Project Snow Leopard

Snow Leopard Conservancy - Conservation Program

Project Snow Leopard

Project Snow Leopard (PSL) is an innovative partnership between the community and private enterprise that provides a livestock insurance program to compensate local farmers for losses caused by snow leopards. PSL was founded in 1999 by Shafqat Hussain. Hussain’s ecotourism company, Full Moon Night Trekking, provides financial support to subsidize the insurance program. Farmers help finance the insurance plan through payment of premiums for each head of livestock owned, with the balance of funds accruing from profits of snow leopard trekking tours and expeditions. The insurance plan is managed jointly by the village management committee and Project Snow Leopard staff. The plan is structured so that villagers monitor its performance and have strong incentives to avoid cheating.

Despite Project Snow Leopard’s success in gaining community support for snow leopard conservation, the recent decline in the tourism revenues that subsidize the livestock insurance program means there is no money available to expand the insurance program to other sites.

Snow Leopard Conservancy and Project Snow Leopard are committed to working together to protect these endangered cats. We joined forces in summer 2004 to train selected members of the community in snow leopard monitoring techniques. Please see the field notes for details.

Hushey Village Honored

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Baltistan Field Notes