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.

Kyrgyzstan Takes the Lead in Global Snow Leopard Conservation Efforts

On June 5-6, the Kyrgyz resort city of Cholpon-Ata is hosting the 9th Steering Committee Meeting of the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Program (GSLEP). The meeting brings together environment ministers from all 12 snow leopard range countries, Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, along with representatives from conservation organizations and international financial institutions. Their goal is to advance conservation and climate action efforts in Asia’s high mountain regions through GSLEP, an intergovernmental alliance founded in Bishkek in 2013. The snow leopard, classified as endangered, serves as a potent symbol of the ecological and cultural importance of Asia’s mountainous landscapes. Kyrgyzstan has long been at the forefront of international conservation efforts. At the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, the country spearheaded a resolution, supported by other range nations, designating October 23 as International Snow Leopard Day. The GSLEP Steering Committee convened in Cholpon-Ata to assess ongoing conservation initiatives and define future priorities to protect snow leopards and mountain ecosystems. [caption id="attachment_32684" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Image: mnr.gov.kg[/caption] In his opening remarks, Kyrgyzstan’s Minister of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision, Meder Mashiev, said: “For us, the snow leopard is not just a species, it is part of our culture and identity. Its preservation is our common responsibility.” Mashiev highlighted the country's recent achievements in conservation, including the initiation of a national snow leopard census, the adoption of SMART monitoring tools, the creation of new protected areas, and the establishment of the Ak Ilbirs (Snow Leopard) Ecological Corridor, an approximately one million-hectare expanse in the northeastern Issyk-Kul region. This corridor connects the Khan-Tengri State Nature Park, the Sarychat-Eertash Nature Reserve, and the Naryn Nature Reserve, providing secure habitats for snow leopards and other endangered species while promoting sustainable resource management. In December 2023, President Sadyr Japarov signed a decree formally recognizing the snow leopard as a national symbol of Kyrgyzstan. In a welcome address to participants, President Japarov highlighted Kyrgyzstan’s pivotal role as a mountainous nation (over 90% of its territory consists of highlands) in safeguarding high-altitude ecosystems. He stressed that mountains are not only repositories of natural wealth but also engines for economic growth through green investments. However, he cautioned that these regions face growing threats from overgrazing, forest degradation, and climate change, especially in snow leopard habitats. President Japarov also called for strengthening GSLEP’s institutional capacity and expanding cross-border conservation initiatives with the support of global environmental funds.