«Байбоосун» — первая ООПТ местного значения в Кыргызстане: как сообщество стало хранителем природы

«Bayboosun» — Kyrgyzstan’s First Locally Significant Protected Area: How a Community Became a Guardian of Nature

The «Bayboosun» Protected Area, located in the Ton District of Issyk-Kul Province, was officially granted the status of a locally significant specially protected natural area (SPNA). This decision marked an important milestone not only for «Bayboosun» itself but also for the entire conservation sector in Kyrgyzstan: the area, which began as a pilot community micro-reserve, received formal legal recognition at the municipal level. «Bayboosun» now operates under a legally established protection regime, with restrictions on economic activities, hunting, and the use of natural resources.

From Community Initiative to Official Status

The history of «Bayboosun» SPNA began in 2019, when residents of several ayil okmotus in Ton District initiated the creation of a protected area in the foothills of the Teskek Alatoo Range. Their motivation stemmed from declining wildlife populations, cases of poaching, and illegal collection of rare and medicinal plants.

«Before the micro-reserve was established, hunting here was uncontrolled — the area was practically unprotected. We saw nature deteriorating and realized that if we did not take responsibility, we could lose it,» said Baatyrbek Akmatov, leader of the «Bayboosun» Public Foundation.

Akmatov and his colleagues established a community organization and approached the regional Hunting Department with a proposal for joint management. Initially, residents signed an agreement with the department and assisted the ranger service on a voluntary basis. Later, they were offered the option to lease the land for hunting management, but the community’s financial and technical resources were limited.

«At that time, we became acquainted with the work of the СAMР Alatoo PF, and their specialists proposed creating a pilot micro-reserve. The proposal came at the right time. Five community members took responsibility to continue the work,» Akmatov continued.

Support for the initiative came from the Sigrid Rausing Trust: rangers received camera traps, binoculars, and telescopes for wildlife monitoring, as well as specialized equipment, legal training, and signage for the area.

«Biodiversity conservation is impossible without local community involvement. When natural resources are a source of income, restrictions often lead to conflicts. That’s why we focus on involving communities in natural resource management and SPNA planning,» noted Murat Zhumashov, Director of СAMР Alatoo.

The community rangers of «Bayboosun» demonstrated that local participation reduced illegal hunting and helped restore wildlife to their natural habitats.

A Territory of High Conservation Value

Initially, «Bayboosun» SPNA covered 14,000 hectares, with elevations ranging from 2,800 to 4,478 meters above sea level. Following its official designation, the area expanded to more than 20,000 hectares through the inclusion of state reserve lands. The SPNA is located near the «Ak Ilbirs» ecological corridor, established in 2025 to facilitate wildlife migration. The corridor was created through the efforts of the Biodiversity Conservation Department of the Ministry of Natural Resources of Kyrgyzstan and the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyzstan, with support from СAMР Alatoo PF and the International Climate Initiative (IKI) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) under the project on climate adaptation of migratory mammals in Central Asia (САМСА).

Scientific studies have confirmed the area’s high conservation value. Biologists and zoologists have recorded over 500 plant species, including the endemic Semenov’s onion; approximately 60 bird species; and 18 mammal species. Some of these species are listed in the Red Book of Kyrgyzstan and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, including the snow leopard and the Pallas’s cat.

«We also emphasized environmental education for the local population. Together with СAMР Alatoo PF, we held school lessons and community meetings. This has helped people better understand the importance of SPNAs and why nature conservation matters,» added Akmatov.

New Visitor Center: A Space for Tourism and Education

On December 11, 2025, a modern visitor center opened in «Bayboosun» SPNA — the first of its kind in Ton District. Its purpose is to combine nature conservation, tourism, and environmental education.

The center will serve as a starting point for ecological routes, introduce tourists to the area’s scenic nature, and highlight the role of local communities in biodiversity conservation. A small ecological zone has been created for teachers and schoolchildren. As part of the САМСА project, the center received microscopes, telescopes, experimental kits, and themed board games designed to develop logic, critical thinking, and teamwork skills.

Furthermore, the development of the visitor center is expected to boost ecotourism, create additional income sources for nearby villages, and foster responsible attitudes toward natural resources.

A Step Toward a Sustainable Future

The experience of «Bayboosun» SPNA demonstrates that nature conservation can be effective when based on grassroots initiatives and partnerships between communities, the state, and public organizations. The official SPNA designation and the opening of the visitor center are a natural continuation of years of work and an important step toward establishing a network of locally significant protected areas in Kyrgyzstan.

«To obtain official status, it took us nearly three years of meticulous work. But the results are long-term, and we hope our experience will continue to be replicated,» said Murat Zhumashov, Director of СAMР Alatoo PF, at the visitor center opening.

«Bayboosun» is not just a protected area — it is living proof that local communities can be key guardians of nature, creating conditions for the preservation of biodiversity for future generations.