1. Acknowledging sustainable use as a long-term goal, backed by a solid strategy and robust scientific foundations 

We recognise that sustainable use of saiga antelope (hereafter saiga) has always been a long-term goal of the Government of Kazakhstan (hereafter the Government), and that sustained population growth – combined with robust national and international strategies – now makes it possible, in principle, for the Ural and Betpak-Dala saiga populations. 

Our position: 

(a) Acknowledges the Government’s central role in the recovery of the formerly ‘Critically Endangered’ saiga antelope (IUCN, 2002) as one of the most remarkable species conservation success stories worldwide. The Government, working in partnership with the civil society partner organisation of the Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative and other organisations, and under the framework of the Convention on Migratory Species ‘Memorandum of Understanding concerning Conservation, Restoration and Sustainable Use of the Saiga Antelope’ (CMS Saiga MOU), have enabled the recovery of the species from an estimated 40,000 adults nationally in 2005 to around 3.9 million adults by spring 2025.  As a result of this success, the species’ IUCN Red List status has been reassessed to ‘Near Threatened’. 

(b) Acknowledges that the Government has maintained a consistent goal to enable long-term sustainable use of saiga and that many of the successful conservation actions have been delivered with this goal in mind.  

(c) Acknowledges that harvesting saiga in the two largest populations in Kazakhstan (known as Ural and Betpak-Dala populations) is possible in the current situation based on the CMS report ‘The Sustainable Use of Saiga Antelopes: Perspectives and Prospects’ that provides clear guidance and principles to follow for any harvesting system. We furthermore value the ‘Strategy for the Conservation and Management of Saiga in Kazakhstan’ (hereafter the Strategy) developed in May 2023 by national and international experts supported by the Convention of Migratory Species (CMS), as requested by the Government, as a key guiding document describing the way forward to achieving the contained vision.

(d) Strongly supports the implementation of this Strategy, as it incorporates all necessary actions to maintain saiga numbers at a healthy level, while at the same time preparing for and finally enabling sustainable use if and when preconditions are fulfilled, including for international trade, based on accurate monitoring and high-quality peer-reviewed research.  

(e) Recognises that if the Strategy is implemented, following existing accepted principles for sustainable use as the Addis Ababa Principles and Guidelines for the Sustainable Use of Biodiversity (Convention on Biological Diversity, 2004), then a clear opportunity exists for management and use of saiga to benefit the conservation of the species, protection and management of Kazakhstan’s grassland ecosystems, and people across the country. 

(f) Acknowledges that establishing and operationalising a national-scale system of sustainable saiga use and trade , in line with the abovementioned reports and recommendations, is challenging and requires significant time, trainings and funding. While progress can and is being made in the interim, full implementation of the Strategy will necessarily take several years 

(g) Acknowledges that important elements of the Strategy have been transferred to the Integrated Plan of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Kazakhsta n and encourages the final approval of this Integrated Plan and in addition to that the development of a national Saiga Action Plan for the period of at least 5 years containing medium-term goals of the Ministry for saiga management and necessary implementation steps. 

(e) Acknowledges the progress that has been made by the Government towards the implementation of the Strategy since its development in 2023. Particularly improvements in the handling and marking of horn, hunting techniques and timing as well as carcass storage and handling are important steps towards an effective contemporary system of sustainable saiga use. 

2. Coexistence at the core: embedding people and public support in saiga use

Ensuring long-term sustainability of saiga harvesting depends on how well it supports coexistence of saiga and people—through effective communication, inclusive processes, and tangible local benefits.

Our position: 

(a) Recognises that the unprecedented rise in saiga numbers, alongside increased reports of resource conflicts with local farmers in Kazakhstan, has placed greater pressure on the Government to develop solutions that enable coexistence. The conflict has been experienced acutely by pastoralists – who depend on the same limited pastures and water sources as saiga to sustain their livelihoods – and farmers, whose crops can be damaged or destroyed. While other strategies are being investigated, sustainable use offers one of the most promising pathways towards reducing this tension, if managed effectively, transparently and equitably. As part of a broader approach in support of this goal, the Government decided to commence regulated saiga use in Kazakhstan, a decision that was finally made at the end of June 2025. 

