LocationsCentral Asian countries sign Regional Declaration on biodiversity conservation at the Regional Environmental Summit (RES)
April 22, 2026
At the Regional Environmental Summit (RES) in Astana, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kazakhstan and the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership, convened a high-level plenary session titled “Central Asia Initiative – Harmony with Nature for Sustainable Development of the Region.”
The session brought together representatives of the governments of Central Asian countries - Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, as well as international organizations and development partners to launch a regional initiative aimed at strengthening cooperation on biodiversity conservation and advancing coordinated action.
A key outcome of the session was the signing of the Regional Cooperation Declaration, reaffirming the commitment of Central Asian countries to strengthen regional collaboration on biodiversity conservation and its sustainable use.
The Declaration envisages the development of an Umbrella Programme and Action Plan, as well as a regional resource mobilization plan. These steps aim to support the implementation of commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and other multilateral environmental agreements. The Declaration and its implementation documents will be presented at the seventeenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17) in Armenia.
The event brought together representatives of UN agencies and international organizations, including Haoliang Xu, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Associate Administrator of UNDP, and Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Participants reaffirmed their readiness to support Central Asian countries in advancing a shared regional environmental agenda.
The adoption of the Regional Declaration aligns with Kazakhstan’s national priorities in biodiversity conservation. In 2025, the country adopted its Biodiversity Conservation Concept and Action Plan for 2026–2035, reflecting a sustained commitment to integrating environmental priorities into national development and strengthening international cooperation.
Yerlan Nyssanbayev, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan, stated:
«A key outcome of the session was the signing of the Regional Cooperation Declaration, reaffirming the commitment of Central Asian countries to strengthen regional collaboration on biodiversity conservation and the sustainable use of natural resources».
United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Associate Administrator of UNDP Haoliang Xu noted:
“The world is facing a triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. These challenges require stronger partnerships and a shift towards integrated solutions, where natural capital is recognized as a foundation of sustainable development. In this context, Central Asia has significant potential to advance systemic solutions. UNDP supports countries in the region in developing such approaches and scaling up investments in ecosystem resilience”.
Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Astrid Schomaker, noted that strengthening regional cooperation is a key condition for accelerating progress towards the goals of the Convention:
“Sustainable development as a shared policy priority requires cooperation across borders and across environmental challenges. The implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) both strengthens and benefits from regional cooperation. All countries in Central Asia have demonstrated their commitment to halting and reversing biodiversity loss by translating the KMGBF’s global goals and targets into nationally determined priorities. Through regional collaboration and accelerated implementation, Central Asia can advance the objectives of the Convention, ensure its voice is heard at the negotiating table and fulfill the vision of living in harmony with nature”, she added.
In this context, the Regional Declaration strengthens the foundation for translating global commitments into coordinated regional action and enhances coordination among countries.
Katherine Madden, Global Coordinator of the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership, emphasized:
«For Central Asia, this initiative marks an important step towards more structured regional cooperation. It helps align national priorities with international commitments and creates a shared framework for action and partnerships to support the implementation of national biodiversity strategies».
The session also highlighted priority areas for further cooperation, including strengthening transboundary collaboration, enhancing synergies across climate, biodiversity and land agendas, and expanding technical and financial support. International partners confirmed their readiness to support countries in implementing agreed actions.
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