ONON RIVER PRIDE PROJECT PLAN GANKHUYAG GAANA BALBAR WWF MONGOLIA. October 20, 2009

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1 ONON RIVER PRIDE PROJECT PLAN GANKHUYAG GAANA BALBAR WWF MONGOLIA ONON RIVER October 20, 2009

2 THEORY OF CHANGE FORMULA K + A + IC + BR BC TR CR Increase local fishing people s awareness of taimen s value to Onon River, laws around fishing taimen, and the need to establishing community managed areas (CMAs) that include the river to protect taimen. Encourage local fishing people s willingness to follow laws and always release taimen after it s caught, and garner their support for establishing CMAs that include river areas to protect taimen. Spark discussion among local fishing people around the wonder of taimen, the value of leaving them in the river, and the importance of joining CMAs to protect taimen. CMAs that include Onon river areas are developed and made operational in each soum. Additional training for 25 major fishermen in fly fishing and taimen assessment techniques. Alternative livelihoods established to reduce poverty. Local fishing people always release taimen back into the river after it s caught and do not fish during illegal seasons (winter, spring) Onon River soums establish CMAs that include river areas and local fishing people become active members. By September 2010, there will be an increase in number of illegal taimen fishing people caught and fined/ penalized as reported by soum environmental inspectors and anti-poaching unit. By 2017, there will be a 10% (50-60) increase in adult taimen (80-100cm) in the Onon River (current number is as measured by Z. Hogan and S. Chandra) Theory of Change narrative: To reduce the principal threat of illegal fishing posed to the endangered Taimen fish, local fishing people must adopt catch-and-release sport fishing instead of catch-and-keep fishing along the Onon River. This key target audience will be informed of Taimen value; the threats posed by catch-and-keep fishing, and benefits to them of catch-and-release fishing (more fish to catch, healthier freshwater system, less fines/penalties, and an increase in ecotourism opportunities.) WWF will work with local residents and fishing people to establish Community Managed Areas (CMAs) that include areas of the Onon River and train them in Natural Resource Management (NRM) to increase the community s ability to protect, conserve, and properly utilize their local resources. This barrier removal strategy, combined with the Pride campaign, will improve local stewardship over taimen health and promote a less impactful alternative to catch-and-keep fishing. This campaign will be deemed successful if most local fishing people are releasing taimen after they re caught, established CMAs are actively managing river resources, and the number of adult taimen in the Onon increases by 10% over the next 7 years.

3 A. Executive Summary The executive summary provides a snapshot view of the entire Pride campaign from site background and conservation threats to target audiences and Pride activities designed to reach each audience. These pages are best used as a reference tool after reading through the project plan.

4 COUNTRY (UN), State or Province Site name RarePlanet URL Cohort information (Cohort name, number and principal manager) Mongolia Onon River CAMPAIGN SNAPSHOT Name: 9 Stars CTA Node: PEP1 Number: WWFMON Manager: Brooke Sadowsky Project dates February, 2009 October, 2010 Lead agency Lead agency contact (Director) Campaign manager name BINGO Partner (and contact details) Other partners (and contact details) Key threat addressed Key biodiversity target Campaign slogan Key audiences (and population) WWF-Mongolia B.Chimed-Ochir chimed@wwf.mn Gaana Balbar Darron Collins, WWF Darron.Collins@WWFUS.ORG Mongolia River Outfitters: Mark Johnstad & Jan Wigsten mjohnstad@igc.org; jan.wigsten@nomadicjourneys.com 5.4 Fishing and Harvesting Aquatic Resources Hucho Taimen Taimen are unique to the Onon. If we catch taimen, let us release them. # hectares under threat The watershed is 2.8 million hectares. Local Fishing People in 6 Onon River soums, roughly 2,000 individuals (~25% of total population)

