IUCN in Central Asia

Central Asia is a region of exceptional ecological value, home to alpine meadows, vast steppes, deserts, and unique riparian forests that support rare and iconic species. These fragile ecosystems face mounting pressures from land degradation, water scarcity, and climate change, threatening both biodiversity and communities that rely on it. To support countries achieve their ambitious national conservation targets, while contributing to the global ones, IUCN opened a Central Asia Office in Tashkent in 2025. It will serve as a regional coordination and knowledge hub and promote science-based tools and global conservation and sustainability standards.

Central Asia is home to an extraordinary range of ecosystems, from alpine meadows and glacial lakes in the Tien Shan and Pamir Mountains, to vast steppe grasslands, semi-arid deserts like the Kyzylkum and Karakum, and unique riparian forests known as tugai along major river systems such as the Amu Darya and Syr Darya. This diversity supports a high level of biodiversity, including a number of globally threatened and endemic species. Iconic wildlife such as the Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia), Saiga Antelope (Saiga tatarica), Bukhara Deer (Cervus elaphus bactrianus), and Asiatic Wild Ass (Equus hemionus) roam these landscapes, alongside rich floral communities including wild tulips, many of which are native to the region and form part of Central Asia’s genetic plant heritage.

Key biodiversity hotspots include the Tien Shan and Pamir Mountain ranges, the Ustyurt Plateau, the Ili-Balkhash system, and the remaining wetlands of the Aral Sea basin. These areas are vital not only for species survival but also for the ecosystem services they provide, such as water and climate regulation, and soil, which support the livelihoods of millions. However, these ecosystems are increasingly threatened by land degradation, desertification, unsustainable land use, water scarcity, infrastructure development, and the intensifying impacts of climate change. Conservation efforts in Central Asia are therefore crucial for both biodiversity protection and the long-term resilience of communities.

IUCN’s presence in Central Asia marks a deepened commitment to advancing nature conservation, regional cooperation, and sustainable development across the region. By aligning regional action with the Global Biodiversity Framework and the Sustainable Development Goals, IUCN positions itself as a long-term partner supporting Central Asian countries in delivering their national conservation commitments and contributing to global efforts to halt and reverse biodiversity loss. With a strong network of engaged Members and expert Commissions, IUCN offers not only technical support but also convening power, bringing together governments, civil society, and the scientific community to co-create solutions for complex environmental challenges.

The newly established Central Asia Office in Tashkent aims to serve as a strategic coordination and knowledge hub, designed to connect national and regional stakeholders with IUCN’s global expertise, science-based tools, and globally recognised standards. The team will bring to the region its full suite of knowledge products, including the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™, the IUCN Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas, and the IUCN Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions™, that can help governments, practitioners, and partners set priorities, measure progress, and ensure the effectiveness of conservation and climate mitigation actions.

Mark Pestov

One Health in Nature Conservation in Central Asia

Changes in ecosystems, climate, and human activities are creating new opportunities for zoonotic diseases. In Central Asia, the risk of zoonotic diseases is heightened by biodiversity loss and shifts in human-wildlife interactions. The One Health project seeks to enhance the prevention of zoonotic diseases in Central Asia by strengthening conservation measures in natural and sociocultural overlapping areas. Central to the project is the One Health approach, which integrates human, animal, and environmental health, recognising their interconnectedness. The project focuses on area-based conservation, wildlife species management for conservation and disease risk mitigation, and better integration of human and environmental health through good governance and equity in Protected and Conserved Areas and other effective area-based conservation measures. Overall, the aim is to advance research, inform national policies, enhance disease prevention and raise awareness of the One Health approach. More

Duration: 2024 – 2029 | Budget: EUR 11 mln | Led by: IUCN | Funded by: German Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety, and Consumer Protection (BMUV) International Climate Initiative (IKI)

Gargonia

Food Systems, Land Use and Restoration in Uzbekistan

The Food Systems, Land Use and Restoration (FOLUR) is a global initiative funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to promote sustainable integrated landscapes and efficient food value chains. In Uzbekistan, the FOLUR Project is led by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Uzbekistan with the support of IUCN and the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA). The project aims to shift land use practices from degradation to sustainability, generating multiple environmental, economic and social benefits. It seeks to sequester 1 million tonnes of CO₂, restore 50,000 hectares of degraded ecosystems, place 50,000 hectares under improved biodiversity management, and improve land management practices on 300,000 hectares in wheat-dominated landscapes. IUCN’s contribution focuses on the restoration of high nature value habitats and the application of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) through Public-Private-Producer Partnerships (4Ps). More

Duration: 2024 – 2026 | Budget (IUCN): USD 541,500 | Led by: FAO Uzbekistan | Funded by: GEF

