The role, importance, and significance of sustainable development in mountain areas were discussed at a parallel session of the international conference "Global Mountain Dialogue for Sustainable Development / Towards the Bishkek+25 Summit" held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on 24 April 2025.
Session Topic: Advancing Regional Cooperation with Examples from European Countries, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Central Asia.
The session focused on strengthening regional collaboration for the sustainable development of mountain regions. The panelists prioritized exchanging experiences between countries and regions facing common challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, water scarcity, and the need to support sustainable livelihoods for mountain communities.
The session moderator Zafar Makhmudov, Executive Director of the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC), emphasized the importance of consolidating efforts to promote the "mountain agenda" at the global level.
Key presentations during the session included:
· Cooperation of Central Asian countries in the context of UN climate negotiations (COP UNFCCC) – Zafar Makhmudov, CAREC
· Italy’s experience under the Alpine Convention and bilateral initiatives – Claudio Barbaro, Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security of Italy
· Regional collaboration in the Himalayas – Kunzang, ICIMOD
· Science-policy dialogue in the Andes – Dr. Luis Daniel Llambi, Condesan
· Landscape restoration in Central Asia – Dilovarsho Dustzoda and Chinara Berbaeva, RESILAND CA+ program
"More than 50% of land is degraded in some areas of Central Asian countries. Climate threats exacerbate land degradation and, combined with water scarcity, affect food production—leading to income loss in rural communities," stated Dilovarsho Dustzoda, Manager of CAREC’s Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Program and RESILAND Project Manager, stressing the importance of regional cooperation for landscape restoration in Central Asia.
He noted that restored lands are the foundation for resilient ecosystems, providing sustainable livelihoods for local communities. This is the key objective of the RESILAND CA+ program in the Central Asian region.
Invited panelists included representatives from UNEP, UNFCCC, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, and the Government of Andorra. During the discussion, concrete initiatives were proposed for inclusion in the draft Bishkek+25 Declaration and the updated UN General Assembly resolution on sustainable mountain development.
"The session marked an important milestone in preparing for the Second Global Bishkek+25 Summit to be held in 2027, highlighting the key role of international cooperation in protecting fragile mountain ecosystems," emphasized CAREC Executive Director Zafar Makhmudov.
