication 

Partnerships and fundraising possibilities 

• Find the problem owners, for who LHF have to solve the problems.
• Work out the circle of partnerships, with which we can solve the problems.
• Describe and find the partners who are interested to fund certain aspects, species, landscapes etc.