Kazakhstan Expands Protected Natural Areas to 30.9 Million Hectares as Part of Biodiversity Conservation Efforts

Kazakhstan has increased its specially protected natural areas (SPNAs), which now cover a total area of 30.9 million hectares, a significant rise compared to the 869,000 hectares protected before the country gained independence. This expansion is part of Kazakhstan's efforts to conserve biodiversity, including rare and endangered species, through the creation of new protected zones and the enlargement of existing ones.

At a recent government meeting, Yerlan Nysanbayev, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, provided updates on Kazakhstan's wildlife conservation efforts. He noted that the country currently has 227 species of rare and endangered animals, including 131 vertebrate and 96 invertebrate species. These efforts adhere to international standards, and the updated species list is based on International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria. Nysanbayev announced proposed changes to exclude 21 invertebrate species from the list while adding six invertebrate and five vertebrate species.

A key measure in conserving rare species is the creation of SPNAs, which Nysanbayev highlighted as the most effective approach to animal conservation. Notably, Kazakhstan has achieved significant success in protecting endangered species such as the snow leopard, houbara bustard, and Turan tiger.

For instance, the snow leopard population has doubled since the 1990s, thanks to intensive monitoring and protective measures. Around 70% of their habitat is now located in protected areas, and satellite collars and camera traps have helped collect data to refine conservation strategies. The snow leopard population currently stands at approximately 180 individuals, with plans to further enhance the SPNA network based on ongoing research.

In addition to the snow leopard, efforts have been made to restore the houbara bustard population, a species critical to the country’s biodiversity. A houbara breeding center, established in collaboration with the UAE, has successfully raised and released over 73,000 birds into the wild between 2009 and 2024. Another major conservation project involves reintroducing the Turan tiger, a species that disappeared from Kazakhstan more than 70 years ago. As part of this program, the Ile-Balkhash State Nature Reserve was created, and reintroduction efforts are underway. Two tigers from the Netherlands were brought to the reserve in 2023 for captive breeding, with more tigers expected to arrive from Russia by 2025.

Nysanbayev also highlighted the success of the kulan population restoration program, which began in 1956 with 14 animals transported from Turkmenistan. The kulan population now stands at 4,493 individuals. Similar efforts are being made to reintroduce Przewalski's horses, which went extinct in the wild by the late 1960s, with the first seven horses arriving in June 2024. A total of 40 horses are planned for release by 2029.

The saiga antelope population in Kazakhstan has also shown remarkable growth, increasing from 21,000 in 2003 to approximately 2.8 million today. This success led the IUCN to upgrade the saiga’s status from «Critically Endangered» to «Near Threatened» in the Red List.

In broader efforts to ensure the long-term sustainability of Kazakhstan’s wildlife, the Ministry of Ecology is developing digital tools, such as the interactive map «Tabigat.gov.kz,» which tracks habitats and wildlife migrations. Plans are in place to expand the map to include more data on national parks, recreational zones, and water bodies. Additionally, the Ministry has initiated a draft law in collaboration with the Mazhilis (the lower house of Kazakhstan's Parliament) to promote game breeding, a practice proven effective in other countries for replenishing wildlife populations. In nations like New Zealand and Namibia, game breeding has helped restore species and maintain ecological balance.

Despite these positive changes, challenges remain. Nysanbayev noted that specialized wildlife conservation organizations have not yet been established in nine regions of Kazakhstan, and 14.8 million hectares of protected land lack adequate oversight. The Minister called for closer collaboration between the Ministry of Ecology, local authorities, and scientific institutions to address these issues.

One pressing concern requiring urgent attention is the saker falcon, whose population has declined in recent decades. To address this, the Ministry has developed scientific programs to study the current population and assess the effectiveness of reintroduction efforts. Additionally, a proposal is being developed in partnership with international organizations to establish a breeding center for the saker falcon.