Donation #9: Snow Leopards

It's New Years Eve here in Washington and a lot of things has happened to us in the past week. Seattle Seahawks have become NFC champions, and we've all survived the awkwardness and stress that follows the holidays. Roads are starting to clear as people realize that they're not in that big of a rush to go anywhere.

A new year brings new possibilities for everyone, and the quick closing of one chapter of life to the next one. As I remember someone once saying, "This chapter will end, and another 365 day chapter will begin. Be sure to start it off right."

For most people it's setting up resolutions that they'll struggle to keep all year. Whether it's eat healthier, exercise more, or to care less. We set ourselves up for failure almost half the time, which is why resolutions are so damnably hard to keep.

But my new years resolution is just the same as my mission here. Give more, take less, help others.

Which is where my newest posting comes in.

Snow Leopards.

When I think of these cats I'm met with an equal fascination. Mostly in their abilities and how they behave.

Big cats have always been an interest of mine. Mostly just the general state of their nature, their habitat and the means of survival. Big cats, including snow leopards have always been something I hope to understand more.

Hopefully just like me, you have an affinity for these wonderful solitary creatures and hope to do more in the future, resolution or not.

In the past I have supported a few big cat groups, namely Wildcat Sanctuary and Safe Haven Rescue Zoo. But with this blog I will be introducing two more groups that are looking to save not only this creature, but many others.

The first group that I'm going to talk about is Snow Leopard Trust.

The Snow Leopard Trust is a Seattle based group that works in 5 of the 12 countries where snow leopards are found. But in these 5 countries, they contain over 75% of the worlds population of wild snow leopards. The countries that they work in are China, India, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia and Pakistan. 

Snow Leopard Trust covers many things with their conservation programs. Each conservation unique to the areas in which they work. 

In  Mongolia they work side by side with people living in the Snow Leopards environment to help create a sustainable economic opportunities to help reduce poaching. This program helps families in financial hardship, that also helps families make more money and to turn away from illegal poaching for financial support.

All items that are created by these families are then sold at a mutually agreed upon price and then sold through their online store. This program drastically increases the money earned for each families income up to 40%.

In other areas like India, they set up a Livestock Insurance program. A program that a community maintains a pool of money that is specifically designated to reimburse families who lose domestic animals due to snow leopards. This program provides funding requires to build a strong financial foundation that eventually becomes self-sustaining.

To participate, each herder must sign a conversation agreement, pledging to protect the snow leopard and wild prey species in their area from poaching. If a member violates the contract, they are no longer able to participate in the insurance program.

There is also an added incentive, a small annual bonus is given out to the herder that has lost the fewest animals to predators. As well as setting aside graze free areas, which helps promote the the use by the snow leopards wild prey and a decrease in livestock loss.

Although a loss of space for livestock can create a hardship, this program works with community leaders to give adequate compensation, which is paid separately from the insurance fund. All of these efforts mounted together help reduce retribution killings caused by loss of livestock and in time help create financial stability for herders and their families.

Their other programs include conservation education programs, camera studies, genetic research, and long-term ecological studies.

Snow Leopard Trusts' mission is thus.

• Understanding snow leopard behavior and habitat
• Listening to the community to identify needs.
• Seeking resources for sustaining long-term programs.

When looking at Snow leopard Trusts' financials you will see that in 2012 they received Charity Navigators credited 4 stars. With a majority of your donation going towards those essential programs.

So if you're looking to Give. There are a number of things that you can do.

• You can make a donation, entering any amount you feel or starting at 25$, at this moment all donations will be doubled, up to $1,000.

• You can Adopt a snow leopard, starting at 25$ that gives you a certificate and
  
  a snow leopard fact sheet.
• You can shop. Helping support not only conservation efforts for snow leopards. But helping create economic stability for families participating in this program.
• You can Volunteer, no matter where you are.
• Pledge monthly donations for 'Team Snow Leopard.'
• Or you can give at work, partner, or bequest.

To this group I will be donating 30$. To continue with their conservation efforts, research and continued work regarding financial hardship in other regions.

This is a group I would like to hear more about, and since in the Seattle area. A group that I will be able to work with personally in the future.

The second group that I will be looking at is the WCN, or Wildlife Conservation Network. 

WCN is a Los Altos, CA based company. One that has earned Charity Navigators 4 star accreditation and received top wildlife charity by Charity Navigator as well. 

What WCN does is a number of things for various groups and projects, currently their programs:

• Develop skills for individual conservationists; such as strategic planning, marketing and accounting. 
• Leveraging Conservation expertise, cross-partner visit program which exchanges information between conservationists from children's education programs to camera trapping. as well as continuing communication between conservationists virtually throughout the year.
•  The WCN scholarship program, which invests in the next generation of conservationists. So far the WCN has awarded 48 scholarships to promising conservationists from 22 countries. 
• Building collaborations, by building relationships with groups worldwide that can offer skills or services to enhance the conservationists work. WCN invests in opportunities for their partners to participate in inititaves such as training program to jump start the careers of talented young leaders, and the Conservation Strategy Fund, which provides conservation economics analyses and training courses. 
• Finally their Solar Project created in 2006. A project created to provide solar energy to conservation projects around the world. Combining cutting-edge technology with wildlife conservation and sustainable environmental practices. To date there are 24 systems to 10 conservation projects in 7 countries.

The WCN doesn't take this task lightly either. With the money they identify, qualify and invest int he growth and development of leading independent wildlife conservationists around the world. They also give donors the opportunity to get to know conservationists they support through events, field visits and firsthand updates on their work. By creating a 100% donation model, 100% of your donation will be used when you give to a specific WCN- supported animal. Ensuring that 100% of your money will be used in the field of conservation.

You can learn more about WCN under the Why section.

At the WCN their efforts are to save endangered species in 24 countries around the world. Ranging from the Cotton-top Tamarin in Colombia to the Saiga Antelope in Uzbekistan. You read more about their programs and animals here.

With several conservation funds to large cats, and small cats the choice is difficult, but in my case this choice is the easiest. 

Continuing on with my love for the Snow Leopard I will be making a donation to the Snow Leopard Conservancy.

This program takes a rather unique approach to conservation, by creating eco-tourism in these areas. It helps benefit locals and create the perception that this endangered animal can create an economic opportunities for those living below the poverty line. 

This program also helps create an insurance fund for those who lose livestock to snow leopards, and help community members learn how to save money and earn interest. Earning an extra amount of funding towards snow leopard conservation activities.

Finally, creating livestock protection for those living in the territory of the Snow Leopard. By creating predator proof corrals with herders, it lowers the loss of livestock each year, thus reducing revenge killing of such animals. They also provide information on improved animal husbandry and guarding practices. 

To get involved, and do more you can.

• Become an Associate or a Partner.
• You can Volunteer.
• Become a Guest Speaker.
• Or simply Donate, to any animal you wish, any amount you feel is possible. 

To this group I will also be donating $30. To help their continued efforts to help these wonderful, and mysterious creatures.

So in conclusion, I have donated $60 total to these two wonder organizations, and I hope that you have learned as much about these groups as I have. 

I hope that we can all continue to support and do more for the things that we love in this upcoming year.

Here's to 2014, hoping it to be the most informative, creative, exploration driven year so far. 

Here's to it, and to you all as well.

- Amanda.