| 4 сентября, 2024 | News

Specialists from Kyrgyzstan & Kazakhstan Met to Exchange Biodiversity Conservation Experience

As part of the UNEP-led CAMCA project, СAMP Alatoo* organized a series of dialogues and a study tour in one of the project pilot areas – the Ton and Jeti-Oguz districts of the Issyk-Kul region of Kyrgyzstan. The event was attended by project partners, including members of the Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan (ACBK) and Ilbirs Public Foundation (Kyrgyz Republic), representatives of the Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Protected Areas of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision of the Kyrgyz Republic, as well as representatives of the Khan-Teniri State Nature Park, the Jargylchak Nature Reserve, the Baiboosun Micro-Reserve, and the pilot rural districts.

Seminars focused on discussing collective actions by participants and partners for improved project implementation, sharing experiences and knowledge in biodiversity conservation, and developing new ideas for wildlife protection. The meeting was structured as a dialogue between government officials, nature park staff, public organizations, and local activists interested in enhancing ecosystem resilience, rational resource use, climate change adaptation, and regional natural resource management efficiency.

Participants were updated on on the status and management of protected areas (PAs) in the Issyk-Kul region, conservation measures in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, and digital tools developed for monitoring PAs, pastures, and livestock grazing. They also discussed regional aspects of wildlife protection and habitat factors and engaged in simulation games such as «Conserving the Snow Leopard and Its Habitat» and «Livestock Grazing Planning.» These served as practical exercises for reinforcing knowledge and skills necessary for wildlife and resource conservation.

The Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan (ACBK) was also very curious about the activities of the community-managed nature zones: «We are interested in learning how the management of the Baiboosun Micro-Reserve and the Jargylchak Nature Reserve operates, as modern management methods for protected areas still largely rely on approaches used during the Soviet era,» said Artem Khrokov from ABCK. The Kazakhstan partners also learned the legal aspects regarding the involvement of communities in the management and planning of protected areas in Kyrgyzstan.

In addition, several field trips were organised for the participants, including activities related to tourism development and alternative income sources, as well as pasture monitoring methods. A cultural component included visits to the stunning natural landmarks and canyons characteristic of the Issyk-Kul region.

These seminars represent a significant step in developing regional cooperation and strengthening efforts to preserve biodiversity across boundaries in Central Asia.

*CAMP Alatoo is a public foundation, established in 2004 as the successor to the Central Asian Mountain Partnership (CAMP). Its main goal is to promote sustainable development of mountainous (rural) regions and nature conservation in Central Asia. 

www.camp.kg, FB — CampAlatoo, Instagram — @campalatoo