The Kyrgyz Republic has announced the creation of a vast ecological corridor covering approximately 800,000 hectares (8,000 km²), marking a major step forward in biodiversity conservation. This new corridor is said to connect existing protected areas, including Khan-Tengri National Park and Naryn Nature Reserve, expanding the total protected landscape to over 1.2mn hectares.
Supported by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the corridor was defined using advanced ecological modelling to optimize its boundaries. It is designed to safeguard critical migration and dispersal routes for mountain wildlife species facing increasing pressure from climate change and overgrazing. Among the species benefiting are the snow leopard—classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN—and its prey, such as the Asiatic ibex and argali sheep.
This ecological corridor is the largest established under the Kyrgyz Republic’s Law on Specially Protected Natural Areas. Unlike strict reserves, the corridor allows sustainable land use practices, including regulated seasonal grazing, ecotourism, and reforestation activities, as long as they do not disrupt wildlife movement or ecological functions.
Historically, over 65,000 sheep grazed in this area during summer. The corridor’s introduction brings a plan to reduce this number by 15,000 through improved grazing management and herd rotation, giving mountain pastures more recovery time and better grazing opportunities for wild species. These measures have been developed in close cooperation with local herders and community leaders to balance ecological goals with local livelihoods.
Arnold Kreilhuber, Director of UNEP’s Europe Office, hailed the project as “a major milestone in conservation for Central Asia,” emphasizing the corridor’s potential as a regional model.
“By connecting landscapes, the Kyrgyz Republic protects iconic species like the snow leopard and secures the natural resources that local communities depend on,” he said.
Mirslav Amankulov, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources, emphasized the initiative’s cooperation with local herders, noting there are no permanent settlements in the corridor and that fair access to alternative pastures has been ensured to balance conservation and livelihoods.
The corridor’s design followed a joint ecological study by Humboldt University and the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic, coordinated by UNEP. Local authorities, scientists, and communities unanimously endorsed the corridor at public roundtables.
Looking ahead, Kyrgyzstan plans to integrate ecological corridors into broader policy frameworks such as pasture management and hunting regulations, supported by ongoing monitoring efforts including biomass assessments to track ecosystem health.
“Ecological corridors help ecosystems adapt to climate change while maintaining vital services like clean water, fertile soil, and habitat connectivity. The Kyrgyz Republic is choosing a sustainable future for nature and people,” Johan Robinson, Officer in Charge at UNEP’s Biodiversity and Land Branch, said.
The government is also exploring the potential for transboundary corridors that would extend ecological connectivity beyond national borders, enhancing regional conservation efforts.
This initiative was supported by the UNEP-led Central Asian Mammals and Climate Adaptation (CAMCA) project, funded by Germany’s International Climate Initiative, and implemented in partnership with the Convention on Migratory Species, WWF USA, and Kyrgyz NGOs CAMP Alatoo and Ilbirs Foundation. CAMCA focuses on protecting Central Asia’s flagship migratory mammals through climate-aware conservation strategies.
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