Environmental challenges of the region discussed
In Almaty, from February 25 to 27, 2026, a preparatory meeting dedicated to the Regional Environmental Summit of Central Asian countries (RES-2026) took place. This event was organized by the Committee of Forestry and Wildlife of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan with the support of the United Nations Development Programme and the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ).
Representatives from the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan, the Republic of Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan participated in the discussions, as well as international organizations such as UNDP, FAO, GIZ, UNEP, UNESCO, WWF, and IUCN, along with the secretariats of international conventions.
Opening the meeting, the Chairman of the Committee of Forestry and Wildlife D. Turgambaev emphasized the importance of uniting the efforts of Central Asian countries to preserve biodiversity, restore forest ecosystems, and respond to transboundary environmental issues.
Two complementary regional initiatives were discussed at the meeting: "Green Shield" and "Harmony with Nature for Sustainable Development of the Region," which are planned to be approved at RES-2026 with the signing of a declaration and resolution.
Participants focused on issues of transboundary biodiversity conservation, restoration of forest ecosystems, including mountain forests, saxaul forests, and tugai forests, as well as combating land degradation and desertification. The creation of a coordinated financing system was also discussed.
Meeting participants noted that Central Asia possesses unique natural resources and ecosystems, such as the Tian Shan and Pamir-Alai, which are home to rare species, including the snow leopard and kulan. At the same time, the region faces serious climate and environmental challenges that negatively impact food and water security, as well as public health and infrastructure resilience.
As a result of the meeting, it was decided to refine project documents and clarify coordination and financing mechanisms to present ready-to-implement solutions at RES-2026. This meeting in Almaty was an important step in forming a unified position of Central Asian countries on biodiversity and sustainable forest restoration issues.
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