A three-day Regional Dialogue  on Transboundary Conservation in Central Asia kicked off in Uzbekistan’s capital, Tashkent, and online on November 28.   

This Regional Dialogue has been organized by the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of Uzbekistan and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) with support from the World Bank and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, in hybrid format.

According to IUCN, the speakers and panelists are discussing the state of regional cooperation in the fields of biodiversity and protected areas, learning about global aspects and good practices related to Transboundary Conservation, and exploring the theme of Peace Parks and biodiversity. Through panel discussions and round-tables, they have brought together government officials, experts, the donor community, and CSOs to discuss the mechanisms already in place and opportunities for Transboundary Conservation in Central Asia.  

On the second day, the panelists and presenters will discuss the role of Nature-based Tourism, protected areas and local communities in conservation.

This knowledge-sharing dialogue will be followed by Training on Transboundary Conservation for national and local authorities, protected area managers, and conservation practitioners (in-person participation only).

This regional dialogue aims to enable relevant actors from Central Asia, and those active in the region, to gain a common understanding of Nature-based Tourism and Transboundary Conservation as concepts, their value for the region, and learn about the experiences, challenges, and opportunities they offer.

This event is organized as a part of the World Bank's flagship Central Asia Regional Landscape Restoration Program RESILAND CA+, which seeks to reverse land degradation and increase climate resilience in Central Asia.

Transboundary cooperation for biodiversity conservation and sustainable management is increasingly important in Central Asia.

Transboundary conservation means countries that share natural resources work together to manage them wisely, for the benefit of all. It sounds like a no-brainer, but it's not easy when valuable resources, behavior change, and politics come into play.