A forum titled "Business, Ecology, and Sports – Ak-Irbis 2025" is taking place in Bishkek, dedicated to the International Snow Leopard Day. This day is being celebrated for the first time this year thanks to a resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly, proposed by the Kyrgyz Republic. The event has become an important platform for uniting businesses, sports communities, and ecologists to protect the snow leopard and the high-altitude ecosystems of the country.
The Special Representative of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic for Mountain Region Development, Ambassador Dinara Kemelova, congratulated the participants on this significant event, noting that the snow leopard is a symbol of the grandeur of the Kyrgyz mountains and natural beauty.
Kemelova emphasized that this day is an important milestone, as it is celebrated for the first time following the official recognition by the UN General Assembly at the initiative of Kyrgyzstan and its partners. The President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Sadyr Japarov, is at the forefront of this initiative, which is a source of pride for all citizens of the country.
According to her, the snow leopard represents not only a rare species but also an important aspect of the cultural identity of the Kyrgyz people, reminding us of the interconnection between humans and nature. In accordance with the presidential decree, the snow leopard is now the national symbol of Kyrgyzstan.
"The preservation of this magnificent animal is the preservation of life, resilience, and balance for future generations," she noted.
Kemelova also pointed out that Kyrgyzstan is the initiator of the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Program (GSLEP) and the author of the Bishkek Declaration of 2017, which unites 12 countries where this species resides. In June of this year, the ninth meeting of the GSLEP steering committee took place at Issyk-Kul, where joint efforts to protect the snow leopard were discussed and priorities were set until 2025.
She expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision of the Kyrgyz Republic, as well as international partners — UNDP, UNEP, GEF, GSLEP, NABU, and the World Bank — for their active participation in preserving biodiversity and adapting mountain ecosystems to climate change.
Additionally, Kemelova announced the opening of a Wild Animal Rehabilitation and Environmental Education Center in Kemin with the support of NABU and proposed the creation of an eco-museum of the snow leopard, which would serve as an educational platform for children and tourists, promoting environmental awareness in society.
"The protection of rare animal species occupies an important place in the Decade of Action for Mountain Development. We will also focus on forest restoration, protecting key species of flora and fauna in Central Asia, such as the snow leopard and argali, and creating ecological corridors for wildlife conservation," added Kemelova.
In conclusion of her speech, the ambassador noted that Kyrgyzstan will continue to be a voice for the mountains and the snow leopard on the international stage, where humans and nature coexist in harmony, striving for a sustainable future.
"May this day serve as a powerful impetus for action to protect mountain ecosystems, foster international cooperation, and raise awareness of our shared responsibility for the wild world, without which human life cannot exist," concluded Kemelova.
