JICA Expert Team is now supporting to enhance the Guard Stations function of Department of Environment (DOE) in protected areas in Anzali Wetland. All of hunting activities are prohibited in this winter. Nevertheless, there are still many illegal hunting activities in Anzali Wetland. DOE asked JICA Expert Team to support to detect illegal hunting sites by using multi-copter.
Mr.Watanabe, who is wetland ecosystem conservation expert of JET, Mr.Hamze Ashori, who is Head of DOE Somesara, and guards of Siadarbijan Guard Station and Selkeh Wildlife Refuge implemented a joint illegal hunting patrol of Selkeh Wildlife Refuge and Sorkhankol Wildlife Refuge by using multi-copter on 6th Mar.
The multi-copter detected some illegal hunting sites in Siadarbijan area, south coast of Sorkhankol Wildlife Refuge. After detection of illegal mist net, the other DOE Guards from Siadarbijan joined quickly and removed the illegal mist net. Joint multi-copter patrol should be continued in the other area of the Anzali Wetland.
One of the main reason, that Anzali Wetland was listed in the Montreux Record of Ramsar Convention, was excessive hunting. Thus, the control of illegal hunting is very important.
JET is planning to implement more multi-copter patrol with DOE for the other areas in Anzali Wetland. In addition, JET continues to enhance the DOE guard station function in order to reduce the illegal hunting.
