So, as you may remember, we started an initiative on conservation of wildlife in Uzbekistan. It is not a project in the GEF SGP common sense, i.e. no one of communities in Uzbekistan asked for help, we had not considered the project at our NSC meeting, as it usually happens. This project began as an idea to attract people's attention to problems of wildlife conservation and was fully supported by our UNDP Country Office. But the problems of wildlife are too many-faceted in Uzbekistan. People often do not quite understand how a disappearance of a plant from one particular place is related to the fact that they have nothing to eat.
Biodiversity is my religion. I know very well that on Earth it is the biodiversity of life is the pledge that we are alive. Unfortunately very few people understand it. Obviously, we are not doing enough to tell the relation between all creatures on the planet, that it is a single chain connected with each other. But those who want can find a lot of information on Internet pages. Here are just a few of them:
Essentials of conservation biology, Richard B. Primack – it is a great job, kindly recommend you to read it.
Millennium Assessment of the Ecosystems: Ecosystems and human well-being - for those who want to get acquainted with this subject in more details, and other reports of the program
Very many works has been written on this subject. Our responsibility is to get acquainted with them.
But back to the question, why we started our project and for whom it is needed and whom it is aimed to attract?
First of all, this initiative is aimed to attract ordinary people's attention to the problem. Tashkent is a capital of our country. When posters with images of favorite celebrities, bright people who are recognized by our nation will be hung in the streets with appeals on their behalf, maybe then then at least someone will change their point of view. The principle of the creation of such images is brevity, just to raise an idea. As it was said in movie "Inception", the idea - the worst drug, because of the idea, which originated in the head, is almost impossible to get rid of. We just wanted people to think deeply when they look at these images: "What does it mean? Why was it said? What do they mean?". It is an individual matter of whether such a man changes his/her attitude or not. As the old Indian said, "... two wolves are inside a man, one is kind and another - evil. And the winner is those which is fed by that person." Therefore, it takes a lot of time to talk about the effectiveness of such measures. But we do hope that there will be a sense by taking these measures, there will be a big sense.
Street posters are not ready yet. But calendar is ready, which we also hope will be hung along the whole Uzbekistan, and this will increase the coverage, increase the number of people who will see and think about our appeal. We present sketches of the calendar for your attention below.
By the way, it should be noted that the calendars, of course, will be distributed along Uzbekistan for free. No we do not take money for the calendars.
And it should be noted that all those who worked on the project worked for free. First of all, I would like to thank from all my heart Svetlana and Anna Kanaki, and the whole team of Kanaki photo studio that worked and made many efforts to make everything they wanted. A huge thanks to the artist Ekaterina Kovshova, who actually is the ideological mastermind of the project, who selected the images for the stars, and who put her soul into how to paint their bodies, so that the image would better deliver the spirit of the animals. And, of course, a huge thank to all the stars who agreed to participate in the project. I must say that I there were more stars who wanted to participate than there are months in the year, but we do not obsessed with the calendar. The work will continue on.
So, let's look at what happened. We present an image of each animal, and their appeals which gives at least a hint to the existing problems of the protection of particular species or group of animals. Phrases are spoken on behalf of animals. The general motto of the project "The world is better with us," was chosen within the framework of the contest, about which you can read here.
singer Rayhon in the image of Snow leopard
Snow leopard (Irbis) - one of the few big cats that is still living with us. The Caspian tiger was killed and chitae too. There are very little number of cats which remained.
Snow leopard - an amazing animal that lives in the mountains. Fortunately, the natural habitat of this animal is not cross much with the habitat of people, so it survives. Although for the most part, the life of the leopard depends on the availability of food reserve, but it's mostly mountain ungulates. The smaller number of plants in the mountains, the less fodder for ungulates; destroying the food reserve for ungulate by overgrazing of livestock in the mountains, let diseases from animals spreading, we kill the food reserve for the leopard. All the big predators - an indicator of ecosystem health. If predators exist, then ecosystem is in good condition. But the problem with the food supply for a leopard is not the most important. The main problem is ambitions of weak people who want to be the kings of the world, who can afford to kill an animal just to boast to his guests that he has a skin of rare cat, he is such a "valiant man." Unfortunately there are such men in the world. This is the problem of the human race rather than our individual country. Weak people who want to show power over others, over the nature. Our partner site sreda.uz wrote about one such case (read here). We hope that those who see our image of the leopard will not kill this animal by himself or stop his friends, who want to do it. The snow leopard must live!
singer Nilufar Usmanova in the image of Whooper Swan
Freedom to fly and live is the inalienable right of the birds, as well as the right to life for people. Unfortunately, more often we have no places where the birds could easily reproduce and live.
