The document discusses lowered biodiversity in Central Asia. Species diversity and abundance in Central Asia's flora and fauna directly depend on environmental conditions. Decades of overexploitation have exceeded nature's reproductive capabilities, degrading ecosystems and significantly reducing species composition in some cases irreversibly. The number of endangered animal and plant species is growing due to issues like habitat destruction, overexploitation, pollution, and introduction of invasive species. Currently protected natural areas make up only about 2.8% of the region, but international standards recommend 10% to ensure biodiversity conservation. Despite country measures, biodiversity loss continues in Central Asia.

1. Lowered Biodiversity in Central Asia
Marsel Nurbolotov
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11/01/2021

2. CRUCIAL PROBLEMS OF BIODIVERSITY IN CENTRAL ASIA
 The species diversity of flora and fauna of the countries of
Central Asia and their abundance are directly dependent on
the state of the environment.
 The active exploitation of biological objects for several decades
has already exceeded the reproductive capabilities of nature,
which has led to the degradation of the ecosystem and a
significant reduction in the species composition. In some
cases, these processes have become irreversible.
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Key Ecosystem Communities 2019
Source: The Regional Environmental
Centre for Central Asia (CAREC)

3. CENTRAL ASIA AS A LARGELY ARID REGION
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Source: World Development Indicators,
data for 2010
Region consisting mainly of steppes, deserts
and mountains
Rural population of Central Asia
%, total cover, 2010

4. ISSUES OF ENDANGERED SPECIES AND LAND AREAS
 The number of endangered species of animals and
plants is growing. The uncontrolled procurement of
medicinal and food raw materials has greatly reduced
the stocks of such plant species as licorice,
elecampane, ephedra and others.
 The impoverishment of rural residents and the increase
in the number of refugees are forcing them to cut down
desert (saxaul) and floodplain forests (tugai) for fuel.
Only in the floodplain of the Amu Darya river their area
decreased from 150 thousand hectares (in 1928) to
22-23 thousand hectares (in 1993)
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Water quality: Amu Darya River in Central Asia
Source: Latest National State of the
Environment reports and statistics (2010-2014)

5. THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ASIA
Loss of biodiversity in the region continues,
mainly due to:
• habitat destruction
• over-exploitation of agricultural resources,
environmental pollution (mining and energy
development)
• unregulated introduction of alien plants and animals
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Relative importance of impacts on ecosystems and
trends 2019
Source: The latest UNECE environmental
performance reviews and expert interviews. This
table was distributed at the Istanbul regional
workshop on biodiversity (17-20 October 2011,
Turkey)

6. NATURAL AREAS OF CENTRAL ASIA
 Currently, there are 34 state reserves and 10 state national
parks with a total area of 6.3 million hectares on the territory of
the countries of Central Asia. In general, about 2.8% of the
territory of these countries is classified as specially protected
natural areas with various protection regimes.
 In accordance with international recommendations, the share of
intact natural landscapes required to ensure sustainable
conservation of biodiversity and support vital ecological
processes should be about 10% of the entire territory of the
country.
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Source: FAOSTAT (faostat.fao.org), data
for 2010

7. BIODIVERSITY LOSS PROCESS
Despite the measures taken by the Governments of the Central
Asian countries to preserve biological diversity, the process of its
loss continues.
• 221 species of animals and 287 higher plants are included in the
Red Book of Kazakhstan;
• Kyrgyzstan, on whose territory about 1% of the world's
biodiversity lives, respectively, 68 and 65 species of animals and
plants were introduced;
• Tajikistan: 162 and 222 species;
• Uzbekistan: 161 species and Turkmenistan 152 and 109 species
that are also included in the CITES and Red lists IUCN Book.
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Snow leopard
It is listed as Vulnerable on the
IUCN Red List because the
global population is to decline
about 10% by 2040
Saiga antelope
Critically endangered antelope
which during antiquity
inhabited a vast area of the
Eurasian steppe spanning the
foothills of the Carpathian
Mountains
Source: The Regional Environmental
Centre for Central Asia (CAREC)

8. METHODS FOR SOLVING ISSUE
Identify territories and biodiversity objects in the CA region that are subject to protection,
develop and implement common strategies.
Develop eco-networks of specially protected natural areas;
Organize resource and ecological monitoring of forests and protected areas;
Develop ecotourism and traditional crafts that contribute to the protection of biodiversity.
Contribute to the implementation of the Asia-Pacific Strategy for the Conservation of
Migratory Species and the Pan-European Strategy for the Conservation of Biological and
Landscape Diversity.
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Identification
Development
Conservation

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