CONCLUSIONS ET RECOMMENDATIONS
from the
IV^th World Conference on Marmots
Montreux (Switzerland) October 15-17 2002

As marmots are strongly linked to the natural, cultural and spiritual heritage of the different countries where they live,

As our studies show that of the 14 currently recognized species at least 5 are considered threatened, with 3 of them already listed in the IUCN Red Data Book:

• Marmota vancouverensis is on the brink of extinction, in Canada ;
• Marmota marmota latirostris is strongly endangered in the Carpathian range and is now extinct in the Czech Republic, with fewer than 100 individuals in Poland and fewer than 1000 individuals in Slovakia;
• Marmota menzbieri has declined rapidly and numbers fewer than 30,000 individuals in 4 Republics of Central Asia;
• Marmota camtschatica numbers fewer than 30,000 individuals in the Eastern part of the Russian Federation;
• Marmota sibirica is a real matter of concern as its number decreased rapidly from 10 to a few millions in a couple of decades and process is accelerating;
• The status of widespread species suc as Marmota himalayana is unknow. There is a great need to contact experts of the corresponding countries to provide information at the next Conference.

In order to optimize the conservation of the biodiversity of the genus Marmota, the Fourth World Marmot Conference decided to establish a Marmot World Observatory in order to collect, at the State and country level, information on the state of conservation of the different species. This Observatory will have a central coordinator and national correspondents. The goal will be to establish a public datavase and a GIS on marmot numbers and distribution.

The participants to the Fourth World Marmot Conference recommend the establishment of a Marmot specialist group in the IUCN to promote standards necessary to ensure marmot conservation.

The participants to the Fourth World Marmot Conference suggest that the IUCN in collaboration with the IMN prepare and publish a book on the status of Marmots in the different countries and to develop an Action Plan to co-ordinate the conservation efforts at the World level.

The participants to the Fourth World Marmot Conference decided that the Fifth World Marmot Conferenceque will be held in 2005. The place of the Conference will be decided by a vote on the Internet after examining the candidate's proposals.