The problems of birds are varied. They are destruction of nests, the lack of places where they could keep the nests, this is also a violation of their diet. For some species, which are popular, an important factor in reducing the number is, of course, uncontrolled hunting. It is said a lot on the topic of hunting and there are lots of controversies. With one of such interesting discussions you can introduce here. But debates still continue, and the birds disappear. Great job of promoting care of the birds is implemented by the Society for the Protection of Birds of Uzbekistan. Maybe someone who will see our poster will also become more tolerant and careful to the birds. We hope so.
singer Shahzoda in the image of Caracal
Caracal is another amazing cat of Uzbekistan. Fortunately it has not been destroyedyet. This is a very secretive and rare animal. Recently a joyous event happened - a family of caracals was found in Ecocenter Djeyran, where, incidentally, a project of rehabilitation of guepard in Uzbekistan is planned, which was completely destroyed.
But let’s go back to caracal. Caracal is very similar to a lynx and it is often called the desert lynx. Problems of preservation of caracal are similar to those of wild mammals. Firstly, although this cat lives in the steppes of our country, and deserts and semideserts occupy more than 80% of the territory of our country, we have virtually no place where these cats could live freely. Everywhere there is a factor of disturbance from humans. Countless herds of livestock are grazed everywhere and it is not virtually controlled of where and how they should graze. And wherever there is cattle, there are people. A secretive nature of this cat allows it to reproduce only in wild places. And there are almost no such places in our country. Unfortunately, despite of the fact that we have many areas of desert and semidesert, we have no desert reserve. The only functional desert protected area is Ecocenter Djeyran. We began the creation and started the work on the protection of Ustyurt plateau. But this is not enough. Uzbekistan, where most of the countries are represented by the desert ecosystem, must do more to preserve this unique and fragile part of nature, where such a beautiful animal as caracal lives which, despite the immensity of spaces in our country, there is no place for the continuation of life!
group "Jonim" in the image of the fishes of Uzbeksitan
The fish is a raw of Uzbekistan. We already wrote a lot about fish. We have only 4 projects on the restoration of fish in Uzbekistan. There will be more. Read the article about the fish of Uzbekistan in our newsletter. The main problems for the normal existence of the fish are few factors:
Regulated rivers - our rivers are blocked by dams, dikes, which are necessary for the agricultural sector of our country. We can do nothing for such tendency. Due to the fact that the rivers are blocked, the natural migration routes of fish from habitat to the spawning sites are disrupted, i.e. where fish breed. No bypasses for the fish had been provided and were never built, as it is often done in other countries. Due to the fact that reproduction stops, many fish species are threatened of extinction. But this is a global problem in our country.
Another important problem is a predatory fishing. Fish is caught by anyone and anyhow. Despite of the fact that the use of electric rods is punishable by the Criminal Code, this rule is almost impossible to apply. But we want to appeal to people – please, stop these people who harm nature, if you see. After the problem with electric rods, even if the fish survives, it becomes sterile and unable to reproduce itself.
Close-meshed Chinese nets are widely used by people who do not give any chance for fish to avoid nets, by catching everything of it… What kind of recovery and normal reproduction of fish it is talked about in such a situation?! While many people in various forums and blogs argue that we are wasting our time and money to promote environmental protection, the nets are put. After all, we try to do something.
We placed a group "Jonim" for the April not for nothing. In April, fishing is prohibited! It is because of spawning. Think about it. There are ways for fish production without detriment to the environment. We strongly advocate for them. If you are a farmer and you are interested, please contact us. We can help find you important information on this subject.
Please, save the fish of Uzbekistan for future generations! If you will see how other people use electric rods or nets, please STOP them. Do not go fishing by yourself. Do not catch, and most importantly, do not buy fish in April. When buying fish in this month you are stimulating a greater catch. Help the state to save the remaining “treasure”. Give the slightest chance to help the fish to recover their population.
