Connecting Sacred Lands & Sacred Species Across Continents: The Land of Snow Leopard Network

Описание: https://snowleopardnetwork.org/resour...

The Land of Snow Leopard Network (LOSL), established in 2013, works to empower Indigenous communities across Inner and Central Asia to protect snow leopards and their ecosystems while preserving cultural traditions. Snow leopards hold deep spiritual significance for many Indigenous groups, serving as guardians of sacred mountains and symbols of wisdom. LOSL unites Indigenous leaders, local conservationists, and Western scientists in Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, and the Russian Federation, integrating ecological science with Traditional Indigenous Knowledge in conservation efforts.

This webinar highlights LOSL’s collaborations with Indigenous communities in North America, emphasizing connections between the protection of sacred species worldwide. A key focus is the involvement of LOSL youth wing members in Run4Salmon, a movement led by the Winnemem Wintu tribe to restore Chinook salmon populations. This initiative exemplifies how Indigenous youth across continents are working together to safeguard sacred species and ecosystems.

The featured speaker, Maria Azhunova, is the Director of LOSL and a member of the Buryat-Mongol people. She has extensive experience in Indigenous-led conservation and has worked with elders, shamans, and religious leaders to integrate ethical, cultural, and spiritual perspectives into environmental efforts. Under her leadership, LOSL has successfully fostered human-wildlife coexistence and earned international recognition, including the Disney Conservation Hero Award and the Stanford Bright Award in 2020.

The webinar is facilitated by Ashleigh Lutz-Nelson, Executive Director of the Snow Leopard Conservancy. With a background in zoology and wild animal biology, she has worked extensively with felids and conservation initiatives, bridging the gap between zoological institutions and field conservation programs.

This discussion explores how Indigenous conservation leadership, intergenerational knowledge transfer, and cross-cultural collaboration contribute to the protection of snow leopards and other sacred species worldwide.