National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan

The participants included the Adviser to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Ecology and Chair of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, Aziz Abdukhakimov; Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan Yerlan Nyssanbayev; Minister of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision of the Kyrgyz Republic Meder Mashiev; CITES Secretary-General Ivonne Higuero; as well as representatives of TRAFFIC International, the European Union, IUCN, diplomatic missions and other international organizations.

Central Asia, rich in biodiversity and home to such iconic species as the saiga antelope and the snow leopard, is facing growing threats related to habitat loss, climate change, and illegal and unsustainable wildlife trade. These factors endanger the region’s ecosystems and the livelihoods of local communities. In response to these challenges, the Samarkand Declaration and Action Plan unite Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan under a shared commitment to protect biodiversity through coordinated law enforcement, policy reform, and the promotion of sustainable development. The Declaration harmonizes legal frameworks, strengthens information exchange, and links conservation measures with socio-economic priorities, forming a model of regional unity in nature conservation.

At the opening of the event, Aziz Abdukhakimov emphasized the transboundary nature of existing threats and the importance of collective action.

“As we know, the wildlife of Central Asia — the saiga, snow leopard, ibex, falcons, gazelles, and many other species — is facing growing threats: habitat loss, climate change, overexploitation, and above all, illegal and unsustainable trade. Thousands of cases of illegal trade and poaching are recorded every year, transnational networks involved in the trafficking of saiga horns, birds of prey, and other valuable species are being uncovered, and many smuggling routes simultaneously pass through several countries of the region. These figures highlight one thing: the threats are transboundary, which means the solutions must also be transboundary. We are convinced that only joint measures, rapid information exchange, and coordinated action will deliver real results,” the chairman noted.

Continuing his remarks, A. Abdukhakimov described the adoption of the Samarkand Declaration as a historic milestone:

“The Samarkand Declaration is not just a document. It is the shared aspiration of the countries of Central Asia aimed at preserving the natural heritage of the region and creating a sustainable future. For the first time, five countries of the region are coming together under a common approach to combating illegal trade in wild fauna and flora, strengthening law enforcement, harmonizing legislation, and promoting the sustainable use of natural resources. Today, we are sending a clear message: we choose cooperation over isolation, science over speculation, action over waiting. Let Samarkand become a symbol of unity for nature.”