Think about that tomorrow our rivers and lakes can remain completely empty and lifeless.
singer Larisa Moskaleva in the image of Turkestan Lynx
Once again about the cats in Uzbekistan. Lynx is one of the few remaining. Turkestan lynx inhabits the forests of Uzbekistan. The number is steadily shrinking. If at least 100 animals could be counted in the country, then it's good. Reasons for the reduction is a man who picks up the habitats. Forests are being cut in Uzbekistan, no wild places remains there, less and less food for the lynx, because all ecosystems in the country are changing. When the lynx goes out of the bushes for searching the food, the usual reaction of people is " To Kill". Initially, we wanted to make the call to "Kill the animal inside yourself," but then changed it to a more gentle. Why do people have such a thirst to destroy the beauty??? Give a chance to such a beautiful creature to survive.
DJ Nadin & DJ Iminoff in the images of Black ocellated lizard and Desert monitor
What immediately feel human when he/she see a snake? Or a lizard? The majority of these images cause fright, distrust, fear, or simply an unpleasant sensation somewhere in the pit of the stomach. My occupation is to preserve the nature, but I am not an exception – I am, frankly, afraid of them. But I understand that these animals are extremely important for the nature.
As we have noted - a big part of our country is occupied by deserts and semi deserts. These are very fragile ecosystems in which there is a very delicate balance of life. Here are few plants, there is a little diversity, and hence the whole system is very unstable to various types of intervention from outside. At first glance, these places look completely lifeless. But how many times I have experienced a vivid impression when you walk through the desert, and then a lizard ran out from somewhere under your feet, a monitor lizard is hiding in the bushes and begin to hiss at you when you come closer, as in the spring the turtles are dig up themselves from the ground and it seems that ground begins to move. All these creatures of the desert fill our deserts with life.
But we should, of course say that the snakes and lizards are found throughout the country - in the mountains and even close to our homes.
A very big problem for them is the prejudices of the people. When people are afraid of a snake or lizard, and see it on their way, many people prefer not just to leave them out, but take a stone or a stick and kill the snake or lizard. It's awful. This is exactly with what we are fighting.
Another great prejudice is a myth a snake meat is good for health. Once we were witnesses of such a situation. We were in Surkhandarya and talked with a young farmer. He herded cattle in the desert area. We found plenty to talk about. He complained to us that it is difficult to farm in such conditions, that rodents eat the crops and young growings, the locusts destroys all living things and leave nothing as a fodder for livestock. We talked and were distracted by other things. After some time again we see this same young man who was carrying a snake in the sack. We asked about the thing in the sack. He shamelessly said that he caught the snake and that he would carry it to the market, where he would sold it for 10-15 thousand and that local doctors would use it for their drugs. We tried to explain to this person, that killing a snake, it kills the natural predators on rodents which destroy his crops and that killing lizards, for which insects are direct food, he destroys the natural defense of his pastures. And then he thinks: 10 thousand now, or some sort of protection of his crops?? What is important? And after all he brought the snake to the market. It is a big mistake.
People do not realize that their lives are directly connected with such even, sometimes not attractive creatures like snakes and lizards and that they are really beautiful and useful to us. They are an integral part of the chain of the life.
Snakes are also often caught for poison. But the poison must be gained correctly. This is done by specialized factories. When the locals do it themselves, they catch the snake and squeeze all of the poison, which snake has. Typically, these snakes die after that, even if they are not killed by the collectors of poison, just because they have no poison for hunting. They die of starvation.
If you know about it, if more people would know about nature, it will change the attitude.
Take care of all, take care of snakes, lizards, and all living things, no matter of stereotypes you have towards them.
sportswoman Ekaterina Khilko in the image of Heptner's dwarf jerboa
Probably a bronze medalist of XXIX Summer Olympic Games in competitions for trampoline from Uzbekistan - Catherine Hilko didn’t know that she would play the role of a small desert creature of our country. It seems to be a little creature, jerboa, not so perceptible, but awfully cute. Here's what Wikipedia says about jerboas: "Jerboas - rodents from very small to medium sizes: the length of their body from 4 to 25 cm. Tail is longer than the body (7-30 cm), often with a flat black and white tuft at the end which serves as the wheel during running, as well as a visual signal of danger. The appearance of jerboas is a very typical due to short dock-tailed body and elongated, strong hind limbs, which length sometimes is 4 times longer than the length of the front ones ".
It is an interesting creature. And they are threatened. Many jerboas are dying under the wheels of the cars that travel at night in deserted areas. But of course, this little creature is suffering from changes in ecosystems around them. The deserts change every day. But everyone has the same right to life.
singer Sardor Rakhimhon in the image of Brandt's hedgehog
Probably everyone knows that hedgehogs - useful creatures which eat insects, and various roots and berries. They are omnivorous, nocturnal and are similar to many people. It is a very interesting creature.