5 Campaign Theory of Change (Maximum 175 words) To reduce the principal threat of illegal fishing posed to the endangered Taimen fish, local fishing people must adopt catch-and-release sport fishing instead of catch-and-keep fishing along the Onon River. This key target audience will be informed of Taimen value; the threats posed by catch-and-keep fishing, and benefits to them of catch-and-release fishing (more fish to catch, healthier freshwater system, less fines/penalties, and an increase in ecotourism opportunities.) WWF will work with local residents and fishing people to establish Community Managed Areas (CMAs) that include areas of the Onon River and train them in Natural Resource Management (NRM) to increase the community s ability to protect, conserve, and properly utilize their local resources. This barrier removal strategy, combined with the Pride campaign, will improve local stewardship over taimen health and promote a less impactful alternative to catch-and-keep fishing. This campaign will be deemed successful if most local fishing people are releasing taimen after they re caught, established CMAs are actively managing river resources, and the number of adult taimen in the Onon increases by 10% over the next 7 years. SITE INFORMATION Site description (275 words max.) Ecosystem type (IUCN) The Onon river is born on the northern slopes of Burkhan Khaldun, the most sacred mountain in all of Mongolia. The river itself flows for approximately 300 kilometers along something of a sinusoid curve in Mongolia before flowing through seven local administrative units known as Soums crossing the Russian border and eventually joining the Ingoda River. The watershed is 2.8 million hectares and is dominated by two terrestrial vegetative communities: the grasslands of the Daurian steppe and the trans- Baikal coniferous forests. The Onon Balj watershed is home to 946 plant species, 51 mammals, 223 birds, and 23 fish. Krylovii pine, Daurian larch, and Chekonovskii larch are three tree species endemic to the Onon watershed the first two are endangered and listed in the Mongolian Red Book. The magnificent taimen once stretched from Eastern Europe to Japan s Hokkaido Island. Northeastern Mongolia is the last stronghold for the fish. The Onon watershed is arguably the most culturally important place in all of Mongolia. Chingghis Khan was born on the banks of the Onon and frequented Burkhan Khaldun to meditate on his next strategic move as he unified the largest land empire the world has ever seen. The Secret History of the Mongols the Mongolian genesis story is peppered with toponyms specific to the Onon Basin. The region s cultural history remains a very important part of life for local people. 5.1 Permanent Rivers/Streams/Creeks [includes waterfalls]

Site map (topographical) GPS Co-ordinates (Google Earth) Biodiversity Hotspot Other protected area status Hectares addressed by campaign In the East: 49 0 29 88 N; 112 0 45 36 E In the South: 47 0 52

6 Site map (topographical) GPS Co-ordinates (Google Earth) Biodiversity Hotspot Other protected area status Hectares addressed by campaign In the East: N; E In the South: N; E In the West; N; E In the North: N; E n/a n/a Approximately 200,000 hectares largely along or near the Onon river CRITICAL SPECIES Species name (common) Species name (scientific) Taimen Hucho Taimen

7 Description of flagship species (250 words max) The word taimen will cause heart palpitations to almost any fly fisherman in the United States. Known for its enormous size and aggressive strikes on unsuspecting fish, fowl, and mammals, the taimen is the ultimate predator in the Onon River and is given the nickname riverwolf among the local Buriad ethnic group. Mongolian people say taimen is so large that during the harsh Mongolian winters they become lodged in the river ice, stripped of meat by the local Buriad, only to reconstitute and swim freely in the Onon with the thaws of May. Although there are confirmed reports of 80 inch fish weighing well over 100 pounds, most adult taimen in Mongolia are in the 30 to 60 inch range. Very little is known about taimen population dynamics, spawning, migration, or behavior. Although taimen do appear to migrate distances up to 50 miles between Spring and Summer, they are not anadramous save for the sea-run subspecies (or, alternatively, Hucho perryi) in the Koppi River and neighboring drainages of the eastern Sikhote Alin mountain range in Russia (Collins, 2007). Listed as Rare in Mongolian Law of Fauna Listed as Endangered in Mongolian Red List of Mammals and Fish Included in the Mongolian Red list Ranked as a 5 (on a 1-12 scale) in the threat severity classification. # of species on IUCN Red Data list 18 # of endemic species Amur freshwater mussel Krylovii Pine Daurian Larch Chekanovskii Larch Haitej Amur Grayling THREATS Threats (IUCN) 1.0 Residential and Commercial Development 1.3 Tourism & Recreation Areas 3.0 Energy Production & Mining 3.2 Mining & Quarrying 5.0 Biological Resource Use 5.1 Hunting & Collecting Terrestrial Animals 5.3 Logging & Wood Harvesting 5.4 Fishing & Harvesting Aquatic Resources

