Как защитить источники существования, сохраняя природный баланс?

How to Protect Livelihoods While Preserving the Natural Balance?

This question became the focus of a podcast featuring Murat Zhumashev, Director of the САМР Alatoo PF, and nature conservation specialists from Tajikistan. The discussion took place on the sidelines of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Congress, held in October this year in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Experts discussed the role of communities in nature conservation and ecosystem health within the framework of the One Health project, which aims to ensure a safe environment for people, animals, and nature.

Livestock farming remains the primary source of income for nearly 80% of rural populations in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Daily care of livestock and grazing near wildlife habitats poses a risk of zoonotic diseases — such as rabies, tuberculosis, brucellosis, and plague — which negatively impact both the economy and public health.

According to Tazarf Shamirova from the Tajikistan Nature Conservation Foundation, rural residents are often unaware of infection risks but are usually the first to notice warning signs, such as sudden livestock deaths or disappearing birds. Their observations and knowledge can become an essential part of monitoring and prevention systems.

Murat Zhumashev, Director of CAMP Alatoo PF, emphasized that similar initiatives in Kyrgyzstan enable herders and rangers to actively participate in data collection:

"They can record symptoms of diseases, keep simple logs, and report cases to veterinary points. This makes the system more responsive and strengthens trust between communities and authorities."

The One Health project seeks to engage local communities in wildlife monitoring, ecosystem restoration, and sustainable use of natural resources. These actions help maintain natural barriers against infections, strengthen food security, and enhance ecosystem resilience.

Experience shows that integrating One Health principles into natural resource management policies not only protects biodiversity but also improves the lives of people whose well-being depends directly on nature.

Original article: IUCN

Photo: IUCN, CAMP Alatoo