But because it is so interesting it is its scourge. The biggest problem of hedgehogs is that many, who saw them, want to take home and make it a toy for their children. Hedgehog, taken from the nature, is subjected to enormous stress. Imagine that you just suddenly taken away from your home, familiar to you in details, and was taken to an unknown destination, for some unknown reason? Have you imagine? Now think whether to take hedgehogs from their usual habitat for a transient interest of your children? If you are interested to get acquainted with the animals, you can go with your children to the zoo or just take your children at night and watch the hedgehogs in their natural habitat.
It is not a toy. Leave them alone.
actress Alyona Lustina in the image of Bukhara deer
Bukhara deer. Hangul. The European red deer. These are names of the same animal. Animal of inundated forests of Aral Sea area of water, i.e. large rivers of our country: Amu Darya and Syr Darya, Zarafshan and other. Bukhara deer lives in the forests that grow along these rivers. They are called tugai. Over the past 30 years, the area covered with tugai, declined by more than 90%. Tugai are cut down, because the territory is needed for agriculture, because people need firewood for heating and cooking.
Even poaching is not the main factor, although it also presents. It turns out that the deer just has no place where he can live. Now the deer are found in tugai massifs remained on the Amu Darya - the newly created Biosphere Reserve in Lower Amudarya, the first protected area since our independence, in the Kyzylkum Reserve, in Zarafshan reserve. Now Ecocente Djeyran has also started breeding the deer.
There are many ways for forest conservation. The GEF SGP is also working in this direction, and first of all forests will save technologies on receiving and saving energy promoted by us. This is biogas, and insulation of houses. And besides, everyone of us by saving gas and light at home, will help to keep the Bukhara deer. After all, if we will save gas and electricity, which are in lack in rural areas, there will be more of these energy sources, so more of the rural population could get them, and thus less trees would be cut down. We need to insulate our houses and shut down any of the sources of energy that we currently do not use to save energy.
Save the forests, save the deer! Actress of theatre "Ilkhom" is for the preservation of European red deer.
singer Lola in the image of Djeyran
We have a special love to djeyrans, because the project aimed to help to preserve the djeyran was the first project of the GEF SGP in Uzbekistan. What can I say about this elegant gazelle? Actually a lot. This animal has almost the same problems as other desert animals. But in the first place, of course, the problem of poaching. Hunters like to kill djeyrans for fun, for amusement, for enjoying the outdoor rest with a wounded animal.
Again, we could talk a lot and extensively about the hunting. But here's just a small example, which my colleagues have shared with me, who visited U.S. national parks, during one of their trips. It is a piece of cake to hunt deer or other animal. The license for shooting one deer is less than $ 50. But there has done everything to restore the population of these animals, and deer can be seen easily within the boundaries of any provincial town without mention the forests. But in our country we can meet the djeyran whether in Ecocenter Djeyran or in remote of desert, where it is difficult to travel by jeep. Wherever jeeps pass freely, djeyran was killed. It was shot out. So you is judge here, deciding whether you want to eat the djeyran’s meat if you are invited by friends, or whether to agree to go hunting. You take away the life of a wild animal, which must be preserved in Uzbekistan, reproduced and revealed to the area where it had lived before.
This is exactly what Ecocenter Djeyran is doing. Everyone can also help restore this beautiful animal, and can help in many ways. You can give money to feed saplings, you can give any equipment needed to Ecocenter, you can come and plant a tree to restore the desert, where djeyran inhabits, you can just give money to Ecocentre so it can hire someone to plant trees, or you can come and work in Ecocenter – they are always wait and welcome volunteers.
Do not shoot!
DJ Petishka in the image of Eagle-owl
Now, if you carefully read all that we shared with you on this page, just think about it.
Think about what this whole world will be without all the diversity and beauty that surrounds us which we destroy for some reason?
What can you do?
If you do anything, you already help the nature. For beginning, you can just tell about the conservation of nature to your children, your friends, stop them when they do something that will cause harm to the nature.
When you want to buy a bunch of mountain tulips, picked in the mountains and sold along the road, when you want to go to a cafe, where eagle caught and prisoned into the cage or any other wild bird, and when you want to buy something at the bazaar, which was not cultivated but killed as a part the wildlife – think about it!
singer Sevara Nazarkhan in the image of wolf
because
Animals want to tell us: "This world is better with us!".
And we fully agree with them. And we all can say, at the head of our stars who could be called an image, landmarks of our country:
"Indeed, this world is better with them!"
