From Initiative to Official Status
The process of creating the SPNA LS "Baiboosun" began in 2019 when residents of several rural areas in the Ton district proposed to establish a protected zone in the foothills of the Teskey Ala-Too. This was prompted by a decline in wildlife populations, poaching, and illegal collection of rare plants.
Batyrbek Akmatov, head of the Baiboosun Public Foundation, noted: "Previously, uncontrolled hunting thrived in this area, and it was virtually unprotected. We observed the deterioration of nature and realized that if we did not take responsibility, we could lose everything."
To address the problem, Akmatov and his like-minded colleagues founded a public organization and approached the regional Department of Hunting with a proposal for cooperation. At the initial stage, local residents signed an agreement with the Department and became volunteer assistants to the rangers. Later, they were offered to consider leasing land for hunting management, but the community lacked sufficient resources.
According to Akmatov, "We got acquainted with the work of the public foundation 'SAMR Alatoo,' and they proposed to create a pilot micro-reserve. This proposal became very relevant, and five community members took on the responsibility for implementing the idea."
The initiative was supported by the "Sigrid Rausing Foundation," which provided rangers with camera traps, binoculars, and special equipment. Specialists underwent training on legal aspects and installed information boards in the area.
Murad Jumashov, director of the SAMR Alatoo Foundation, emphasized that "Biodiversity conservation is impossible without the involvement of local residents. When resources become a source of income, restrictions can lead to conflicts. Therefore, it is important to engage communities in the management of natural resources."
The community rangers of "Baiboosun" were able to demonstrate that active participation of the local population helped reduce the level of poaching and return animals to their natural habitat.
Area of High Conservation Value
At the initial stage, the area of the SPNA "Baiboosun" was 14,000 hectares, with an elevation range from 2,800 to 4,478 meters above sea level. After receiving status, the area was expanded to over 20,000 hectares due to state lands. The SPNA is located near the ecological corridor "Ak Ilbirs," which was created in 2025 for the migration of wild animals. This corridor was developed with the support of the Department of Biodiversity Conservation of the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Kyrgyz Republic and the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic, as well as the SAMR Alatoo Foundation, with the help of the International Climate Initiative (IKI) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as part of the project for adapting migratory mammals to climate change in Central Asia (AMIK in CA).
Research has confirmed the high conservation significance of this area. Biologists and zoologists have recorded over 500 species of plants, including the endemic Semenov's onion; about 60 species of birds and 18 species of mammals, including species listed in the Red Book of Kyrgyzstan and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), such as the snow leopard and the manul.
Akmatov added: "We also focused our efforts on environmental education for the local population. Together with the SAMR Alatoo Foundation, we conducted lessons in schools and meetings with residents, which helped improve understanding of the significance of the SPNA and the need to conserve nature."
New Visitor Center: A Space for Education and Tourism
In December, a modern visitor center opened in the territory of the SPNA LS "Baiboosun" - the first such facility in the Ton district. Its task is to combine nature conservation, tourism, and environmental education.
The visitor center will serve as a starting point for ecological routes, offering tourists the opportunity to get acquainted with the unique nature of the region and learn about the role of local communities in biodiversity conservation. A small ecological zone has been created for educators and schoolchildren. As part of the AMIK in CA project, the center has been provided with microscopes, telescopes, experiment kits, and board games aimed at developing critical thinking and teamwork.
Furthermore, the development of the visitor center will contribute to the growth of ecotourism, the creation of new sources of income for local residents, and the formation of a careful attitude towards natural resources.
A Step Towards a Sustainable Future
The experience of creating the SPNA LS "Baiboosun" demonstrates that nature conservation can be successful when it is based on the initiative of local residents and partnership between the community, government structures, and public organizations. The recognition of the status of SPNA of local significance and the opening of the visitor center have become important steps forward in forming a network of protected areas in Kyrgyzstan.
"It took us almost three years of hard work to obtain official status. But this result is significant for the future, and we hope that our experience will serve as an example for others," noted Murad Jumashov, head of the SAMR Alatoo Foundation, at the opening of the visitor center.
"Baiboosun" is not just a protected area, but a vivid proof that local residents can become the main guardians of nature and ensure the conservation of biodiversity for future generations.
