Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan sign MoC on snow leopard conservation

A memorandum of cooperation was signed today between the specially protected nature areas of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan aimed at conservation of the population of snow leopards, Kazinform News Agency reports.

The goal of the memorandum is to conserve the snow leopards in the Northern Tien Shan mountains within four protected areas: Kazakhstan’s Kolsai Lakes National Park, Almaty State Nature Reserve, Ile-Alatau National Park, and Kyrgyzstan’s Chon Kemin National Park.

“Thanks to joint efforts aimed at the study and protection of snow leopards, their number has increased by more than 20% since 2019 and now varies from 152 to 189 species. This memorandum will let strengthen ties between our countries in conservation of this globally important species,” Vice Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan Nurken Sharbiyev says.

In the next five years, the sides will develop and implement several initiatives to monitor the snow leopards, their habitats, and feeding area. Transboundary and international cooperation promotion will also be in the spotlight.

According to Kyrgyz Minister of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision Mirslav Amankulov, there are more than 400 snow leopards in the territory of Kyrgyzstan today. However, their habitat is not limited to the territory of one country.

He emphasized the importance of interaction of all stakeholders to study and to conserve the snow leopards and their habitats, to prevent illegal hunting, reduction of feeding area because of human activity. In his words, the memorandum signed between the specially protected nature areas of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan will contribute to these efforts.

The five-year agreement was initiated by the UN Development Program in Kazakhstan with the support of the Global Environmental Facility under the six-year (2018-2024) project on conservation of forest ecosystems and biodiversity including the snow leopard in Kazakhstan.