Round red and white rug with snow leopard and ibex motifs.

Snow Leopard Enterprises Kyrgyzstan buys locally-sourced wool handicrafts made by 39 women and one man from three herder communities located on the edge of Sarychat-Ertash, Kyrgyzstan’s largest nature reserve, and home to the largest snow leopard population yet identified in the country. Snow Leopard Enterprises provides impoverished herder families with reliable, regular income to offset the economic costs of livestock losses to predation, and is an alternative to income from poaching and illegal hunting. To join the program, herders sign conservation agreements in which they commit not to participate in any activities that harm the snow leopard or its wild prey. Herder awareness—and engagement in—conservation issues is vital if we are to protect snow leopard habitat in and around Sarychat-Ertash Nature Reserve against the growing threat from illegal hunting activity and problems of pasture degradation. So called “trophy hunters” come to the area primarily to hunt snow leopard prey species (wild sheep and goats), and often seek guiding services and other support from local herders.

The Snow Leopard Enterprises product line has not been updated for 10 years and sales have flat-lined and in some instances decreased. If this trend continues, we will be forced to pay less for handicrafts, thereby decreasing the amount of income herders can earn. This situation not only affects families—who rely on program cash for basic privations—but also erodes herders’ incentive to protect snow leopards. Thanks to support from the Rufford Foundation, we will hold a design workshop in rural Kyrgyzstan in 2015 that will bring together all 40 Snow Leopard Enterprises participants as well as local and international wool craft experts/designers. We will design new handicrafts to revitalize the Snow Leopard Enterprises product line and provide training on new felting techniques that will add refinement to finished products. We are confident that, as a result of the design workshop, herders will enhance their handicraft skills and earnings potential, and strengthen their commitment to wildlife conservation.