8 Threats addressed by campaign (IUCN) 7.0 Natural System Modifications 7.1 Fire & Fire Suppression 5.4 Fishing & Harvesting Aquatic Resources HUMAN POPULATION Human Population at site Human Population summary (300 words) Key target segments The six key soums for this Pride campaign average approximately 1500 individuals each for a total estimated population of 9,000. Within the Onon River Basin, the dominant ethnic groups of residents are Buriad and Khamnigan. They have a strong tradition to protect nature, e.g. by using only fallen trees and exploiting the forest in a way that merely cleans it up. Local residents highly worship their land and the mountains, with many lands considered to be sacred. This is one of the mechanisms to increase local residents' participation in nature protection. However, in recent years, increased advertisement to buy natural raw materials such as deer horn, hides etc. have had a negative impact on the local residents' spirit of nature protection. Approximately 50% of people, who live in the soum center, are State employees or private sector workers. The work of herder families can be categorized as follows: The men are mainly responsible for hay harvesting, preparing horses for race, training wild livestock, going hunting, repairing fences and constructing buildings; women are responsible for milking cows, processing milk products, cleaning homes, taking care of their children, sewing clothes, cleaning livestock fences, processing hides, collecting fruit and trimming livestock wools. Jobs requiring the most labor are milking cows, processing milk with machines and cleaning manure from livestock fences. Local Fishing People in 6 Onon River soums, roughly 2,000 individuals (~25% of total population) CONSERVATION BENEFITS Conservation benefit by 2010 (interim success) Sustained Conservation groundtruthed in 2017 (ultimate success) By September 2010, there will be an increase in fish caught per effort, as measured by Mongolia River Outfitters (MRO) fishing guides. By 2017, there will be a 10% (50-60) increase in adult Taimen (80-100cm) in the Onon River (current number is as measured by Z. Hogan and S. Chandra)

9 ACTION PLAN FOR REACHING LOCAL FISHING PEOPLE ACTION PLAN MONITORING PLAN Goals Results needed Key (SMART) Metric Method Target Frequency By whom Where Conservation result goal Increase of Taimen population objectives 1. By 2017, there will be a 10% (50-60) increase in adult taimen (80-100cm) in the Onon River (current number is as measured by Z. Hogan and S. Chandra) 2. By September 2010, there will be an X% increase in fish caught per effort, as measured by MRO fishing people. NEED BASELINE AND TARGET. Number of adult taimen Number of overall taimen Number of taimen caught per effort Taimen asssessment list Taimen asssessment list MRO taimen assessment research 10% (50-60)?? once, annual report of taimen assessment Gaana and Taimen expert Threat reduction goals: Reduce illegal fishing of taimen by local fisherpeople. 1) By September 2010, there will be an X% increase in Increase in number of people caught and number of illegal taimen fishing caught and fined/penalized for illegal taimen fishing fined/penalized as reported by soum environmental inspectors and anti-poaching unit. Baseline data being gathered now. 2) By September 2010, The Anti-poaching unit, Soum environmental inspectors, and CMAs will consistently report illegal taimen fishing activities to WWF to create baseline data for Reports from all soum environmental inspectors and fines/penalties they give. 2. Anti-poaching unit reports of illegal taimen fishing. 3. CMA reporting of illegal fishing in their certain area. UNCLEAR IF THIS WILL HAPPEN IN 2010.? (depends on soum, first year to do consistently) Soum inspector 2008 baseline APU (gaana to get semi-annually from BB)? (first year to implement) Annual semi-annually CMAs Behavior Change 1. Local fisherpeople always release taimen back into the river after it's caught. 2. Local fishing people do not fish in Winter (ice fishing) or Spring (pitchfork fishing). 3. Onon River soums establish CMAs that include the River areas. 4. Local fisher people become active CMA members in their soum. 1. By September 2010, 20% (up from 7,1%; N=6) will catch a taimen and release back into the water while still alive. (as measured by Q42(B)). 2. By September 2010, 30% (up from 16,5%; N=14) will have joined a Community Managed Area (CMA)/Community Based Organization (CBO).(as measured by Q46 and WWF-ADB project reports). 3. By September 2010, 40% (up from 23,5%; N=20) will have voluntarily participated any Onon River and Taimen conservation activities. (as measured by Q47 and taimen assessment reports). 4. Number of CMAs created or revised that include Onon River area increases to X (from X) by Sept Number of respondents who check box for "Yes" 2. Number of respondents who check box for "Yes" 3. Number of respondents who check box for "Yes" 4. Number of people joining CMA 5. Number of CMAs created or revised to include River areas. 6. Number of people consistently and accurately reporting in taimen assessment 7. Number of people trained in fly fishing techniques by MRO 1. Quantitative survey Q42(B): The last time you caught a taimen, did you release back into the water while still alive? 2. Quantitative survey Q46: In the past year, have you joined a Community Managed Area (CMA)/Community Based Organization (CBO)? 3. Quantitative survey Q47: In the past year, have you voluntarily participated any Onon River and Taimen conservation activities? 4. WWF quarterly reports -ADB project component A 5. WWF quarterly reports -ADB project component A 6. Taimen Expert report on number of reports received and by whom 7. Taimen Expert report on number of people trained in fly fishing 20% 30% 40% 200 families in each soum by 2012 (baseline) 25 (baseline?) 25 (for 2nd training) once, postcampaign survey Qtrly Qtrly Once Gaana Jorry Jorry/MRO Onon bank

