In many countries, including India, Mongolia, China, and Pakistan, snow leopard watching has become a popular form of ecotourism. Inspired by these examples, the Snow Leopard Foundation in Kyrgyzstan successfully completed the project “Snow Leopard Tours as a Key to Local Nature Conservation” in 2023, with support from the GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP), implemented by UNDP.

The project laid the foundation for the development of ethical tourism in the Sarychat-Eertash Nature Reserve. Training sessions were conducted for rangers and residents of nearby communities, and essential equipment was procured — from tents and yurts to solar stations and pack bags. All of this made it possible to create comfortable and environmentally safe conditions for wildlife observers.

Today, these tours run from mid-autumn to late winter. Over two seasons following the completion of the project, around 10–12 groups (approximately 60–70 people) visited the reserve and adjacent areas, including the Jangart and Ak-Shyirak valleys.

“Unlike other nature tours, our snow leopard tours consider the carrying capacity of the reserve and the local ecosystem. Group size does not exceed six people, and the reserve is not visited by multiple groups at the same time,” notes Zhumabay uulu Kubanychbek, Director of the Snow Leopard Foundation in Kyrgyzstan.

Since 2025, each tourist has contributed USD 100 to a community-based conservation fund. These funds support rangers, infrastructure development, and incentives for nature protection. With a steady flow of tourists, annual contributions are expected to reach up to USD 7,000,  a significant source of support for remote regions.

Income from each tour amounts to USD 3,000–4,000, with services provided exclusively by local residents: rangers, guides, cooks, and guesthouse owners.

Importantly, these tours focus on careful and non-intrusive observation of wildlife in its natural habitat. Tourists seek to capture rare images of the snow leopard, as well as other predators such as wolves, bears, Pallas’s cats, and large scavenging birds. Predators like wolves and foxes, previously considered “pests” by local communities, have become valuable and attractive assets for local tourism.

The tours have enabled the reserve to improve its infrastructure while simultaneously increasing service quality and tour prices. Protected areas now generate solid benefits even from a small number of visitors. Rangers and local guides have gained valuable experience, and statistics show that the probability of spotting a snow leopard during a tour has reached 90%, a figure that is exceptional even by global standards.

The GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP), implemented by UNDP, supports community-led initiatives that address global environmental challenges while improving people’s lives. By financing projects in biodiversity conservation, climate action, land and forest management, water resources, and chemicals, the SGP demonstrates that local actions can have a global impact.