Dear Ma. Lourdes G. Ferrer,

It was a pleasure to talk to you about Tamaraw conservation on Thursday 14^th October. Thank you very much for your time and valuable ideas and support for protecting Tamaraw. I attach a copy of the slides I shared in case this is of interest.

The IUCN SSC Asian Wild Cattle Specialist Group believes that a successful conservation program of the Tamaraw across Mindoro inside and outside PAs requires a meta-population approach which in turn needs the involvement of various stakeholders. We believe that the TCP is playing a significant role in this and their capacity to do so needs to be strengthened.  

I am very pleased that with your support TCP will conduct a review of progress in implementation of the Tamaraw Conservation Management and Action Plan 2019-2028, after its first three years. The monitoring report will be a valuable document to help achieve more successful implementation in coming years. The review can also encourage many of the stakeholders to deliver the activities they agreed to contribute, as well as the issues and they have been facing and gaps to address. I will be pleased to work closely with TCP to provide technical input to this review process in order to serve as a tool for DENR and local stakeholders.

As we discussed, working closely with TCP I will arrange for an updated document to explain the plan for the Feasibility Study for translocation and captive breeding of Tamaraw.

I will be happy to have a further call with you in January or February to update you on the steps forward with the Feasibility Study and discuss the possible dates for conducting the site assessments, and other topics.

Yours sincerely,

James Burton, PhD

Chair, IUCN SSC Asian Wild Cattle Specialist Group

Vice Chair EAZA Cattle and Camelid TAG

Tel/WA: +44 7810354488

www.asianwildcattle.org

www.actionindonesiagsmp.org

Dear Ma. Lourdes G. Ferrer,

It is now two years since the completion of the Tamaraw Conservation Management Action Plan (TCMAP) produced by DENR and BIOFIN in collaboration with IUCN SSC Asian Wild Cattle Specialist Group. Available here. I am pleased to hear from Neil Antony of TCP that there has been much progress in implementing this plan in these two years.

The purpose of this email is to introduce myself to you as we have not met yet. I Chair the IUCN SSC Asian Wild Cattle Specialist Group of which the Tamaraw is one of our priority species for conservation effort, because it is listed as Critically Endangered. More information on our work is here. I was involved with the production of the TCMAP, including the workshop that occurred in December 2018 in Mindoro. I support the draft bill the ‘Tamaraw Conservation Management Act’ (Number 8299) that is currently being reviewed because it will strengthen the protection needed for Tamaraw as well as many other areas of TCPs work in implementing the TCMAP.  I have had the pleasure of working with TCP over the last 4 years and to see tamaraw in the wild in Mindoro. We have also been working with D’ABOVILLE Foundation and Demo Farm Inc. since 2016, as they are our Group’s representative for Tamaraw.

The Asian Wild Cattle Specialist Group (AWCSG) is always happy to assist and work with DENR to support implementation of the TCMAP, including input to reviewing progress of implementation of such Action Plans. In October 2020 I visited the Philippines and was pleased to meet with your predecessor. I would be happy to have a Zoom call to talk about progress of the TCMAP and next steps and any gaps; and discuss where AWCSG could help with this. I can arrange the call with your staff as convenient for you if you are interested. I also hope that in 2022 it will be possible to visit and meet with you in person.

Thank you in anticipation of your reply and TCP and DENR’s continuing strong efforts to protect the populations of Tamaraw in Mindoro.

Yours sincerely,

James Burton, PhD

Chair, IUCN SSC Asian Wild Cattle Specialist Group

Vice Chair EAZA Cattle and Camelid TAG

Tel/WA: +44 7810354488

www.asianwildcattle.org

www.actionindonesiagsmp.org