10 Barrier Removal goal Interpersonal Communication goals 1. Poverty among poor and very poor households is reduced. 2. Development of natural resourcebased products and market for products for income generation CBOs are developed and made operational in each soum, with 1 model CBO. 6. MRO conducts additional training for local fishing people in fly fishing techniques and monitoring. 1. Increases discussion and meetings among local fisher people about the "wonder of taimen" (how long taimen can live, how big they can get, indicator of freshwater health, etc.) and the importance of leaving taimen in the river. 2. Increases discussion and meetings among local fisher people about joining a CMA and working with all locals together for conservation. 1. Poverty among households taking part in CBOs supported by the Project is reduced by 50%, extreme poverty among these households is decreased by 80%, and poverty among households headed by women is decreased by 30%. 2. At least 3 Onon River Basine natural resource-based products are developed, and the domestic markets for these products are expanded to contribute to income generation of participating rural households. 3. At least 5 CBOs in each of the seven target soums are developed and made operational (i.e., each CBO has an action plan, a monitoring and evaluation system, and well-managed and operating community revolving funds), and these CBOs are engaged in NRM and activities to add value to local natural resource-based and livestock products. 4. A buffer zone council (BZC) and buffer zone fund (BZF) are established in all seven target soums. 5. At least 1 CBO is developed as a model in implementing an NRM and conservation plan, and is effectively developing and promoting local natural resource-based products. 6. MRO conducts at least 1 additional training between Sept 2009 and Sept 2010 for 25+ fishing people in fly 1. By September 2010, 30% (up from 12,3%; N=11) will have talked to someone about releasing taimen back into the river instead of keeping it. (as measured by Q38). 2. By September 2010, 10% (up from 3,1%; N=2) will have talked to friend or neighbor about joining a CMA and working with all locals together for conservation. (as measured by Q40). 3. By September 2010, 10% (up from 0%; N=0) will have talked to government official or expert about joining a CMA and working with all locals together for conservation. (as measured by Q40). 1. Number of poor households, very poor households, and poor households headed by women. 2. At least 3 new local products from the Onon River Basin will reach the domestic market and contribute to rural poor households' income generation operational CBOs with 1 serving as model CBO. 4. Community-based NRM strategy document, shared, and promoted locally and basin management plan drafted. 5. BZCs and BZFs will be established in all project soums. 6. Number of trainings conducted by MRO for 25 fishing people. 1. Reduction in number of respondents who check boxes for "Have not talked to anyone" 2. Number of respondents who check box for "Talked to friend or neighbor" 3. Number of respondents who check box for "Talked to government official or expert" 1. List of poor and very poor households by soum social officers and governors; social mapping and wealth rankings; participatory monitoring and evaluation systems (PMES); reports of consultants and subcontracted NGOs. 2. PMES, annual project report, chamber of commerce information on local products, livelihood analysis, internal & external evaluations, midterm review. 3. Annual project report, PMES, registration of user groups, CBO action plans and completed NRM plans, documentation and description of model soums. 4. annual reports, documentation of innovations and community-based strategies for poverty reduction, data from local officials on poverty incidence, data on household well-being within CBOs. 5. annual report, BZC records, BZF financial records, midterm and final evaluations. 6. Taimen expert assessment 1. Quantitative survey Q38: In the past 6 months, have you talked to anyone about releasing taimen back into the river instead of keeping it? 2. Quantitative survey Q40: In the past 6 months, have you talked to anyone about joining a CMA and working with all locals together for conservation? 3. Quantitative survey Q40: In the past 6 months, have you talked to anyone about joining a CMA and working with all locals together for conservation? 1. decrease by 50%, 80%, 30%. 2. at least 3 products NRM strategy & 1 Basin plan 5. 7 BZCs and BZFs 6. at least 1 70% 10% 10% 1. Semi annually 2. bi monthly and annually 3. semi annually 4. semi annually 5. semi annually 6. annually once, postcampaign survey WWF-ADB team Jorry Gaana all 7 soums