Chris Magin

Dryland Sustainable Landscape Impact Program – Global Coordination Project

The Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) Target Setting Program is a global initiative funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF-7) to promote sustainable dryland management and achieve LDN in selected countries. The Dryland Sustainable Landscape Impact Program (DSL-IP) operates through 11 child projects in 11 countries, coordinated under the Global Coordination Project (GCP) led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). IUCN supports the implementation and delivery of the FAO-led GCP and plays a key role in promoting policy dialogue and scaling up restoration efforts in key regions. IUCN also serves as the Implementing Agency for three country-level child projects, including Kenya, Burkina Faso and Kazakhstan. In Kazakhstan, the focus is on sustainable pasture management and grazing with trees. This initiative focuses on restoring degraded steppe and grassland ecosystems through improved pasture management practices that incorporate tree planting and agro-sylvo-pastoral approaches. The project aims to combat overgrazing and enhance the productivity and resilience of rural livelihoods in dryland areas. More

Duration: 2021- 2026 | Budget (IUCN): CHF 1,61 mln | Led by: FAO | Funded by: Global Environment Facility (GEF)

Nowak Lukasz

Blue Peace Central Asia 2.0

Central Asia grapples with substantial water management issues, intensified by climate change, population growth, rising water demand, and transboundary tensions over shared resources like the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers. Blue Peace Central Asia 2.0 is a regional initiative supporting transboundary water cooperation between Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Building on the achievements of Blue Peace Central Asia 1.0 (2017–2022), the second phase aims to enhance collaboration and effective management of shared water resources. It promotes hydro-diplomacy through results-based dialogue, provides technical support and basin investment planning at the tributary level, and strengthens education and youth engagement across local, national and regional levels. The initiative is led by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) with IUCN and CAREC as consortium partners. More

Duration: 2024 - 2029 | Budget: CHF 8,1 mln | Led by: IWMI | Supported by: Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)

Camp Alatoo

IUCN Save Our Species Central Asia Initiative

Through targeted conservation actions, the Save Our Species (SOS) Central Asia Initiative has contributed to the implementation of the Central Asian Mammals Initiative (CAMI) under the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS). The initiative focused on supporting conservation efforts for the Goitered Gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa) and the Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia), both listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™. Seven projects were implemented by local and international CSOs, delivering improved data, direct habitat interventions, capacity building, awareness raising and stakeholder engagement, particularly at the community level to promote conservation incentives and alternative livelihoods. More

Duration: 2018 – 2022 | Budget: CHF 749,042 | Led by: IUCN | Supported by: Private foundation Netherlands

Elena Osipova

Enhancing cooperation for conservation impact in the Western Tien-Shan

The project Enhancing Cooperation for Conservation Impact in the Western Tien-Shan aims to strengthen conservation efforts and transboundary management of the Western Tien-Shan World Heritage site across Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. By developing a framework for transboundary cooperation, the project supports harmonised management approaches among protected area managers, government authorities, and civil society organisations. It enhances monitoring, reporting, and management capacity in nine protected areas, aligning efforts with World Heritage Committee recommendations while responding to regional conservation needs. More

Duration: 2022 – 2024 | Budget: EUR 125,200 | Led by: IUCN | Supported by: German Federal Environment Ministry’s Advisory Assistance Programme (AAP)

Albert Salemgareyev /ACBK

IUCN Tech4Nature – Western Tien-Shan Green List

The IUCN Tech4Nature project helped improve the overall management of the Western Tien-Shan World Heritage serial site by establishing transboundary cooperation between its seven protected areas, and building their capacity for effective and harmonised monitoring, reporting, and implementation of conservation measures. The project provided training on the IUCN Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas to strengthen management effectiveness. It promoted the Western Tien-Shan as a flagship for joint monitoring efforts. Two Central Asian case studies were also featured in the Solutions in Focus: Tech4Nature publication, showcasing innovative uses of camera traps in Turkmenistan and monitoring data for saiga conservation in Kazakhstan. More

Duration: 2021 – 2023 | Budget: USD 60,480 | Led by: IUCN | Supported by: Huawei

Stephanie Gentle

Central Asia Nexus Dialogue: Fostering Water, Energy and Food Security Nexus Dialogue and Multi-Sector Investment

The project sought to help Central Asian countries develop a common understanding and approach to managing resources sustainably by viewing challenges from different sector perspectives and identifying trade-offs. It facilitated multi-sectoral dialogues and supported cooperation among the Central Asian countries, and developed and supported the implementation of small-scale Nexus pilot demonstration projects. Produced numerous publications, including case studies, a capacity needs assessment, an institutional analysis, and a Nexus Roadmap for Central Asia, to support multi-sectoral planning and decision-making. The project was implemented in partnership with the Executive Committee of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (EC IFAS). More

Duration: 2016 – 2019 | Budget: EUR 1,3 mln | Led by: CAREC | Supported by: European Union

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network, bringing together over 1,400 member organisations and more than 17,000 experts globally. In Central Asia, IUCN’s activities are led by the team in the IUCN Central Asia Office hosted in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, under the coordination of the IUCN Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (ECARO) in Belgrade, Serbia.

In Central Asia, IUCN works closely with over seven Members across Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, including two State Members. Uzbekistan joined IUCN as a State Member in 2021, marking the beginning of a strengthened partnership focused on advancing nature conservation and sustainability. This close cooperation with the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change led to the signing of a Host Country Agreement, which formalised the establishment of an IUCN office in Tashkent and laid the foundation for the operational launch of its activities in 2025.

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IUCN in Central Asia

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