Zhongar Alatau State National Natural Park

Zhongar Alatau lies within a harsh continental climate where temperature and precipitation vary across altitudes. In the mountains, annual rainfall is about 300 to 500 mm, with most falling between April and October. Snow cover typically begins melting in late March, while summer temperatures can reach around 24°C in the foothills and 17°C in the mountains. 

Most precipitation falls at higher elevations, feeding snow- and glacier-fed rivers that supply critical water resources to downstream basins, including Lake Balkhash, Lake Sasykkol, and Lake Alakol. However, rising temperatures and changes in precipitation are accelerating glacier retreat in the Zhetysu Alatau, at a rate higher than in many other Central Asian mountain systems.  This is reducing the reliability of meltwater, affecting both ecosystems and communities. 

Reduced and less predictable water availability, combined with growing aridity, can affect habitat quality and the availability of forage for species such as the Tian Shan maral and other mountain ungulates. Warming conditions may also push lowland species to higher elevations, intensifying competition for limited resources and increasing contact with livestock. At the same time, habitat fragmentation and human pressures, including overgrazing and potential increases in poaching linked to changing livelihoods, further threaten the resilience of wildlife populations.