| February 24th, 2025 | News

The “Snow Leopard and it’s Habitat – Conservation” is a board game designed and created by CAMP Alatoo in 2018 to raise awareness for school children. We are excited to announce it has now been now adapted for the virtual tabletop, in collaboration with Tabletopia and GRID-Arendal! The idea to transition the game online emerged due to the high interest from participants in educational events conducted by CAMP Alatoo for local communities, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The game requires a moderator (usually a teacher) – a unique feature for board games. A moderator manages the gameplay, overseeing card distribution and game flow, making it more accessible, interactive, and educational. This approach engages more participants in the cause of snow leopard and habitat conservation. Teachers can learn more about how to become moderators by following instructions provided by CAMP Alatoo (coming soon!).

The main difference between the online and board versions lies in the mode of interaction. In the board game, participants gather in person, using physical components such as a game board, tokens, and cards. In the online version, interaction occurs through a digital “sandbox”, allowing participants from different regions or even different time zones to join. Dina Maldybaeva, a project specialist at “CAMP Alatoo,” noted: “Now that the game has been adapted to an online version, we can include everyone interested from various regions.”

Salamat Dzhumabayeva, Program Manager for “Water Resource Management,” stated: “The game’s goal is to emphasize the necessity of preserving the habitat of snow leopards and the wild animals that form their primary food base.” Players first take on the roles of hunting companies, making money through filled licenses. However, that might leave them vulnerable to things like diseases and bad weather, which is where cooperation cards come in. Protecting nature and its inhabitants is impossible without interacting with ecosystem users such as pasture committees, local communities, tourists, and hunters. The winner is the player who establishes four “quiet zones” on their game board to create a nature reserve, attracts at least three snow leopards, and establishes cooperation with three different stakeholders.

The game is not only educational, but helps children and adults alike in developing logical and strategic thinking, communication, and negotiation skills. Both the tabletop and online versions aim to enhance environmental literacy and foster a respectful attitude toward natural resources and wildlife. They promote understanding the importance of preserving local ecosystems and biodiversity, highlighting the need for collaboration among various stakeholders to achieve this goal.

The online version of the game is available for everyone! To participate, register at Tabletopia (free for guest users) and follow the instructions to join game sessions and learn the rules. You will need 4 other players to join!

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