ОФ «САМР Алатоо» представил опыт Кыргызстана по управлению пастбищами на СОP 17 в Монголии

CAMP Alatoo PF Presented Kyrgyzstan’s Rangeland Management Experience at UNCCD COP17 in Mongolia

Today, the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP17) concludes in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. This year, the major international event launched on August 17 and focused on land restoration, drought resilience, and sustaining rangeland ecosystems as part of the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP 2026). Throughout the summit, delegates from across the world sought to balance modern technologies with traditional community knowledge.

This global agenda directly aligns with the mission of “CAMP Alatoo” PF. Under its "Sustainable Land Management" thematic direction, the organization introduces and adapts various approaches — from soil cover restoration to capacity building for pasture users.

Maksat Miinazarov, Project Coordinator for Sustainable Land Management at “CAMP Alatoo” PF, took part in the work of COP17. His focus was on sharing practical experience in sustainable land use, which he presented across two key platforms of the Conference.

At the round table event titled "One Steppe Forward: Regional Dialogue on Land Restoration and Resilience in Northern and Central Asia," organized on August 24 by the Nature and People Foundation, the main emphasis was placed on identifying practical solutions to combat land degradation, restore soils, and strengthen regional dialogue.

Speaking at the event, Maksat Miinazarov emphasized that for Kyrgyzstan, land degradation is directly linked to livestock farming, rural livelihoods, and food security. He noted that following the adoption of the Law "On Pastures" in 2009, Kyrgyzstan accumulated extensive experience in decentralizing pasture management to local communities and actively shared this practice with neighboring countries. Addressing modern challenges, the expert highlighted the importance of integrating precise data and digital technologies: "Today, we use field monitoring, GIS, and remote sensing, and are working on the 'e-Jayit' electronic system, which aggregates data on pasture condition and use to support local decision-making."

The speaker also raised the issue of land restoration and the shortage of quality grass seeds, urging the region to develop its own seed production. He stressed that due to shared ecosystems and water resources, Central Asian countries cannot adapt to climate change in isolation. To facilitate joint efforts, experience sharing, and digital integration, “CAMP Alatoo” PF, together with partners from Kazakhstan, established the GREEN CA regional platform.

On August 26, during the panel session "Sustainable Rangeland Management and the Future of Pastoralism," Maksat Miinazarov noted in his address that rangelands account for 85 percent of the country’s agricultural land, and the key outcome of the 2009 reform was the transfer of management rights directly to local communities. According to the expert, in practice, this delegation of authority triggered a crucial progression: "involvement → a sense of belonging → ownership → responsibility." Sustainable management cannot rely solely on top-down control; it works when users themselves feel personal responsibility for the resource, he stated.

"For many rural families, livestock is the primary means of savings. Therefore, overgrazing is not merely an environmental issue, but a complex socio-economic challenge," stressed Maksat Miinazarov. To address this, pasture policy must be integrated with rural economic development, job creation, and income diversification. In conclusion, the expert summarized that the future of pastures is not only about pastures themselves, but about people, local governance, the economy, technology, and the resilience of the entire mountain landscape.

The key takeaway from “CAMP Alatoo” PF participation in COP17 was the Foundation's direct articulation of a regional challenge: overgrazing has long evolved beyond a pure ecology issue into a deep social and economic challenge that cannot be resolved without rural economic growth and new jobs. At the same time, the Foundation offered neighboring Central Asian countries the GREEN CA platform as a practical space for exchanging experience, finding partners, and developing joint projects.

Photost: UNCCD COP17 (unccdcop17.org), Nature and People Foundation (naturepeople.ru)