Community Conservation

Implementing Partner:

Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)

Project Name:

Supporting the recovery of Amur leopards and tigers through community-based
conservation in Northeast China.

Location:

Hunchun Nature Reserve (HNR) and adjacent lands, Jilin Province, China.

Goal:

Fostering coexistence between big cats and local communities surrounding the national park.

• Objective 1: Remove snares in community forest.
  • Identify the communities and establish community patrol teams.
  • Establish support teams.
  • Organise patrol teams to carry out daily patrol work.
• Objective 2: Mitigate human-tiger conflict in local communities.
  • Patrol teams mitigate human-tiger conflict.
  • Conduct public education campaigns on human-tiger conflict.
• Objective 3: Raise conservation awareness among local communities.
  • Assess project impact in raising conservation awareness.

Background:

Since 1998, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has worked with partners to protect Amur tigers and leopards in northeast China. The Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park (NCTLNP), created in 2016, has driven significant growth in tiger populations. However, tigers and leopards are now expanding beyond the park into areas with limited conservation support.

With approximately 100,000 people living around NCTLNP, balancing conservation with local livelihoods is crucial. In 2021, WCS launched a community patrol program, enlisting local residents to remove snares and promote conservation awareness. Their efforts have reduced poaching threats and illegal activities.

The program’s success led NCTLNP to form its own patrol teams in 2024, expanding local involvement. Yet, human-tiger conflicts, such as tiger encounters near villages, remain a challenge, especially outside park boundaries.

To promote coexistence, patrol teams also conduct public education campaigns, raising awareness among villagers and students about wildlife conservation and safety. These efforts foster positive attitudes toward conservation and support safer habitats for people and wildlife.

View our historical projects in China by visiting the archive.

Current work supporting the recovery of Amur leopards and tigers through community-based conservation:

In 2025, WCS will expand its efforts to protect Amur tigers and leopards by engaging communities outside the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park (NCTLNP). The focus is on reducing poaching and preventing human-wildlife conflicts.

WCS will form new patrol teams in two villages and support an existing team. Local residents, selected with village leaders’ input, will receive training to monitor forests, remove traps, and report poaching signs using the SMART mapping tool. High-performing teams will earn rewards to encourage consistent efforts.

To reduce human-tiger conflicts, WCS will introduce safety measures, including alert systems, warning signs, and distributing hand flares. Drawing from experience in Sumatra, WCS will also hold four conflict prevention training sessions.

Public education remains key. WCS will host three community events on tiger safety, preparing patrol members to lead future outreach. Knowledge tests before and after events will track learning outcomes.

Lastly, WCS will survey local attitudes using the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) method. These results will guide future conservation strategies.

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