Preparatory meeting for the Regional Environmental Summit of Central Asian Countries (RES-2026) held in Almaty

March 3, 2026

From 25 to 27 February 2026, a preparatory meeting for the Regional Environmental Summit of Central Asian Countries (RES-2026) was held in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The meeting was organized by the Forestry and Wildlife Committee of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The meeting was opened by Mr. Daniyar Turgambayev, Chair of the Forestry and Wildlife Committee of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan. In his welcoming remarks, he underscored the importance of consolidating the efforts of Central Asian countries in biodiversity conservation, the restoration of forest ecosystems, and the addressing of transboundary environmental challenges.

Photo: speaker at wooden podium beside projection screen in bright conference room.

Photo of a man in a suit speaking at a wooden stump podium in a bright conference room.

Boardroom meeting with attendees around a long table; presenter at the front by a projector screen.

Photo: UNDP Kazakhstan

The event brought together representatives of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan, the Republic of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, as well as international organizations and development partners, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and representatives of the secretariats of international conventions.

During the meeting, participants discussed the development and alignment of two complementary regional initiatives Green Shield and Harmony with Nature for Sustainable Development of the Region which are planned to be presented and endorsed at RES-2026, followed by the adoption of a declaration and a resolution.

Particular attention was given to transboundary biodiversity conservation; restoration of forest and forest-covered ecosystems, including mountain forests, saxaul forests, and tugai forests; combating land degradation and desertification; and establishing a coordinated system for mobilizing financial resources.

Participants emphasized that Central Asia possesses natural capital of global significance, including the ecosystems of the Tien Shan and Pamir-Alai mountain systems, as well as steppes, deserts, and wetlands that are home to the snow leopard, saiga antelope, kulan, argali, and other rare species. At the same time, the region faces escalating climate and environmental challenges that directly affect food and water security, public health, and infrastructure resilience.

As a result of the meeting, the parties agreed to further refine the draft documents and clarify the results framework, coordination mechanisms, and financial architecture to present implementation-ready solutions at RES-2026.

The Almaty meeting marked an important milestone in shaping a consolidated position of Central Asian countries on biodiversity conservation, forest restoration, and nature-based solutions as a foundation for regional resilience.

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