Kyrgyzstan Environment - The Times Of Central Asia

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Water Security

New Study Finds Sharp Decline in Amu Darya Flows

Central Asia’s water woes continue to grow worse. The water flow in the Amu Darya, one of Central Asia’s two great rivers, is slowly but significantly diminishing in Tajikistan, where the river originates. A recently released report shows the Amu Darya’s water flow in the middle and lower reaches in Tajikistan has fallen over the course of recent decades by 54-77%. And the report lays the blame firmly on human activity, not climate change. Up In the Mountains of Tajikistan The study published on ScienceDirect looked at data collected over 90 years and concludes that “streamflow decreased by 54–77% in the middle and lower reaches” of the Amu Darya in Tajikistan. Interestingly, the report mentions that precipitation in the mountains of Tajikistan has actually increased between 6 and 13%, but the Amu Darya’s water level is falling because people are using more water. The expansion of agriculture is the reason, accounting for 92% of the water reduction in Tajikistan, but the recent construction of water reservoirs is also playing a role. Lower flows of water were noted on many of the tributaries in Tajikistan that feed into the Amu Darya, including the “Vakhsh, Kunduz, Kofirnihon, Surkhandarya, Zeravshan, and Kashkadarya (rivers),” which showed streamflow reductions of 4–34%. The report said that areas in the upper reaches of the Amu Darya should see increased water levels, but this is mainly due to climate change hastening the melting of snow and glaciers. Once the glaciers are gone, the water will rapidly decrease. Bad News Downstream Water problems upstream in Tajikistan translate to bigger problems downstream in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Both have already noticed a reduction in the amount of water in the Amu Darya, most visibly that the river has not reached the Aral Sea for about two decades now, contributing to the sea shrinking by some 90% since the 1960s. Every year the river recedes further south, forcing downstream communities suddenly without water to relocate. Climate change is now hastening this process in the arid, desert lands along the Uzbek-Turkmen border, but both countries are preparing for a bigger, impending shock. The Taliban started construction of the Qosh Tepa Canal in 2022, with the project scheduled to be completed in 2028. While Central Asia was liberally taking water from the Amu Darya for agricultural use, Afghanistan was in no position to claim its share until now. The canal will draw water from the Amu Darya at an area across from Uzbekistan and open up new agricultural land in northern Afghanistan, where food has long been in short supply. The 280-kilometer canal is expected to take some 16-20% of the water left in the Amu Darya after it leaves Tajikistan. Upstream Tajikistan’s falling water levels, of course, mean the Qosh Tepa Canal will also be receiving less and less water. The Combination For most of the 2020s, large areas of Central Asia have been experiencing droughts, prompting the governments there to implement water conservation measures. But as they find more ways to save...

Flood Risk

Tajikistan Warns of Mudslides as Central Asia Expands Flood Cooperation

Authorities in Tajikistan say heavy rain could trigger mudslides in parts of the country in the coming days and have warned people to be extremely careful when traveling on roads near mountains and riverbanks. The warning was issued on Wednesday, days after government officials, scientists, and other delegates from across Central Asia met in Bishkek to discuss ways to address cross-border mudflows and floods. The three-day meeting, which ended on Friday, was organized by Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Emergency Situations and the Regional Environmental Center for Central Asia, a group that gets support from the World Bank and other international partners. Mudslides and flooding often hit parts of Central Asia in the spring and early summer, when rainfall, rising temperatures, snow and glacier melt, and increasing water levels threaten communities that scientists say are more vulnerable because of climate change. In the spring of 2024, flooding in Kazakhstan displaced thousands of people and damaged many homes and other buildings in what the government called the worst natural disaster in the country in 80 years. Central Asian governments are increasing cooperation on mitigation measures, including early warning systems, data sharing, and other projects to better protect their populations. As temperatures rise faster in Central Asia than the global average, Tajikistan is especially vulnerable because it is a mountainous country where glacier melt is a growing concern. Heavy rains and mudslides are possible through Friday, July 3, in mountainous and hilly areas across the country, as well as in Sughd Region in northwest Tajikistan, which borders Uzbekistan, and in Khatlon Region in the southwest, which borders Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, Tajikistan’s Ministry of Transport said. Citing meteorological experts, the ministry also warned of dust storms in Khatlon and the capital, Dushanbe, because of strong winds blowing from the south. “As a result of rising temperatures, glacier melt, and increasing water levels in the Panj, Vakhsh, Varzob, and Zeravshan rivers, there is a risk of mudflows in these areas,” the ministry said. It added that it had “instructed all road maintenance departments and institutions to monitor the condition of highways around the clock.” The possibility of flooding from glacier melt and rising river levels is not only a problem in mountainous areas in upstream countries such as Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, but also in downstream countries, including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, that rely on cross-border water supplies but are also vulnerable to natural disasters. Turkmenportal, an online news site, said the recent meeting in Kyrgyzstan on water cooperation in Central Asia was important to Turkmenistan because it “is located in the lower reaches of Central Asia's largest rivers and is directly dependent on the quality of transboundary cooperation in water management and flood risk reduction.”

