On July 31, 2024, a seminar was held with the participation of environmental and tourism NGOs within the framework of the UNDP- the branch of the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) in Kyrgyz Republic project “Feasibility study of an effective system of financial self-sufficiency of protected areas”.
The seminar was attended by environmental, tourism and scientific NGOs that work in the areas of biodiversity conservation, eco-tourism, monitoring of wild animals and birds, and capacity building for specialists in protected areas.
The topics of discussion were:
· Activities of the CAREC branch in the framework of cooperation with NGOs and government partners and regional events;
· Presentation of the pre-final results of the project “Feasibility study of an effective system of financial self-sufficiency of protected areas (PAs)” implemented by the CAREC with financial support from UNDP;
· Problems and solutions to eco-tourism in specially protected natural areas (National parks and reserves);
· Discussion of financial mechanisms for obtaining extra-budgetary income, developed within the framework of the above project by experts from the CAREC branch;
· Development of recommendations for the Implementation Plan of financial mechanisms for obtaining extra-budgetary income.
The seminar was addressed by Azamat Kenzhebaev, Director of the Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Specially Protected Natural Areas of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision of the Kyrgyz Republic, who thanked non-governmental organizations for implementing projects to preserve biodiversity and increase the capacity of rangers of protected areas. He also especially noted the CAREC branch, within the framework of the concluded Memorandum of Cooperation (dated 2023), actively helps in improving the regulatory framework for the conservation of biodiversity and protected areas, preparing and promoting project proposals for the conservation of ecosystems of reserves.
The seminar was held in a lively format with numerous discussions and many recommendations were received from the participants; there was also criticism of protected areas that do not sufficiently control visitors and tourists and do not create conditions for the development of tourism.
Based on the results of the seminar, the following recommendations and proposals were received:
· CAREC branch in Kyrgyz Republic will share with the seminar participants the Management Plan for the implementation of new mechanisms for financing protected areas for studying and developing additional proposals;
· The Department of Environmental Protection and Protected Areas and the CAREC branch in Kyrgyz Republic hold such meetings with NGOs on an annual basis to discuss problems and develop solutions;
· The Department of Natural Resources and Protected Natural Areas should conclude memorandums with NGOs that work in the territory of protected natural areas;
· The CAREC branch in Kyrgyz Republic will develop in more detail the financing mechanism “Crowdfunding and biodiversity conservation certificates” with the study of foreign experience.
This seminar was part of the annual Work Plan of the CAREC branch in Kyrgyz Republic for 2024 to develop cooperation with environmental NGOs.