National Natural Park "Kulsay Kulderi" is Included in the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves

Abuja, September 15, 2021 - The Kazakhstan national network of biosphere reserves of the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme in Kazakhstan has been enlarged by a new biosphere reserve of international importance.

At the 33rd session of the International Coordinating Council of the UNESCO Programme on Man and the Biosphere (MAB ICC), which runs from 13 to 17 September 2021, UNESCO included the Kazakh State National Nature Park «Kolsai lakes» in its World Network of Biosphere Reserves.

It is worth noting that this year UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme marks the 50th anniversary of and the anniversary session of the MAB International Coordinating Council takes place for the first time on the African continent (Nigeria, Abuja).

The Republic of Kazakhstan is represented by Roman Yashchenko and Victoria Ilyina, members of the Kazakhstan National Committee of the UNESCO MAB Programme, and diplomats of the Kazakhstan National Commission for UNESCO and ISESCO and the Permanent Delegation of Kazakhstan to UNESCO.

In her capacity as Vice-President of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme for Asia and the Pacific, Viktoria Ilyina gave an overview of the achievements of the MAB Programme in the Asia and the Pacific region, in which she highlighted the importance of specially protected areas in Kazakhstan for sustainable development throughout the region, and their importance for biodiversity conservation at the global level.

The Kazakhstan nomination «Kolsai lakes» has been prepared by a working group of the Kazakhstan National Committee of the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme under the constraints of the difficult epidemiological situation in the country and the world. Due to concerted efforts of the Committee members and the staff of the State National Natural Park «Kolsai lakes», the National Network of Biosphere Reserves of the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme in Kazakhstan has been enlarged by one more biosphere reserve.

Therefore, up to date, the UNESCO national network of biosphere reserves in Kazakhstan includes 13 biosphere reserves. This number significantly exceeds the number of biosphere reserves in other Central Asian countries. Recognition of such a large number of biosphere reserves demonstrates the attention of the international community to the conservation of biological diversity in Kazakhstan and the desire to preserve it for future generations.

The 33rd session of the International Coordinating Council of the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme resulted in the inclusion of 20 new biosphere reserves, one of which is transboundary, in the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves. In this way, the World Network of Biosphere Reserves now comprises 727 biosphere reserves in 131 countries.