Uranium

Kyrgyzstan Moves to Introduce Unified Monitoring System for Uranium Waste Sites

Kyrgyzstan is preparing to introduce a unified national system for radiological monitoring of former uranium production sites, tailings storage facilities, and other radioactive waste locations, shifting the focus from cleanup work to long-term oversight of Soviet-era uranium legacy sites. The draft resolution, published for public discussion by the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision, would establish a single framework for monitoring reclaimed uranium sites across the country. Under the proposed rules, state monitoring would cover protective engineering structures, surface and groundwater, soil, atmospheric air, and other environmental components surrounding radioactive sites. The ministry said the initiative was developed under Kyrgyzstan’s Environmental Security Concept through 2040 and had been coordinated with the International Atomic Energy Agency. “The draft resolution is aimed at establishing a unified procedure for organizing and conducting radioecological monitoring in areas containing former uranium production sites, radioactive tailings, and waste storage facilities after remediation work has been completed,” the ministry said in its explanatory note. Officials said that despite large-scale rehabilitation efforts, former uranium facilities in Kyrgyzstan continue to pose potential radiation risks, making permanent state oversight necessary. According to the ministry, Kyrgyzstan still holds significant volumes of radioactive waste generated by uranium mining and processing during the Soviet era. These tailings and mining dumps remain long-term potential sources of radiation exposure for both local populations and the environment. The ministry said the effectiveness of remediation can only be confirmed through systematic monitoring over an extended period after restoration works are completed. International organizations have also recommended long-term post-remediation monitoring, the ministry added. Kyrgyzstan is one of several Central Asian states still dealing with the environmental legacy of Soviet uranium mining. Sites such as Mailuu-Suu, Min-Kush, Kadji-Sai, and Shekaftar have been priorities for international remediation work because many are located near populated areas, river systems, or unstable terrain. Official data show that Kyrgyzstan has 92 toxic and radionuclide waste burial sites, including 34 that directly contain radioactive materials. A separate rehabilitation track has been carried out jointly by Kyrgyz emergency authorities and Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom. Other remediation efforts have been supported through the Environmental Remediation Account for Central Asia, which is managed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Over the past nine years, the Rosatom-linked program has covered more than 27 hectares of land, with more than 1.4 million cubic meters of radioactive tailings relocated. Total investments have exceeded $25 million. The proposed monitoring system would formalize the next stage: checking whether restored sites remain stable and whether contamination risks are contained over time.

Climate Change

Kyrgyzstan Mudflows Surge Past 2024 Total as Officials Warn of Climate Risks

Kyrgyzstan has recorded more than 240 mudflows since the beginning of 2026, already well above the 133 cases registered during the whole of 2024. The figures were reported by the country's Ministry of Emergency Situations following a series of destructive floods and mudflows in June, when heavy rain hit several parts of the country, damaging homes, farmland, and a wide range of infrastructure. According to the ministry, 66 mudflow and flooding incidents were recorded between June 19 and 21. The southern part of the country – Batken, Osh, Jalal-Abad, as well as the northern region of Talas were among the affected regions. More than 300 homes were damaged or flooded over that three-day period, while emergency crews evacuated around 50 people from dangerous areas. The ministry also reported heavy livestock losses. The deadliest recent incident occurred on June 24, when a mudflow swept away a car on the Osh-Alay highway, killing six people. The ministry had earlier reported two mudflow-related deaths this year, bringing the reported 2026 toll to at least eight. That remains lower than the 25 deaths recorded in 2024, despite the higher number of incidents this year. Emergency officials say improved response work and protective measures have helped reduce casualties, though the scale of the damage remains severe. Kyrgyzstan has faced repeated mudflow damage in recent years, including flooding in southern regions and around Issyk-Kul. Its mountainous geography makes it particularly exposed to mudflows, as well as avalanches and landslides. Officials have also pointed to climate change, saying heavier and less predictable rainfall is increasing the danger. [caption id="attachment_51096" align="alignnone" width="768"] Image: Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic[/caption] The Ministry of Emergency Situations is working with counterparts in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan under the regional RESILAND CA+ program, which is backed by the World Bank. The project is designed to reduce disaster risks in particular through building protective infrastructure and improving forecasting. In Kyrgyzstan, the program covers 21 high-risk sites in four regions. Work has already begun on strengthening vulnerable areas and restoring mudflow-protection infrastructure. The regional push comes as Central Asian governments warn that climate-related disasters are becoming harder to manage at the national level alone. “Completely preventing mudflows is impossible, but their impact on people can be significantly reduced,” Deputy Emergency Situations Minister Akylbek Mazaripov said. He also urged residents to take greater care when building homes near riverbeds and other hazardous areas. “Each person’s safety is also their own responsibility,” Mazaripov said. “Before building a house near a riverbed, people need to understand that one day a mudflow may pass through there.” Emergency crews remain deployed in affected areas, where they are clearing riverbeds, repairing protective structures, and coordinating relief work with local authorities.

