The Regional Dialogue: Transboundary Conservation in Central Asia

This Regional Dialogue is organised by the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) with support from the World Bank and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, in hybrid format 28 – 29 November 2023. The on-site participation is by invitation only and will take place in Panarams Tashkent Hotel, Uzbekistan.

The event agenda is available in English and Russian.

To follow the event remotely via Zoom, please register here.

The speakers and panelists will discuss the state of regional cooperation in the fields of biodiversity and protected areas, learn about global aspects and good practices related to Transboundary Conservation, and explore the theme of Peace Parks and biodiversity. Through panel discussions and round-tables, we will bring together government officials, experts, the donor community, and CSOs to discuss the mechanisms already in place and opportunities for Transboundary Conservation in Central Asia. On the second day, the panelists and presenters will discuss the role of Nature-based Tourism, protected areas and local communities in conservation. This knowledge-sharing dialogue will be followed by Training on Transboundary Conservation for national and local authorities, protected area managers, and conservation practitioners (in-person participation only).

Expected outcomes of the Regional Dialogue on Transboundary Conservation:

• Identified priorities for the initiated and/or potential Transboundary Conservation in Central Asia as ways to harness the ecological and economic benefits across shared transboundary corridors;
• Reflection on the current and past Transboundary Conservation initiatives in Central Asia;
• Discussion on the policies that would enable and stimulate Transboundary Cooperation and improve landscapes’ management, restoration, and resilience, also by capitalising on Nature-based Tourism development; and
• Raised understanding and operational knowledge of relevant stakeholders on Transboundary Cooperation and Nature-based Tourism.

This event is organised as a part of the World Bank's flagship Central Asia Regional Landscape Restoration Program RESILAND CA+, which seeks to reverse land degradation and increase climate resilience in Central Asia. One way to achieve this overarching goal is to facilitate Transboundary Conservation and Nature-based Tourism across Central Asia, resulting in harmonised approaches and harnessed environmental and economic benefits across shared transboundary corridors. The dialogue is also supported by three GIZ Regional Programmes, namely “Integrative and Climate-Sensitive Land Use in Central Asia (ILUCA)”, “Ecologically Oriented Regional Development in the Aral Sea Region” and "Green Central Asia: Transboundary Dialogue on Environment, Climate and Security in Central Asia and Afghanistan", that cooperate closely to support and promote regional Transboundary Cooperation in protected areas.