Ecotourism and conservation of wildlife treasures in Kyrgyzstan

On May 21, 2024, a press conference dedicated to the International Day of Biological Diversity was held at the Kabar news agency with the participation of representatives of environmental ministries and departments, international organizations, activists, regional tour leaders and representatives of media communities.

The main task of the International Day of Biological Diversity is to draw public attention to the problem of the irretrievable disappearance of many representatives of flora and fauna on Earth. Despite intensive efforts over the past 20 years, the planet's biodiversity continues to decline and the ecological balance is still subject to change. About 60% of the ecological system is degraded or used recklessly, leading to loss of biodiversity and severe impacts that could worsen over the next 50 years. And this directly concerns Kyrgyzstan.



According to the director of the Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Specially Protected Natural Areas, Azamat Kenzhebaev, in Kyrgyzstan there are currently 22 specially protected natural areas and more than 60 reserves, botanical gardens, etc. “In these areas, department employees are working to preserve local, endemic, subendemic and endangered species of flora and fauna,” he added.



In turn, the head of the department of specially protected areas of the Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Specially Protected Natural Areas, Azat Osmonov, said that the country faces a task by the end of the year to increase the area of ​​specially protected natural areas to 10%, currently the area is 7.5%. “The current figure is very low. We are currently working in this direction with non-governmental organizations and the Institute of Biology of the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic. We plan to create new protected natural areas in Naryn, Osh and Batken regions,” he said.



Senior researcher at the Institute of Biology of the National Academy of Sciences, biodiversity expert Dmitry Milko said that the main task of the International Day of Biological Diversity is to draw public attention to the problem of the irretrievable disappearance of many representatives of flora and fauna on earth. He noted that the development of eco-tourism in the country is one of the promising sources of budget replenishment, but in this it is necessary to adhere to the plan for the development of the service sector and the culture of internal and external tourists.



Country coordinator of the program for the conservation of biodiversity hotspots in Central Asia, Mikhail Yakovlev, informed that on this website you can get acquainted with 32 locations in Kyrgyzstan, where each is a combination of unique landscapes, flora, and fauna. “Our program carries the idea that we are preserving the ecosystem. This is the basis that gives life. It supports life. And without this basis, in principle, human existence is impossible. Therefore, in our program it is very important for us to preserve precisely these original ecosystems, where there is great diversity, where the system itself can reproduce, create, and spread life. These are the main goals,” he noted.



Gamal Soronkulov, a member of the Union of Photojournalists and the EcoMiR Foundation, said that an important goal of the project was also to promote the development of ecotourism in the regions of the country. “Currently, MAP.KG presents not only descriptions and photographs of magnificent nature, but also stories about local tourist sites and guardian people guarding the territories, which, according to Professor Emil Shukurov, are zones for the creation and reproduction of living conditions Life,” he added.



According to the national coordinator of the project, Evgenia Postnova, “Among the “foci” of Life known to most Kyrgyzstanis are Sary-Chelek, Besh-Aral, Dashman, Chychkan, Eastern and Western Issyk-Kul region, Besh-Tash, Talas River, Son-Kul Lake, Chytyr-Kul Lake and some others. At the same time, only experienced tourists, guides or local historians know about many other treasures of nature.”

An

important goal of the project was also to promote the development of ecotourism in the regions of the country. Amazing stories about the protected areas of Kasan-Sai and Aflatun-Padysh-Ata, as well as about the possibilities of receiving tourists in eco-camps and guest houses, were told at the press conference by regional tour leaders, activists and guardians who specially came to Bishkek from these places. The highlight of the meeting was the presentation of the “Golden Chatkal” ecotour, where everyone can feel the spirit of gold miners and plunge into the world of ancient legends of Chatkal.



Visitors to the press conference were given the opportunity to have a photo shoot with the Golden Fleece and taste honey and tea with aromatic mountain herbs. “During the event, we want to talk in detail about the project, invite for cooperation and discuss how we can jointly promote the protection of key biodiversity areas of Kyrgyzstan and the development of local ecotourism,” notes Vladislav Ushakov, director of the Union of Photojournalists. At the press conference, visitors were also presented with the country's first free photobank* of unique natural areas of Kyrgyzstan, created by the Union of Photojournalists as part of the MAP.KG project. There are currently 32 such territories in our country, and each is a combination of unique landscapes, flora, fauna (including species listed in the Red Book), as well as historical and cultural attractions.



#mapkg #ecostankg #nomadkg #ecotourism #CEPF112650
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[quote]The initiative was made possible thanks to the project CEPF-112650 “Promotion of ecotourism in key biodiversity areas in Kyrgyzstan” with the support of the Cooperation Fund for the Conservation of Critically Endangered Ecosystems*. It is a joint initiative of the French Development Agency, Conservation International, the European Union, the Global Environment Facility, the Government of Japan and the World Bank. The main goal is to ensure the participation of civil society in the conservation of biodiversity.
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*CEPF https://www.cepf.net/ https://www.mca.earth/[/quote]