Kyrgyzstan Environment - The Times Of Central Asia

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Pasture Management

Kyrgyzstan Pasture Restoration Plan Includes 7,200 Kilometers of Road Repairs

Kyrgyzstan plans to repair hundreds of bridges and more than 7,200 kilometers of roads to help livestock farmers reach remote grazing land as pastures near villages deteriorate. The Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry outlined the plans on October 29. It estimates that 184,000 hectares of pasture near settlements have been degraded and need restoration. To ease grazing pressure near villages, the ministry has identified a need to repair and restore 553 bridges and improve 7,206.3 kilometers of pasture access roads. It also plans to establish 406 livestock watering points and install 170 milk collection tanks. Plans to restore vegetation include reseeding pastures, controlling weeds unsuitable for livestock feed, and rotating grazing areas. Tractors would be used for sowing on flat terrain and specialized drones in areas that are difficult to reach. According to the ministry, pasture grass seeds were sown on 34,376.5 hectares of degraded land between 2023 and 2025. In September, it reported purchasing more than 186 metric tons of seeds for 50 million soms (about $570,000). Sowing was still underway in October. Kyrgyzstan already has a pasture development program for 2024–2029, approved in August 2024. It also calls for restoring degraded grazing land and improving pasture infrastructure. The latest announcement did not explain how the new plans differ from the existing program or specify their overall cost. In March 2025, the ministry said it had recommended annual restrictions on grazing near villages from April 15 to September 15. At the time, it estimated that 139,069 hectares had been degraded. It is unclear whether the higher figure in the latest announcement reflects further deterioration or a revised assessment. The ministry estimates the country’s total pasture area at about 10 million hectares. Pastures are the main source of livestock feed, so their deterioration affects feed availability and farmers’ incomes. Kyrgyzstan’s livestock numbers continued to rise in 2025, reaching approximately 1.8 million cattle and 6.3 million sheep and goats by the end of the year, increases of 1.7% and 0.8%, respectively, over 2024.

National Parks

Kyrgyzstan Plans to Expand Protected Natural Areas

Kyrgyzstan plans to expand its protected natural areas under a draft strategy for 2026–2035. The expansion would bring additional high-altitude glaciers, rocky mountain areas, and state forest lands under protection. The Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision released the document for public consultation on October 26. An accompanying explanatory note proposes increasing protected land from 11.8% of the country’s territory to 20% by 2030 and 30% by 2035. However, another section of the strategy sets 2030 as the deadline for reaching 30%, leaving the intended timetable unclear. Kyrgyzstan’s protected natural areas currently cover approximately 2.36 million hectares. The increase in protected land in recent years partly reflects the creation of ecological corridors linking protected areas, including the 792,000-hectare Ak Ilbirs corridor in 2025. Under the proposal, the expansion would take place without removing productive pastures from agricultural use. Traditional livestock grazing by local residents would continue to be permitted in buffer zones. The country has ten state nature reserves covering a total of 509,900 hectares and 13 national nature parks spanning 724,900 hectares. The draft strategy calls for upgrading their infrastructure, introducing digital monitoring and recordkeeping systems, and improving training and equipment for park rangers. Other priorities include combating poaching and protecting mountain wildlife, including snow leopards and Tien Shan brown bears, as well as ancient walnut forests and glaciers. Private investors would be allowed to develop tourism facilities in designated recreational zones within national parks. However, the draft would prohibit transferring protected land into private ownership and constructing permanent buildings. The authorities also propose introducing cashless payments for admission tickets to reduce unrecorded revenue. Residents of nearby communities would have opportunities to earn income through guesthouses and other small tourism businesses. The strategy’s authors acknowledge the risk of ecosystem degradation from growing tourist numbers. The document specifically identifies the popular Ala-Archa, Karakol, Chon-Kemin, and Kyrgyz-Ata parks as areas of concern. It proposes limits on visitor numbers along popular routes to reduce littering and damage to vegetation. The strategy would be financed through existing government allocations, income from park visitors, and international grants, with no additional budget spending required, according to its authors. Kyrgyzstan’s nature reserves and national parks received more than 271,000 visitors in 2025, an increase of nearly 24% from the previous year. Revenue from park visits more than doubled to $431,000.

