Celebrating 25 Years of Action for Biodiversity

Forests are located on 5.62 per cent (1,123,045 ha) of the country’s area and, despite its small area, they play a significant role in the regula- tion of ground and surface sources [ ] 137 Efficiency measures for the conservation of biodiversity Activities on fulfilment of the Con- vention indicates that joining the Convention on Biological Diversity has a positive effect on the biodiver- sity of the country. In the Country Development Strategy for 2009–2011, environmental security issues have been included as one of the five prior- ities of the country. At the same time, efficiency measures for the conserva- tion of biodiversity were determined as one of the objectives. To achieve these objectives, measures aimed at improvement of the environmental legislation to meet the commitments under this and other related envi- ronmental conventions should be implemented. A National Sustainable Development Strategy of the Kyrgyz Republic for the period of 2013–2017 was developed and approved by the Decree of the President as of 2013. Progress achieved in terms of posi- tive changes in biodiversity • The area of specially protected natural areas expanded from 5.2 per cent in 2008 to 6.006 per cent in 2012. The national system of specially protected natural areas in the Kyrgyz Republic includes by 11 state reserves (604.3ha), 9 state natural parks (302.9ha), 10 forests, 23 botanical, 19 geological, 2 and 14 complex hunting (zoolog- ical) reserves with a total area of 301,400ha. Today according data of SAEPF the total area of all catego- ries of specially protected natural areas to date is 1,200,872.0ha or 6.006 per cent of the country’s area. Since submission of the fourth report two state reserves were organized: Surmatash State Reserve (2009) and Dashman State Reserve (2012), as well as the State Natural National Park “Sarkent” (2009). • Annually the country’s forestries plant forests on areas up to 3,000ha. • The first national forest inventory of the Kyrgyz Republic for 2008- 2010 was made and a database was created. The results of the inven- tory was approved by the Decree of the Government as of July 26, 2011 and a brochure “Integrated Assessment of Natural Resources for 2008–2010” was published. It contains statistical data analysis and evaluation of tree and shrub resources of Kyrgyzstan. • Since 2005, sustainable develop- ment principles have been integrat- ed into the education system of the Kyrgyz Republic in the framework of the Concept of transition of the Kyrgyz Republic to Sustainable Development until 2010. • The legal framework for the protec- tion of biodiversity is enhanced. Yaks in Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan K yrgyzstan is situated at the centre of Eurasia and covers an area of almost 200,000 km 2 . The country borders Kazakhstan, China, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. Kyrgyzstan is surrounded by the arid and extra arid plains of Central Asia, whose environment is influenced by desert that stretches from the Sahara to the Gobi. The distance from the nearest ocean (about 3,000 km) determines the general aridity and continentality of the climate. Thomas Depenbusch on flickr