Protected Areas and Biodiversity Conservation in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan

Abstract Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, two landlocked and mountainous republics of Central Asia, but also two very important biodiversity hotspots within the Tian Shan and the Pamirs. Both areas are important for global biodiversity because they are populated by a relatively high number of species, including many endemics and wild relatives of crop plants that are important for the future of global food security and the resilience of ecosystems, respectively. A thorough study has been made of the legacy of their protected area networks in combination with their general conservation strategies. A comparative analysis of the plans and strategies has been undertaken. The methodology for the research is mainly based on the usage of secondary data derived from relevant databases of known international repute, the various national conservation strategies and, most recently, various scientific reports published. The main findings are mainly directed towards the different trends found in both countries now: one, Tajikistan, has a relatively large area under protection amounting to about 25% of its total national territory with an emphasis on national parks Tajik National Park being one of the largest in the world and the major area of protection. The other, Kyrgyzstan, has a percentage of between 6 - 10% of its total area at this moment under protection, but has recently extended its efforts, (and is going to do so further) to include ecological corridors which have when carried through, will help to maintain the area under protection and extend it. Both countries have major environmental problems in common: the effects of climate change, over-grazing, fragmentation of habitat, etc. However, while the major emphasis in Tajikistan is placed on in situ protection, by means of the extensive areas now protected from human encroachment, Kyrgyzstan emphasizes other approaches with some success especially community-based conservation projects that encourage local participation. The recommendations from the study emphasize the necessity for effective transboundary joint approaches to the series of problems facing both areas: these are of a geographical nature and mainly environment related i.e. the effects of the melting of local glaciers and the ecosystems of the river basins which are so important e.g. to promote ecological resilience and new terrestrial ecosystems and thus fulfil the international biodiversity targets so much needed.