(b) Highlights the importance of involving various stakeholders including local communities in the process of conservation and management of saiga antelopes in line with recommendations from the CMS study ‘Potential of Community-Based Wildlife Management in Central Asia’. Such involvement builds trust and a recognition of ownership among them, and allows sharing of the benefits from saiga use with those stakeholders. Successful management of the current coexistence challenges between saiga and people will strongly depend on this.

(c) Emphasises the importance of consistent public communications avoiding portraying the saiga antelope as a ‘pest species’ requiring control. Instead all messaging should reflect the value of saiga as a national cultural and ecological asset, with the potential to deliver significant economic and food benefits to the people of Kazakhstan through a modern, well-regulated system of sustainable use. 

(d) Acknowledges that to maintain public support for saiga conservation across Kazakhstan, it is essential that any harvesting is carried out transparently, in accordance with clearly defined, science-based plans that are communicated effectively. A harvesting system informed by international best practice, including meaningful engagement of local communities, can help build trust and reinforce support for both conservation and sustainable use. On the opposite, if harvesting is (or is perceived to be) unregulated or poorly managed, with observed declines in saiga numbers, there is a serious risk that public confidence in sustainable use will erode. Therefore, it is critical to maintain national pride in the recovery of the saiga and ensure that confidence and pride extend to well-managed conservation and harvesting. 

3. Implementing sustainable and ethical harvesting in practice 

Kazakhstan brings deep traditional and scientific knowledge to saiga harvesting. Continued investment in systems, infrastructure, and capacity is vital to ensure that harvesting remains aligned with best practice, sustainability principles, and ethical standards.  

Our position: 

(a) Recognises that harvesting must be based on aforementioned existing best practice documents and strategies. If harvesting of saiga was managed poorly, divergent from the best practice guidelines and principles for sustainable use, this would create risks for the species’ conservation, and may severely undermine broader wildlife, social, and economic outcomes that sustainable harvesting can offer.

(b) Recommends and supports investing proactively in developing, testing and refining systems and protocols for effective saiga harvesting and processing. Key components for an effective system of use are: 

• Meaningful consultation with local stakeholders and effective public engagement through planned communications by the Government 

• Operational infrastructure and systems to process and store carcasses and horns safely, securely, and in a timely manner 

• Operational systems for registration and traceable indelible marking of horns and identification of meat to avoid any derivatives from poached saiga from entering illegally into any future legal markets  

• Prioritisation of animal welfare during harvesting through methods and practices that minimise stress for the animals and reduces the likelihood of causing injuries 

• Operational health and safety protocols that avoid risks to those involved actively in saiga harvesting and processing, as well as the public at harvesting sites 

(c) Draws attention to the fact that some key elements of a sustainable use system require greater attention currently, where harvesting is underway already while some pre-conditions and procedures are not yet in place or only partially implemented, such as: 

• Involvement of relevant stakeholders like local communities in decisions concerning saiga conservation and use. 

• Incentive payments to farmers to tolerate saiga on their pastures and hayfields. 

• Compensation or insurance payments for damage to crops. 

• A safe and transparent stockpile management system, following international standards and recommendations from the Secretariat of the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of wild flora and fauna (CITES) and TRAFFIC. 

• Benefit-sharing mechanisms with local communities to contribute to mitigating existing conflict. 

• A comprehensive monitoring and data storage system about saiga to serve as a basis for decisions on conservation and management.

