‘A united region’: Central Asian nations meet to protect the Caspian Sea and biodiversity
Central Asian states came together last week to align on environmental issues ahead of international negotiations. The Regional Ecological Summit in Astana secured commitments on joint positions and solutions...
Central Asian states came together last week to align on environmental issues ahead of international negotiations.
The Regional Ecological Summit in Astana secured commitments on joint positions and solutions to a range of environmental challenges facing Central Asia.
The main outcome of the summit was the signing of a joint declaration on 'Environmental Solidarity of Central Asia', adopted by regional heads of state, said Kazakhstan’s Minister of Ecology, Yerlan Nyssanbayev.
The document commits Central Asian countries – Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan – to develop joint positions and solutions on environmental issues that could undermine the region’s stability.
One of the key milestones was regional leaders' endorsement of President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s proposal to establish an international water organisation backed by the United Nations. Initial consultations were launched on the sidelines of the summit.
Regional leaders also supported the President’s initiative to establish an international biodiversity fund, as well as a proposal to develop an interstate programme to protect the water resources of the Caspian Sea.
“Overall, the key priorities that were important to us were supported at the summit. I consider this to be the main outcome of the event,” Nyssanbayev added.
Financing for renewables and decarbonisation
Another key outcome of the summit was the signing of financial agreements with international institutions, according to Nyssanbayev.
The first days of the summit’s International Exhibition of Green Technologies also saw nearly €2 billion in financing agreements. The projects cover renewable energy, waste management, industrial decarbonisation, and fertiliser production in Kazakhstan.
The funding is part of cooperation between the European Commission, Kazakhstan, and financial institutions including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
One of the flagship projects is the construction of a one-gigawatt wind farm in Kazakhstan’s Zhambyl region.
'Countries are listening to one another and moving forward together'
The Regional Ecological Summit was first proposed by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the 78th UN General Assembly in 2023. In 2026, he brought together the heads of Central Asian states in Astana to align on a shared vision for pressing environmental challenges and to strengthen regional commitments to joint solutions.
According to minister Nyssanbayev, the region continues to face common challenges, including water scarcity, land degradation, desertification and biodiversity loss.
“The summit demonstrated to the international community that the region is united, that countries are listening to one another and moving forward together. It underscores Central Asian solidarity, with key areas of joint cooperation on environmental issues and climate change clearly defined,” he said.
Held in partnership with the United Nations, the first-of-its-kind regional dialogue platform brought together high-level representatives of the international community to help advance solutions to the region’s environmental challenges.
These included three Deputy Secretaries-General of the UN, senior representatives of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, as well as officials from the CITES and the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Nyssanbayev noted that the level of representation underlined the importance of the discussions and their relevance for Central Asia.
“We are leaving this summit with a clear commitment to continue working to improve environmental conditions, address climate challenges, and reduce CO₂ emissions and pollution,” he said.
Doubling down on efforts to restore key species
Tokayev’s initiative to create an international biodiversity fund comes as Kazakhstan advances efforts to restore key species vital to its ecosystem.
“The country managed to save and significantly increase the population of the saiga antelope, which fell from around 92,000 in the early 1990s to just 21,000 by 2003,” said Nyssanbayev.
Through sustained state measures, the population has now risen to around five million.
Other ongoing projects include the reintroduction of the Przewalski’s horse.
With 14 animals already brought in from Europe, a further 40 are expected by 2029, forming the basis of a long-term restoration programme.
Another ambitious initiative is the restoration of the Turanian tiger in its historical habitat. Two Amur tiger have already been introduced and are currently living in a designated reserve.
“With an initial population of six Amur tigers, we are launching a major programme to restore the Turanian tiger. In effect, this is an effort to bring back a species that has disappeared from the region,” said the minister.
The last tiger in Kazakhstan was recorded in 1948. Historically, these animals inhabited the floodplains of the Syr Darya and Amu Darya, but were eventually lost.
Rebuilding following devastating wildfires
The Minister of Ecology outlined progress on Kazakhstan’s programme to plant two billion trees, following the devastating wildfires in the northern regions in 2023, which killed 15 people and destroyed around 70,000 hectares of forest.
The target was set by President Tokayev in 2020.
“To date, we have already planted around 1.648 billion trees within the state forest fund. This work is ongoing, and we plan to complete the full target of two billion trees by the end of 2027,” said Nyssanbayev.
The ministry is also carrying out large-scale post-fire restoration. The priority is to clear burnt forest areas and replant new forests within the next three years.
At the same time, usable timber is being processed. Three processing plants have been built, and more than 100 teams are operating on the ground. By the end of the year, they plan to clear around 600 kilometres of affected forest areas.
Reforestation has already begun, with seedlings planted across more than 100 hectares.
Involving citizens in ecological restoration
Beyond the regional impact of the summit, Nyssanbayev also highlighted the growing ecological culture within the country.
Initially launched by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in 2024, the Taza Kazakhstan (Clean Kazakhstan) campaign – which includes tree planting in urban areas, as well as the cleaning of water bodies and surrounding territories – has grown into a nationwide movement.
“Significant work is also being done on environmental education in schools and universities, through specialised training programmes. Alongside this, practical seasonal work is carried out from early spring, including tree and flower planting, all of which is producing positive results,” he said.
Citizens, particularly young people, are actively participating in environmental activities, Nyssanbayev noted.
“We have also created a dedicated website, where we receive more than 30,000 citizen requests every year. Most of these relate to improving sanitary conditions, cleaning public spaces, and tree-planting initiatives.”
With ecological initiatives and joint solutions to Central Asia’s pressing challenges secured through the summit’s binding documents, Kazakhstan hopes the strengthened cooperation will deliver tangible results.
