LocationsRestoring the White Bay with Community Support for Wetland Protection in the Kyrgyz Republic
June 25, 2025
Swans on the southern coast of Lake Issyk-Kul
On the southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul, a local community is breathing new life into one of the country’s most valuable and vulnerable wetland ecosystems. Ak-Bulun, translated from Kyrgyz as “White Bay” and is known for its dense reeds, salt marshes, and seabuckthorn thickets. Ak-Bulun has long been a sacred place for local people, and a critical stopover for thousands of migratory birds. The peninsula is home to more than 50 bird species, including swans, grebes, eagles, and the rare red-crested pochard.
More than 50 species of birds stay on Ak-Bulun
But like many wetlands across the globe, Ak-Bulun faced an escalating threat. Unregulated tourism, illegal hunting, and wildfires degraded the habitat. Birds were disappearing. Habitats were being lost. For Ermek Shabykeev, a resident of nearby Kara-Talaa village who spent his childhood on the shores of Ak-Bulun, the degradation was personal. Moved by the urgency to act, he brought together neighbors, elders, youth, and local authorities with a bold idea: to protect and restore Ak-Bulun through community-led action.
“I spent my childhood here,” recalls Ermek Shabykeev, a local resident. “My grandmother used to tell stories about the swans. For us, they were messengers of purity and peace. Seeing them disappear felt like losing a part of our soul.”
Birds during a stopover in Ak-Bulun
Determined to act, Ermek mobilized neighbors, elders, youth, and authorities, all together they formed the Ak-Bulun-Eco Public Foundation. With support from the GEF Small Grants Programme, implemented by UNDP, the initiative group turned into an eco movement. The project became part of national efforts to preserve biodiversity and strengthen resilience to climate change.
The community came together to formally establish Ak-Bulun as a micro-reserve. Volunteers, guided by ornithologists from the National Academy of Sciences, began seasonal bird monitoring and ecosystem assessments. An ecological trail was restored, turning the site into an open-air classroom for students and visitors. Observation platforms, educational signs, and fencing were added to reduce human disturbance. In parallel, the team engaged schools, trained young people, and hosted awareness campaigns to build a culture of stewardship across generations. Young people played a central role—learning, volunteering, guiding tourists, and leading awareness campaigns.
As one youth leader put it, “We are the wings of this bay now. We protect what gives us identity.”
The impact has been transformative. Migratory flocks have returned, with up to 20,000 birds now stopping in the bay during peak season. Poaching has nearly disappeared. The local economy is growing as guesthouses open and eco-tourism gains momentum.
“Poaching has declined dramatically. There is no space for guns and nets. The local economy is seeing new opportunities, as families open guesthouses and ecotourism gains momentum. Youth, once disconnected from environmental issues, are now volunteering, guiding tourists, and taking pride in their community’s role as protectors of biodiversity,” – shared his thought Ermek.
This initiative contributes directly to the implementation of Kyrgyzstan’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, and reflects the spirit of the Ramsar Convention—that wetlands are not wastelands, but essential ecosystems that sustain life and livelihoods. In a country increasingly exposed to the impacts of climate change, protecting wetlands like Ak-Bulun is also a vital investment in water security, disaster risk reduction, and long-term development.
The story of Ak-Bulun is now far beyond Issyk-Kul. Government ministries, research institutions, and conservation groups are taking notes. The project has created a platform for discussions on community-based protected areas across the country and contributes to the public narrative, shifting from one of extraction and neglect, to one of care, restoration, and pride.
Looking ahead, the community has ambitious plans to expand the protected zone, deepen scientific monitoring, and develop Ak-Bulun as a regional hub for eco-education and nature-based tourism.
As the world gathers for Ramsar COP15 in Zimbabwe, Ak-Bulun stands as an example of what’s possible when local communities and partners come together. Through the GEF Small Grants Programme and UNDP’s support, one small village is delivering big results for wetlands.
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