Harmony with Nature for the Benefit of Sustainable Development of the Region

Within the framework of the Regional Ecological Summit of the countries of Central Asia, the regional initiative “Harmony with Nature for the Benefit of Sustainable Development of the Region” was officially launched, aimed at strengthening cooperation in the field of biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of natural resources.

The key outcome of the event was the signing of the Regional Declaration on Cooperation of Central Asian Countries in the Field of Protection and Sustainable Management of Biodiversity — “Harmony with Nature for the Benefit of Sustainable Development of the Region.”

The Regional Declaration on Cooperation of Central Asian Countries provides for an umbrella approach, meaning that it brings together already existing national strategies, interstate agreements, projects, and international commitments within a unified regional framework.

“Its adoption can help the countries of the region move from fragmented initiatives to a more coordinated and systematic, strategically structured model of cooperation, to closer coordination and a clearer basis for partnership, financing, and long-term implementation,” said Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Yerlan Nyssanbayev.

It is expected that the initiative will become an important step toward the formation of a sustainable regional cooperation platform, strengthening the political commitment of Central Asian countries, and developing a coordinated regional position for presenting joint initiatives at the upcoming 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

The issue of sustainable development in Central Asia is of critical importance on a global scale. The mountain ecosystems of the Tien Shan and Pamir-Alai, steppes and deserts, tugai forests, and wetlands of the region form a natural complex of global significance. In the mountains of Central Asia alone, there are 5,000 plant species, about 1,500 of which are endemic. The region plays a key role in the conservation of migratory species, ecological connectivity, and transboundary ecosystems.

The protection of unique natural values in Central Asia has long gone beyond exclusively national tasks and requires coordinated regional solutions.

“Kazakhstan is advancing this agenda with concrete actions and results. The Concept for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity until 2035 has been approved. It should be noted that to date, their total area has reached 31 million hectares. In addition, Kazakhstan demonstrates results of global significance in species conservation. As you know, we have managed to preserve and increase the population of saiga antelopes. Today, we are implementing a program for the Przewalski’s horse. We are also reintroducing the Turanian tiger to its historical habitats,” the minister added.

In Uzbekistan, ecological issues and biodiversity have been identified as priorities of state policy. The development of an updated national biodiversity strategy and action plan until 2040 has begun as part of fulfilling commitments under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

“We have approved a unique national, nationwide program. Within the framework of five nationwide ecological programs, we have approved a new nationwide project called ‘Bionasledie’ (Environmental Heritage), which предусматривает the creation of new national parks and reserves, as well as the expansion of existing territories,” said Advisor to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on ecological issues and Chairman of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Aziz Abdukhakimov.

Kyrgyzstan supported the launch of the regional initiative “Harmony with Nature for the Benefit of Sustainable Development of the Region” as a timely and strategically important step for Central Asia.

“Our region possesses unique natural capital: from high-mountain ecosystems to wildlife migration corridors. At the same time, we face common challenges of climate change, land degradation, and fragmentation of natural landscapes, which require coordinated and systemic solutions. In the Kyrgyz Republic, the update of the strategy until 2040 and the action plan until 2026–2030, synchronized with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, is nearing completion,” noted Minister of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision of the Kyrgyz Republic, Akyl Toktobaev.