The Snow Leopard Network (SLN) links together organizations, individuals, and government agencies all over the world who are working to protect the elusive snow leopard. The Network fosters information sharing, collaboration, and professional linkages among the members of its dedicated international community to help make snow leopard conservation efforts more efficient and effective.

From the Network's beginning, the Snow Leopard Trust has played an active role, collaborating with other Network members and supporting the Network financially and in many other ways. The Snow Leopard Network Secretariat is currently housed at the Trust's headquarters office, and Trust Conservation Director Tom McCarthy is the current Executive Director of the Network.

Visit the Snow Leopard Network Website, or click on the links below to read more about the Network:

Quick Links:

• How did the Snow Leopard Network begin?
• Who is part of the Snow Leopard Network?
• What does the Snow Leopard Network do?

How did the Snow Leopard Network begin?

The Snow Leopard Network was established in May 2002, during the Snow Leopard Survival Summit in Seattle, Washington. The Summit, co-sponsored by the Snow Leopard Trust and Woodland Park Zoo, brought together 65 experts from 17 countries to review the Snow Leopard Survival Strategy, which these experts had been working on for over a year.

Participants wanted to find a way to continue the close collaboration and fruitful communication they enjoyed during the development of the Survival Strategy and at the Summit after returning to their far-flung homes. They formed the Snow Leopard Network to harness the global reach of the Internet to help keep them in close touch across time zones and disciplines.

Who is part of the Snow Leopard Network?

Snow Leopard Network members include individuals, government agencies, nonprofit groups, and a variety of other organizations. By mid-2005, the Network had over 136 members, in 22 countries around the world.  All are united by a common goal: ensuring the survival of this magnificent but endangered cat.
The Snow Leopard Network is led by an Executive Director, an eight-member Steering Committee, and Country Coordinators in each of the 12 snow leopard range countries.  Five additional committees--Action Planning, Communications, Membership, Policy Position, and Science--focus on different aspects of the Network's mission.

The Snow Leopard Trust headquarters in Seattle currently hosts the Secretariat, the administrative hub of the Network.  The Trust's contributions include office space, staff time, computers, technology hosting, and some administrative help.  The Network, however, is independent and the Secretariat might periodically move around to different organizations and locations including snow leopard range countries.

What does the Snow Leopard Network do?

One of the Snow Leopard Network's primary tasks is to help implement the Snow Leopard Survival Strategy, which provides comprehensive snow leopard conservation and research guidelines and serves as a tool for the development of snow leopard action plans in individual range countries.  Snow Leopard Network members periodically update this vital document to reflect the latest knowledge about the cats and their conservation status.

The Network also provides a conduit for communication among its members.  Members can read news stories and announcements from around the world published on the Snow Leopard Network Website.  They can find out about funding opportunities and access a bibliography of over 400 articles on snow leopards and their ecology.  They can also participate in ongoing discussions of topics related to snow leopard conservation through the Network's Internet listserv.  A Project Database to be launched in the summer of 2005 will enable people around the world to read about the various projects and reports that other organizations are working on, to avoid duplication of efforts and identify opportunities for collaboration.