The Snow Leopard Project

October 29, 2018
In this captivating narrative, evolutionary biologist Dehgan chronicles his work with the Wildlife Conservation Society to establish Afghanistan’s first national park. First arriving in Kabul in 2006, Dehgan realizes early on that success for the ambitious project would depend on three things: that “sufficient wildlife still existed in the country”; that the Afghanistan government and its people would even be interested, given “other competing needs”; and that he and his team could do their work despite the daunting security problems they faced. With clarity and a bit of awe, Deghan describes Afghanistan’s great geological past and its “dramatic and largely unappreciated biodiversity.” For example, in addition to deserts, it contains thick coniferous forests, home to Asiatic black bears, flying squirrels, and wolves. Shallow lakes and wetlands host waterfowl, pelicans, and flamingos, while the mountains “that carve up the country” provide essential habitats for snow leopards, Marco Polo sheep, and golden eagles. Dehgan also touches on nitty-gritty procedural details, such as setting up offices and hiring local staff, and on larger concerns, such as the advantages of scientific cooperation to “build trust, resolve tensions, and build the scaffolding for .” In so doing, he leaves readers with an optimistic message that, in any sphere of life, effective collaboration toward common goals can benefit everyone.

December 1, 2018
The subtitle says it all: Conservation efforts in war zones are the real subjects of this intriguing, detailed, frequently unnerving account, one in which snow leopards play a relatively minor role.Dehgan, co-founder and CEO of Conservation X Labs, "an innovation and technology startup focused on ending human-induced extinction," tells his unique story of conservation efforts in postwar Afghanistan. His job, which began there in 2006 under the aegis of the Wildlife Conservation Society, was to examine ecosystems that had been devastated by war, determine what flora and fauna (if any) remained, and set up new national parks along with the legal structures required to maintain them. As the author makes abundantly clear, the physical conditions were challenging and security was lacking, but, as he reminds us frequently, the people he met along the way were friendly, charming, and helpful. However, while some sightings are reported, animals are largely absent in the narrative. Dehgan's previous experiences working in Russia and Madagascar prepared him well for this job, and he clearly demonstrates the necessary organizational know-how. The author vividly describes the rugged lands he and his crew encountered, but maps would have been a big help to those unfamiliar with the geography. The U.S. Agency for International Development (where the author previously served as chief scientist) comes in for sharp criticism: Dehgan writes that in Afghanistan, USAID had little interest in protecting wildlife or in using science as a tool but a great deal of interest in receiving written reports on the money being spent. The more money spent, the author writes, the happier the USAID.Nature lovers' expectations may be unfulfilled, but Dehgan's lessons provide a sort of textbook on the frustrations and complexities of working on conservation in a place where science runs into the snarls of politics and diplomacy--and often loses.

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Dehgan (CEO and cofounder of Conservation X Labs, a start-up for tech innovation for conservation and development) details his contributions to the Wildlife Conservation Society's Afghanistan Program. His previous experience working with the Soviet Union to improve its environmental laws, coupled with his doctoral studies of endangered lemurs in Madagascar, has provided him with both the diplomatic and the scientific skills necessary for this daunting effort. The story begins in 2006, when Dehgan and his team began navigating the bureaucratic roadblocks to initiate this program. Their goals were to implement protections for endangered species such as snow leopards and Marco Polo sheep, end the illegal trading of both timber and wildlife, and ensure adequate protections for the rich biodiversity in this varied landscape teeming with flora and fauna, including some species found nowhere else in the world, such as the Paghman stream salamander. VERDICT With a cast of characters including governmental officials from Afghanistan and other neighboring countries, war entrepreneurs, and even members of the Taliban, this compelling look at conservation efforts in a war-torn country is a must-read for anyone interested in attempts to stem the loss of biodiversity.--Diana Hartle, Univ. of Georgia Science Lib., Athens

December 1, 2018
Afghanistan is notably the most war-torn country on Earth. Its rugged terrain has been a battleground for centuries, and the human toll of such prolonged warfare is a well-established fact. What is lesser known, however, is how these hostilities have impacted the wildlife population. Under the auspices of the Wildlife Conservation Society, preeminent evolutionary biologist Dehgan set out to establish the country's first national park, Band-e-Amir. Abundant with natural resources of crystalline lakes and majestic mountain vistas, the region provided habitat to numerous endangered species, including the snow leopard, the Asiatic black bear, and the massively horned Marco Polo sheep. To establish a national protectorate for these animals, Dehgan had to do the impossible: coordinate a colossal infrastructure that needed the buy-in of indigenous villagers and a suspicious government, all while operating under the constant threat of terrorist violence. The result is an eye-opening account of what it takes to protect wildlife under improbable conditions. Dehgan's zeal for conservation, passion for humanitarian outreach, and admiration for the Afghan people spring from every page.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)