11 Attitude goals 1. Increases willingness and perception 1. By September 2010, of self-efficacy to release taimen back into river after it's caught. 2. Increase belief that taimen are important to the Onon and the community. 3. Increases support for CMA and willingness to include River areas when establishing CMA. DON'T HAVE SURVEY QUESTION FOR INCLUDING RIVER IN CMAS, ONLY KNOWLEDGE OF CMAS 50% (up from 36,5%; N=31) will strongly agree that taimen should always be put back into the Onon River after it is caught. (as measured by Q34,(E)). 2. By September 2010, 60% (up from 48,2%; N=41) will say it is easy to release taimen back into the river immediately after it s been caught. (as measured by Q35,(C)). 3. By September 2010, 50% (up from 27.1%, N=23) of fishing people in the Onon River basis will Strongly Agree that taimen are important to the Onon River Ecosystem (as measured by Q34(I).) 4. By September 2010, 60% (up from 49,4%; N=42) will strongly agree that establishing a CMA with local people is very important to stop illegal fishing. (as measured by Q34,(O)). 1. Number of respondents who check box for "Strongly agree" 2. Number of respondents who check box for "Easy" 3. Number of respondents who check box for "Strongly Agree". 4. Number of respondents who check box for "Strongly agree" 1. Quantitative survey Q34 (E): Taimen should always be put back into the Onon River after it is caught. 2. Quantitative survey Q35 (C): Release Taimen back into the river immediately after it's been caught. 3. Quantitative survey Q31 (I): Taimen are important to the Onon River ecosystem. 4. Quantitative survey Q34 (O): Establishing a Community Managed Area with locals is very important to stop illegal fishing. 50% 60% 50% 60% once, postcampaign survey Gaana Knowledge goals 1. Increase awareness of taimen value and its importance to Onon. 2. Increase awareness of fishing laws/regulations. 3. Increase awareness about importance of including Onon River area in CMAs. DON'T HAVE SURVEY QUESTION FOR INCLUDING RIVER IN CMAS, ONLY KNOWLEDGE OF CMAS 1. By September 2010, 30% (up from 8,2%; N=7) will know fishing laws and fines or penalties accurately. (as measured by Q30). 2. By September 2010, 50% (up from 29.6%; N=21) will know that taimen is illegal to catch because it is a rare animal. (as measured by Q31B). 3. By September 2010, 70% (up from 48,2%; N=41) will aware of CMAs in their Soum. (as measured by Q32). 1. Number of respondents who check box for "know laws and fines/penalties accurately" 2. Number of respondents who check box for "Rare animal" 3. Number of respondents who check box for "yes" 1. Quantitative survey Q30: Are you aware of any laws on fishing in the Onon River? 2. Quantitative survey Q31(B): Why do you think these fish are illegal to catch? 3. Quantitative survey Q32: Are you aware of Community Managed Areas or Community Based Organizations in your Soum? 30% 50% 70% once, postcampaign survey Gaana

Amur/Heilong Ecoregion Complex Newsletter Issue 11, January to April 2009

Amur/Heilong Ecoregion Complex Newsletter Issue 11, January to April 2009 Achievements 1. A new Field Office of WWF Mongolia was established in Dadal soum In February 2009, WWF Mongolia sets up its new field office in the Dadal soum (county) of Khentii aimag in the eastern part