Focus Area
Environmental conservation
Location
Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia
Beneficiaries
Park rangers, local community members, and wildlife populations in snow leopard habitats
Safavi's Role
Partner-funded initiative through support of the Snow Leopard Trust
Key Impact
Program active in all 22 State Nature Reserves and National Parks in Kyrgyzstan; multiple poachers apprehended and over a dozen rangers and citizens awarded
Project Overview
In partnership with the Snow Leopard Trust, Safavi supports efforts to combat poaching in Kyrgyzstan through the Citizen Ranger Wildlife Protection Program. This initiative tackles the persistent threat of illegal hunting in snow leopard habitats by equipping and empowering park rangers and local communities to defend endangered wildlife and bring poachers to justice.
Beneficiary Profile
The initiative serves frontline conservationists in Kyrgyzstan—including under-resourced park rangers and residents living in snow leopard territories—who are committed to protecting wildlife but often lack recognition, resources, and legal authority. These individuals operate across the country’s 22 national parks and nature reserves, many in remote, mountainous terrain where snow leopards and their prey are vulnerable to illegal hunting.
Safavi's Role
Safavi funds and amplifies the work of the Snow Leopard Trust through targeted support of this program. While not directly managing field operations, Safavi’s contributions help provide:
Custom law enforcement training delivered by INTERPOL wildlife crime experts
Field equipment such as investigation kits and binoculars
Financial rewards and public recognition through annual award ceremonies for rangers and citizens who apprehend poachers
This initiative is executed in partnership with the Kyrgyz government and made possible by international funding collaborations.
Project Gallery
Photo Credit: Combatting Poaching
Impact Achieved
The program has expanded to cover all 22 State Nature Reserves and National Parks in Kyrgyzstan.
More than a dozen rangers and local citizens have already been recognized for successfully intervening in poaching attempts.
The initiative has raised public visibility around wildlife crime, making it harder for politically connected poachers to escape consequences.
Trust between park officials and communities has strengthened, leading to a more coordinated and confident conservation network.
Purpose & Signifigance
This initiative directly supports Safavi’s environmental mission to protect vulnerable ecosystems through collaboration, innovation, and empowerment. By uplifting the brave individuals safeguarding Kyrgyzstan’s natural heritage, Safavi contributes to long-term preservation efforts in one of the world’s most critical snow leopard habitats. This work honors the power of grassroots action in the face of systemic wildlife crime.
Future Outlook
The Citizen Ranger Wildlife Protection Program is ongoing, with plans to deepen ranger-community collaboration and expand training modules. As recognition for these unsung defenders grows, Safavi aims to continue following the evolution of scalable, community-led conservation models that can be replicated in other high-risk regions globally.
