Although rarely seen by human eye, its spirit lives in the cultures of the 12 nations of which it is resident. The snow leopard is a magnificent big cat, roaming mountainous ranges on altitudes ranging between 540 to more than 5,000 meters above sea level, globally featured as a symbol of high-mountain ecosystems. Despite its remoteness, the species is threatened, with population estimates from 2003 counting between 4,080 - 6,590 cats living in the wild across some of the most spectacular mountains in Central Asia including the Himalaya, Tian Shan and Karakorum.

In his keynote speech to the Forum, IUCN Vice President Mr Malik Amin Aslam underlined conservation success stories which have proven that with a concerted approach, conservation works. Conservation efforts to save the snow leopard must therefore be strengthened. “People, landscape and biodiversity are the key and inseparable components of all conservation efforts,” said Vice President Amin Aslam. “With this in view we must be aware that climate change is affecting us all, which is why we must share a common sense of urgency, by being proactive and unified in our practical conservation actions.”

IUCN SOS - Save Our Species community-focused conservation programmes in Pakistan's Gilgit-Baltistan Province are examples of successful conservation efforts. Overall, programme results show reduced killing of snow leopards, usually for the purpose of selling their fur and body parts. There is also evidence of improved herding and breeding practices for farmed animals, bringing increased economic opportunities for local herders in environmentally sustainable ways. Similar efforts have been put in place through the IUCN Tiger Programme where local projects work on improving tiger habitat management, tackling human-tiger conflicts, increasing anti-poaching and law enforcement efforts, and involving local communities in tiger conservation. IUCN’s experience and knowledge will be valuable in future efforts to protect this beautiful cat.

As part of the Bishkek Declaration which was the outcome of the Global Snow Leopard Conservation Forum 2013, the snow leopard range countries and partners unanimously agreed to the “Secure 20 by 2020” goal to identify and secure at least 20 snow leopard landscapes across the species’ range by 2020. Secure snow leopard landscapes are defined as those that contain at least 100 breeding age snow leopards conserved with the involvement of local communities, support adequate and secure prey populations, and are connected to other snow leopard landscapes.

Threats to the survival of the snow leopard are being addressed by various international conventions, including the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) which prohibits international trade of the animal, its parts and products for commercial purposes . The expected actions by range countries who endorsed the Bishkek Declaration 2017  will contribute to international efforts to protect the species.