Snow Leopard Conservation

Kyrgyzstan Opens Snow Leopard Research and Rehabilitation Center

A research and rehabilitation center for snow leopards, named Ak Ilbirs, opened on October 23 in Kyrgyzstan. The facility, located in the village of Ananyevo on the shores of Issyk-Kul, will study snow leopard behavior and support efforts to increase the animals' numbers. The opening coincided with International Snow Leopard Day. Russia's Republic of Tatarstan helped establish the center; its leader, Rustam Minnikhanov, attended the ceremony alongside Kyrgyz Prime Minister Adylbek Kasymaliyev. Snow leopards inhabit mountainous regions across 12 Asian countries, including Kyrgyzstan. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies the species as vulnerable, with their numbers threatened by poaching and dwindling prey, as well as conflicts with local herders. Their elusive behavior and remote habitats also make it particularly difficult to estimate their numbers. Kyrgyzstan plays a prominent role in international snow leopard conservation efforts. In 2023, the snow leopard was recognized as a national symbol of Kyrgyzstan. The following year, at Bishkek's initiative, the United Nations General Assembly designated October 23 as International Snow Leopard Day. In April 2025, Kyrgyzstan established the Ak Ilbirs ecological corridor in the Issyk-Kul region, covering more than 792,000 hectares. It connects Khan-Tengri Nature Park, the Sarychat-Ertash Nature Reserve, and the Naryn Nature Reserve. Such corridors allow snow leopards to move between mountain habitats, reducing the risk that isolated populations will lose genetic diversity. Kyrgyzstan is also exploring opportunities to develop tourism in areas inhabited by snow leopards. Indian company SUJAN Luxury Hospitality has proposed both wildlife watching and scientific expeditions involving local residents. The proposal, still under discussion, also includes training rangers and developing tourism infrastructure. In 2025, Kyrgyzstan's nature reserves and national parks received more than 271,000 tourists, an increase of 24% from the previous year. Revenue from visits more than doubled to $431,000. However, snow leopards tend to avoid human activity, meaning that tourism development in their habitats will require careful management of routes and visitor numbers.

Air Pollution

Air Pollution in Central Asia: Why Winter Smog Persists in Almaty, Bishkek, and Tashkent

Almaty is investing 325.9 billion tenge (about $720 million) in converting a coal-fired power plant to natural gas, but the plant will continue burning coal for several more years. Bishkek is restricting certain types of coal while maintaining supplies of permitted fuel for winter. Tashkent reported lower pollution over much of the year, though early October brought a sharp increase in harmful particles. Across these three Central Asian cities, winter smog remains a problem as the heating season begins. According to World Bank estimates, concentrations of fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5, in major Central Asian cities frequently exceed World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines by six to twelve times, particularly in winter. PM2.5 particles can penetrate deep into the lungs and increase the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. During colder months, emissions from heating and transportation accumulate near the ground. When winds are weak and temperature inversions occur, polluted air can remain trapped over a city for several days. Almaty: Gas Conversion, Coal Remains Almaty's heating season began on October 9, with schools and hospitals connected first, followed by residential buildings on October 10. By then, the modernization of CHP-2, the city's largest coal-fired heating plant and one of its biggest sources of industrial emissions, had yet to be completed. According to project estimates, converting the plant to natural gas should reduce annual emissions of harmful substances from 37,300 tons to 2,700 tons. However, those reductions will not be achieved immediately after the new equipment begins operating. Environmental assessment documents cited by Kursiv indicate that coal-fired boilers and turbines will continue operating alongside gas-fired units in 2027–2029 during commissioning and periods of peak winter demand. The documents also envisage keeping coal-fired equipment in operation into the 2030s to safeguard energy supplies in case of gas shortages. Vehicle exhaust is another major problem for Almaty. In April, the city introduced a pilot low-emission zone (LEZ) in its center. Until the end of the year, the zone is operating without entry fees, fines, or traffic restrictions. Separately, citywide emissions checks have been underway since the beginning of 2026. By late August, inspectors had tested 5,496 vehicles and found 1,301 exceeding emissions limits, nearly a quarter of those checked. Violations detected during citywide inspections can result in penalties. Bishkek: Coal Restrictions, but No Easy Alternative In Bishkek, the main cause of winter smog is heating in private homes. Residential heating accounts for approximately 29% of air pollution, transportation for 27%, and dust for 21%. Combined emissions from the main thermal power plant and smaller boiler houses account for 11%, according to international research cited by the city administration. In October 2025, the municipal authorities imposed restrictions on the sale, storage, and use of fine coal in Bishkek. They also stepped up inspections targeting waste burning and began converting some boiler houses to cleaner fuels. On October 1, 2026, the mayor's office announced plans to maintain adequate supplies of coal meeting quality standards at fuel depots across the city. For many private residents,...

