Issyk-Kul Authorities Launch Campaign to Improve Traffic Rule Awareness

Law enforcement authorities in Kyrgyzstan’s Issyk-Kul region have launched a campaign to improve public knowledge of traffic regulations. As part of the initiative, information boards explaining the meaning of road signs have been installed along major roads. The Ministry of Internal Affairs stated that the campaign aims to promote better understanding and adherence to traffic laws among both drivers and pedestrians. In addition to roadside boards, educational content is being disseminated via LED screens and billboards across the region. “The main objective of the campaign is to help citizens better understand and follow traffic rules. These materials will be useful for both drivers and pedestrians, and are also aimed at improving overall road safety,” the ministry noted. Official statistics indicate that Kyrgyzstan ranks third among Central Asian countries for the number of traffic accidents, with one in three incidents attributed to violations of rules of the road by drivers. “Our efforts are aimed at ensuring road safety in the Issyk-Kul region. Compliance with traffic rules is important for each of us and is a guarantee of safety for both us and other road users,” stated the regional Department of Internal Affairs. The initiative comes amid broader concerns about driving standards in Kyrgyzstan. Earlier this year, government officials revealed that more than half of all driver's licenses in the country were obtained illegally, a disclosure that has spurred new efforts to enforce compliance and raise road safety standards nationwide.

Kyrgyzstan to Plant 10 Million Trees in Issyk-Kul via Carbon Credit Initiative

Kyrgyzstan is set to launch Central Asia’s first large-scale tree-planting project funded through carbon credits, in a landmark move toward reducing its carbon footprint and expanding its role in global climate finance. The ambitious initiative aims to plant over 10 million trees across 25,000 hectares in the Issyk-Kul region, with the potential to attract up to $180 million in climate financing. The project was discussed on April 8 during a meeting between Adylbek Kasymaliyev, Chairman of Kyrgyzstan’s Cabinet of Ministers, and representatives of Valor Carbon, a UK-based firm specializing in climate finance. It will be implemented through the sale of carbon credits, officially marking Kyrgyzstan’s entry into international green finance markets. According to Valor Carbon, this will be the largest initiative of its kind in Central Asia and could unlock new opportunities in sectors such as transportation, food processing, hospitality, beekeeping, and eco-tourism. The new program aligns with Kyrgyzstan’s broader environmental campaign, Jashyl Muras (Green Heritage), launched by President Sadyr Japarov in March 2022. The campaign envisions planting 5-6 million saplings annually nationwide. In 2024, the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision reported that 8,167,000 saplings were planted as part of the initiative, with a survival rate of 64%.