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Implementation Period: 2026 - 2028
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Donor organization: UNDP, GEF Small Grants Programme
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Geographical location: Issyk-Kul and Naryn regions, as well as wetland and lake ecosystems across Kyrgyzstan
Rural communities and local residents in Kyrgyzstan play a vital role in protecting wildlife, pastures, forests, and lakes. However, many of them lack the resources, knowledge, and legal tools required to formalize their initiatives, conduct continuous ecological monitoring, secure grants, and protect these territories at the official level.
Project Background
The project aims to identify such communities, assist them in documenting their contribution to biodiversity conservation, and provide them with practical working tools.
The project focuses on the ICCA concept (Territories and Areas Conserved by Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities) and the OECM approach (Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures), which allow local initiatives to be recognized as part of national and global nature conservation systems.
Project Objectives & Goals
To create conditions for the active and effective participation of local communities in biodiversity conservation through training, resource mobilization, and the recognition of ICCA territories at both national and international levels.
Key Focus Areas and Tasks:
- Gathering information on traditional nature conservation practices and wetland areas to create a unified database.
- Conducting practical workshops in the Issyk-Kul and Naryn regions on biodiversity monitoring, territorial resilience assessment, and project management, with a special focus on empowering women and youth.
- Providing consultations and guidance to communities in preparing project proposals to secure small grants.
- Training residents in accessible promotional tools (social media management, photography, videography, and crafting success stories), alongside producing a final documentary film.
- Assisting local communities in registering their conserved areas in global registries (Global ICCA Registry, Protected Planet, and Mapeo for ICCAs).
- Establishing a unified digital community on Telegram for knowledge sharing and peer-to-peer support among communities across different regions of the country.
Project Result
- Capacity building and enhanced knowledge for at least 30 local community representatives and activists.
- Preparation and submission of grant proposals for nature conservation by at least 6 communities.
- Official registration of conserved territories in international ICCA databases by at least 3 communities.
- Establishment of a functional knowledge-sharing platform (Telegram group) and a unified database for eco-activists in Kyrgyzstan.
- Production of a set of methodological materials, a photo archive, and a 10–12 minute documentary film highlighting the contribution of local residents to biodiversity conservation.