Water Security

Central Asia Agrees New Water Limits, but National Quotas Remain Unclear

Water has repeatedly caused friction between Central Asian governments. Uncoordinated releases have flooded communities downstream, while disputes over access have contributed to deadly fighting along contested borders. On October 7, the region's countries agreed on water withdrawals from the Amu Darya and Syr Darya for fall and winter 2026–2027, though published results do not reveal how much water each country will receive. The agreements were reached at the 95th meeting of the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination (ICWC) in Avaza, on Turkmenistan's Caspian coast near Turkmenbashi. Participants agreed on national water withdrawal limits and projected reservoir operating schedules, but the figures remain in unpublished annexes to the meeting protocol. Regional cooperation has grown in recent years. In June, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan agreed on water releases and electricity supplies for the 2026 irrigation season, continuing efforts to coordinate reservoir operations across borders. Despite this progress, longstanding tensions remain. Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan need water in the winter to generate electricity, while Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan need it in the summer for irrigation. Bishkek has revived proposals for its neighbors to share the costs of maintaining reservoirs, while Afghanistan's Qosh Tepa Canal could put further pressure on the Amu Darya. Countries are also trying to resolve discrepancies in river-flow measurements. [caption id="attachment_58085" align="aligncenter" width="1774"] Officials from Central Asian countries attend talks on cross-border cooperation and sustainable development in the Amu Darya basin in Turkmenistan. Image: State News Agency of Turkmenistan[/caption] From Flooded Villages to Border Clashes The competing demands of electricity generation and agriculture are particularly evident in the Syr Darya basin. Kyrgyzstan's Toktogul Reservoir sits on the Naryn River, the Syr Darya's main tributary. In winter, Kyrgyzstan releases water to generate electricity, months before downstream farmers need it for irrigation. When these releases exceed the capacity of reservoirs and canals, the excess water can cause flooding. In February 2004, residents of Kazakhstan's Kyzylorda region experienced the consequences of uncoordinated water releases. The Syr Darya overflowed its banks, forcing the evacuation of at least 200 families. Ice had already restricted the river's flow, worsening the flooding. According to NASA, Kyrgyzstan was releasing more water from its hydropower system than the agreements allowed, with the excess flow entering the Shardara Reservoir. Uzbekistan agreed to divert some of the water into the Arnasay lake system, but it was not possible to divert the entire volume needed. As a result, the river flooded areas farther downstream. In the Amu Darya basin, disagreements developed differently. In 2012, then-Uzbek President Islam Karimov warned that disputes over water resources could lead to war. The source of tension was the construction of the Rogun Hydropower Plant in Tajikistan. Tashkent feared that a large dam on the Vakhsh River, a tributary of the Amu Darya, would allow Dushanbe to influence the volume of water reaching Uzbekistan's agricultural regions. The confrontation was accompanied by interruptions in gas supplies to Tajikistan, transport restrictions, and mutual accusations. Dushanbe linked Tashkent's actions to pressure over the Rogun project, although the Uzbek side disputed that...

Land Restoration

Kyrgyzstan Plans to Restore Land in Syr Darya Basin

Kyrgyzstan plans to restore degraded land in the Syr Darya basin as shrinking glaciers and declining forest cover raise concerns about the future of one of Central Asia’s main water systems. The four-year project will restore at least 264 hectares in the Jalal-Abad region, mainly within the Kyzyl-Unkur and Toskool-Ata forest enterprises. More than 27,000 people are expected to benefit directly from work on damaged land, including forests and agricultural areas. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations will implement the project with the country’s Forestry Service, using financing from the Global Environment Facility. The work will include agroforestry, sustainable land and water management practices, ecosystem restoration, and monitoring of land degradation and natural hazards. It also aims to avoid emitting or to sequester about 2.22 million metric tons of carbon dioxide. Upstream conditions affect water supplies far beyond Jalal-Abad. The Naryn rises in Kyrgyzstan and joins the Kara Darya in Uzbekistan to form the Syr Darya, which continues through Tajikistan and Kazakhstan before reaching the North Aral Sea. Its water feeds large farming areas as well as a chain of reservoirs and hydropower plants. That system is becoming harder to manage as glaciers retreat and the timing of river flows changes. Kyrgyzstan depends heavily on mountain runoff and faces a longstanding seasonal trade-off, needing water for winter hydropower generation while downstream agriculture requires larger releases during the summer growing season. The work in Jalal-Abad is small compared with the size of the basin, but comes as the country reassesses how climate change could affect its water supplies. Mountain forests are closely connected to glaciers and river headwaters, making land degradation an issue for water management both domestically and downstream. The national climate adaptation plan through 2035 calls for new monitoring and early-warning systems to address these risks.