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

This date was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2024 to strengthen international and regional cooperation in support of efforts to conserve the snow leopard and its natural habitat.

The snow leopard, or irbis (Panthera uncia), is a rare and majestic predator inhabiting the mountains of Asia — from Afghanistan and Bhutan to Mongolia, China, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Its presence serves as an indicator of the well-being of mountain ecosystems, on which the lives of millions of people depend.

This species is under strict protection: since 1975, the snow leopard has been listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and since 1986 — in Appendix I of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). In 2017, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classified the species as Vulnerable, recognizing it as being at risk of extinction in the wild.

In June 2025, the 9th Meeting of the Steering Committee of the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Program (GSLEP) was held in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan. The meeting adopted the Cholpon-Ata Resolution, which marked an important step towards uniting the efforts of snow leopard range countries. The document aims to strengthen cooperation, enhance the resilience of the High Asia ecosystems, and support adaptation to climate change.

The conservation of the snow leopard is not only about protecting a single species — it is about safeguarding the future of our mountains, water resources, and the planet’s climate balance. Let us protect nature — together we can preserve its unique inhabitants.