Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan joins IUCN

“ACBK views its IUCN membership as a vital step towards connecting national conservation efforts with the global environmental agenda,” said Vera Voronova, Executive Director of the Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan. “Through IUCN, we hope to strengthen our technical capacity, contribute to global conservation policy, and build new partnerships for the protection of Central Asian biodiversity.”

Jose Fontes

Advancing biodiversity conservation and recovery in Kazakhstan

ACBK is one of Kazakhstan’s leading civil society organisations for biodiversity conservation. Over the years, it has contributed to major conservation achievements across the country’s steppe and semi-desert ecosystems. Its work has supported national monitoring of saiga antelope, including through aerial surveys, scientific analysis and long-term satellite telemetry research. These efforts provide valuable data on migration routes and help assess potential impacts from infrastructure development.

ACBK also leads important species reintroduction efforts, including for kulan, or Asiatic wild ass, and Kertagy, or Przewalski’s horse. A dedicated reintroduction centre for wild ungulates, established in 2017, supports these programmes and contributes to the recovery of native species and ecological processes.

Connecting science, policy and people

ACBK’s work demonstrates the importance of practical conservation partnerships. Together with national authorities, the organisation has supported measures to improve wildlife connectivity, including the modification of sections of border fencing between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to restore safer migration routes for saiga antelope and goitered gazelle. It also works with law enforcement agencies to combat wildlife trafficking, including through specialist training and support for CITES implementation.

The organisation has also supported research and feasibility studies for the establishment and expansion of protected areas in Kazakhstan. In 2025, ACBK prepared a policy review and recommendations for applying the IUCN approach to Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs) at the national level.

Public engagement and education remain central to ACBK’s mission. The organisation launched the online magazine Tabigat Media, publishes bilingual educational materials on Kazakhstan’s steppe wildlife, and works with young conservationists through its Students for Nature programme, which now engages students from nine universities.

Strengthening regional conservation cooperation

ACBK

Looking ahead, ACBK’s 2026–2030 strategy focuses on a landscape-based approach to biodiversity conservation, built around four pillars: Species, Sites, People and Processes. The strategy prioritises the recovery of key species, including the Steppe Eagle, Sociable Lapwing, saiga, kulan and Przewalski’s horse, while supporting the further development of Kazakhstan’s protected area network and the implementation of OECMs.

By joining IUCN, ACBK will be able to engage more closely with the Union’s global knowledge network, contribute to conservation policy discussions and strengthen regional collaboration across Central Asia. Its membership opens new opportunities to connect Kazakhstan’s conservation leadership with international expertise and further elevate the role of civil society in safeguarding the region’s unique biodiversity.

For more information, visit ACBK’s website.
To learn who can become an IUCN Member and how, please visit this page.