Red Book

Kyrgyzstan Begins Updating Red Book as Scientists Survey Rare Species Nationwide

Kyrgyzstan has begun preparing its first comprehensive update of the national Red Book in nearly two decades. On June 3, 2026, the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision and the National Academy of Sciences signed a cooperation agreement to collect updated data on rare and endangered species of flora and fauna. The project is scheduled to last two years and is estimated to cost about 21 million soms. What Has Been Decided Under the agreement, scientists from the National Academy of Sciences will carry out field and desk-based research across the country to obtain current, reliable information on rare and threatened species. The studies are intended to clarify population sizes, habitat ranges, and extinction risks. At the end of the 24-month project, the scientists will submit a scientific database to the ministry, which will serve as the basis for a new edition of the Red Book. The ministry said updating this information will make it possible to protect vulnerable species more effectively and preserve the country’s biodiversity. A Book Reissued Only Twice in 40 Years A full edition of Kyrgyzstan’s Red Book has been published only twice. The first appeared in 1985, when it was still called the Red Book of the Kirghiz SSR. The second was released in 2006-2007 in two volumes: Animals and Plants and Fungi. Since then, the protected list has been adjusted without a new full edition. In 2019, officials said the list had increased by 22 animal and plant species, but no complete printed edition followed. This is the gap the new revision is intended to close. Since the last edition, both the condition of wildlife populations and monitoring methods have changed. New field data is therefore needed to ensure that the document reflects the current situation. Which Species Are Protected Today The current Red Book of Kyrgyzstan includes 57 bird species, 23 mammal species, two amphibian species, eight reptile species, seven fish species, and 18 arthropod species. In addition to animals, 89 species of higher plants and fungi are protected. These figures will be the starting point for the review. Researchers will need to determine which species are still found in their former habitats, which populations have declined, and which species may need to be added to the list for the first time. Snow Leopard: A National Symbol and a Rare Example of Recovery The best-known inhabitant of Kyrgyzstan’s mountains on the list is the snow leopard. On December 30, 2023, it was officially recognized as a national symbol of the country by presidential decree. The species is listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List and has rare or endangered status in all 12 countries across its range. Kyrgyzstan is also one of the few countries where official figures indicate that the snow leopard population is growing. According to the 2024 count, the country had about 511 individuals, compared with 282 in 2013. Penalties for the illegal capture and export of the animal were also increased...

Air Pollution

EBRD Backs $69 Million District Heating Upgrade in Bishkek to Tackle Air Pollution

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has arranged a financing package worth up to $69 million, or €64 million, for two district heating utilities in Kyrgyzstan’s capital, Bishkek. The package will modernize heating infrastructure and reduce winter air pollution in one of the world’s most polluted cities. The package will support Bishkekteploset (BTS) and Bishkekteploenergo (BTE), two municipal heating companies serving a city of more than one million people. Under the agreement, the EBRD will provide sovereign-backed loans totaling up to $29.5 million, including $18.6 million for BTS and $10.9 million for BTE. The financing will be complemented by up to $24.5 million in concessional funds from the Green Climate Fund through its Green Cities Facility, alongside investment grants totaling $11.6 million. The EBRD will also allocate an additional $3.6 million for project implementation support and an equal opportunities action plan. The investment will allow BTS to modernize pumping stations, including through the installation of small-scale solar photovoltaic systems. BTE will introduce large-scale district energy heat pumps, the first such installations in Central Asia. It will also upgrade boiler houses with renewable energy components. Both companies will modernize district heating networks and install supervisory control and data acquisition systems. They will also purchase specialized service vehicles. The projects will reduce reliance on fossil fuels and support cleaner heating solutions. They are also expected to cut greenhouse gas emissions in Bishkek. Bishkek joined the EBRD Green Cities program in 2024 and adopted an environmental action plan that identified modernization of the city’s heating system as one of its most urgent priorities. The Kyrgyz capital currently relies heavily on the coal-fired Bishkek Thermal Power Plant for both electricity and heating. The plant generates about 13% of Kyrgyzstan’s electricity and supplies heat and hot water to nearly two-thirds of the city. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, emissions from the aging power plant account for about 15% of Bishkek’s air pollution. Air pollution remains one of Bishkek’s most pressing environmental challenges, particularly during winter, when widespread coal burning for household heating pushes pollution levels sharply higher. The city regularly ranks among the world’s ten most polluted urban centers in IQAir’s global air quality index.