ОФ «САМР Алатоо» отмечен наградами Министерства природных ресурсов, экологии и технического надзора КР

CAMP Alatoo PF Recognized with State Awards by the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Kyrgyz Republic

At a ceremonial event marking World Environment Day and Ecologist’s Day in Kyrgyzstan, representatives of the CAMP Alatoo PF were honored with state awards for their contributions to nature conservation and sustainable development.

The Foundation’s Director, Murat Zhumashev, received the Medal for Cooperation from the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision of the Kyrgyz Republic, in recognition of effective partnership and collaboration in the implementation of environmental initiatives.
Salamat Dzumabaeva, manager of the “Sustainable Water Resources Management” program, was awarded an Honorary Certificate for her professionalism and long-term work in environmental protection.
In addition, Azamat Usupbekov, specialist of the “Wildlife Conservation” program, was granted an Honorary Certificate from the Ministry’s Biodiversity Conservation Department.
All awards were presented by the Minister of Natural Resources, Meder Mashiev.

The global theme for World Environment Day 2025 is “Beat Plastic Pollution”, and during the ceremony, special attention was given to this pressing issue. Plastic waste remains one of the most urgent environmental challenges in Kyrgyzstan. The growing volume of unmanaged waste, especially in sensitive ecosystems such as Lake Issyk-Kul, poses serious threats to biodiversity, public health, and sustainable agriculture.

Microplastics have been detected in soil, water, and food chains, including freshwater and lake fish, drinking water sources, and agricultural produce — raising concerns about long-term impacts on both ecosystems and human well-being.

According to FAO data, in 2019, around 12.5 million tons of plastic products were used globally in crop and livestock production, and an additional 40 million tons were used in packaging. Demand for agricultural plastic products, such as greenhouse mesh and films, has increased by more than 3 million tons over the past 10 years. These global trends also affect Kyrgyzstan, where plastic pollution linked to agriculture and packaging continues to grow.

In response to these challenges, Kyrgyzstan became the first country in Central Asia to adopt legal restrictions on the use of single-use plastic items. Initially, these restrictions were introduced in specially protected natural and biosphere areas, and by 2027, a full national ban will come into force on the use and distribution of single-use plastic utensils and polymer bags.

The recognition of CAMP Alatoo’s work at the state level is an important milestone that confirms the value of civil society’s efforts in nature conservation and sustainable resource management in Kyrgyzstan.