(d) Highlights that selected critical rules / thresholds  need to be followed to ensure harvesting does not cause significant risks to the conservation of the target species, including: 

• Until an improved and independently validated population model exists, an annual harvest level of up to 10% of the current population estimate reflects a reasonable precautionary approach to ensure no harm to the species’ long-term survival. While higher figures may be biologically possible given the current large population size, we caution against exceeding this threshold. Harvesting beyond 10% bears also practical challenges and is considered infeasible in the current context. 

• Due to biological and economic reasons, hunting should start not earlier than 1st September, but optimally on 1st October, and not last beyond 15th November, when male saiga form harems and then all mating occurs. Any disturbance at this time, and especially any active pursuit of animals, will interfere with reproduction and would likely jeopardize the stability of the saiga population.

4. Aligning with Multilateral Environmental Agreements  

Sustainable saiga management in Kazakhstan may carry international implications, particularly under CITES, and therefore Kazakhstan’s leadership should reinforce global efforts for saiga conservation and responsible international trade.  

Our position: 

(a) Acknowledges the importance of maintaining broad support for saiga conservation from the global community. Doing so depends on saiga harvesting clearly following the ‘Strategy for the Conservation and Management of Saiga in Kazakhstan’, and implementation of the CMS ‘Medium-Term International Work Programme for the Saiga Antelope (2025–2030)’ and CITES decisions on saiga (Decision 19.213 and its post-CoP20 iterations).

(b) Recognises that the Government has direct interest in securing support from other Parties to CITES to lift the international trade ban established in 2019 for saiga populations in Kazakhstan. This would allow to resume legal international trade in mainly saiga horn and its derivatives from Kazakhstan. Gaining this support from CITES Parties is essential if Kazakhstan is to realise the significant economic benefits of sustainable trade in saiga horn. 

(c) Recognises that international trade introduces additional complexities absent from purely national-level utilisation, due to transnational shipments, secondary processing, multiple trading countries, and associated regulatory systems. There are also potential implications for saiga populations and their conservation in other Range states. Addressing these risks requires an internationally coordinated approach and precautionary measures in place in all relevant jurisdictions, including range States and trading countries to prevent illegal trade, including robust and transparent saiga stockpile management.  

(d) Unmonitored stockpiles were recognised as a conservation challenge for saiga at both the CMS and CITES negotiations. We commend Kazakhstan’s transparency in disclosing saiga stockpile volumes and sources, setting a strong example for other countries. However, we remain concerned about the absence of updated saiga stockpile data from other countries, with the latest reports dating from 2006. Those stockpiles were projected to last only 10 to 15 years, yet trade in declared pre-Convention specimens still continues, raising serious concerns about traceability, legality, and associated risks that should be investigated and addressed. 

(e) Encourages other range States and trading countries to disclose information on stockpile volumes and origins to address traceability and legality risks effectively. 

(f) Recognizes that the Government has submitted a Proposal to amend the annotation for Saiga tatarica under CITES to allow for trade in specimens originating from Kazakhstan. While we understand the Government’s motivation to move forward with this at the 20th Conference of the Parties to CITES (CoP20), in our view consideration of the proposal would only be possible when supported by evidence for the effective implementation of precautionary measures in range States and trading countries preventing illegal trade, particularly in relation to stockpile management.  

Conclusions: 

We support sustainable use of the saiga in principle and recognise that the strategic documents guiding this process—including the Government’s own Integrated Plan for Saiga Conservation as well as other strategic plans developed with leading scientific experts—provide a comprehensive framework essential for success. We acknowledge the progress made so far and stand ready to assist the Government in advancing the remaining priorities, strengthening skills, capacity, and resources to ensure sustainable use is a vital part of co-existence strategies with local communities. By following the  standards laid out in these documents, Kazakhstan has a strong opportunity to continue leading global efforts to conserve this iconic species. While more work remains to improve specific areas, as outlined above, the Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative stands ready to support these efforts. 

For more information, please contact Marina Koshkina, Partnership Coordinator, Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative: marina.koshkina@acbk.kz