In November 2025, five Central Asian countries came together in the historic city of Samarkand to take a bold stand for nature. Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan signed an important agreement called the Samarkand Declaration and Action Plan, which will guide their efforts to protect wildlife and fight illegal wildlife trade from 2026 to 2032.
What Is the Samarkand Declaration?
The Samarkand Declaration is a regional agreement that commits Central Asian countries to work together on protecting their unique natural treasures. The declaration was signed during the 20th Conference of the Parties to CITES (CITES CoP20), a major international conference held in Samarkand from November 24 to December 5, 2025. Nearly 3,000 participants from 157 countries gathered for this historic event—the first time the conference has been held in Central Asia.
This declaration shows that these five nations understand that environmental challenges don’t stop at borders. Animals migrate across countries, and wildlife criminals work across boundaries too. So the best way to protect nature is for neighboring countries to work together as one team.
Why Does This Matter?
The illegal wildlife trade is a massive global problem. According to officials at the conference, illegal wildlife trade is one of the largest criminal activities in the world—ranking right after drugs, weapons, and human trafficking. Governments have seized over 13 million wildlife products in recent years, affecting more than 4,000 species.
Central Asia is home to some of the world’s most amazing and endangered animals, including:
Snow leopards – These beautiful big cats live in the high mountains and are protected under international law.
Saiga antelopes – These unique animals live on the steppes and have made a comeback thanks to conservation efforts.
Bukhara deer – This rare species was nearly extinct but is now being brought back through special protection programs in Kazakhstan and Tajikistan.
Central Asian leopards – One of the rarest leopard subspecies in the world, these cats are being monitored through camera traps in mountain regions.
Without protection, these amazing animals could disappear forever, and the ecosystems they depend on would collapse.
What Does the Action Plan Include?
The Regional Cooperation Action Plan for 2026-2032 isn’t just a promise—it’s a detailed roadmap with specific steps. Here’s what the countries plan to do.
Fight Illegal Wildlife Trade – The countries will establish national operational groups dedicated to catching wildlife criminals. They’ll also create better systems to share information across borders so that poachers and smugglers can’t escape justice.
Strengthen Border Protection – Customs, environmental, law enforcement, and judicial authorities from all four countries will work together more closely. They’ll conduct coordinated actions along border areas where most poaching and smuggling happens.
Restore Habitats – Beyond just stopping criminals, the countries plan to restore degraded ecosystems and forests. A healthy habitat means animals have food, water, and shelter to survive.
Protect Endangered Species – Special focus will be on species like snow leopards and Bukhara deer. The countries will work to reduce conflicts between wildlife and local herders, which is one of the biggest threats these animals face.
Support Local Communities – The plan recognizes that local people are the real guardians of nature. Communities will be involved in conservation efforts and will benefit from sustainable activities like ecotourism.
Share Scientific Knowledge – The countries will develop digital monitoring tools and share data about animal populations and threats. This helps them make smart, science-based decisions about conservation.
Major Projects Already Starting
At the same conference, Uzbekistan launched a big new project called GEF-8 EcoLand with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This project has $6.1 million in funding and will restore damaged landscapes and strengthen protected areas across Uzbekistan.
Additionally, the countries are planning to sign grant agreements worth more than $20 million USD to support biodiversity conservation and ecosystem restoration. Uzbekistan is also releasing its first-ever Environmental Atlas and its first National Strategy for Ramsar Wetland Management—important documents that will guide water protection for years to come.
Why This Matters for the Planet
The mountains and wetlands of Central Asia aren’t just important for the region—they’re critical for the entire world. These mountains contain glaciers that supply fresh water to about one-third of humanity. If we don’t protect these ecosystems, we lose not just animals, but also water, clean air, and the ability for communities to survive.
Climate change is making the situation more urgent. As temperatures rise, mountain habitats are shrinking, and wildlife is being pushed into smaller and smaller spaces. Cooperation between nations—exactly what the Samarkand Declaration represents—is essential to adapt to these changes.cepf
What Happens Next?
The Samarkand Declaration and Action Plan show that Central Asian nations are ready to move from making promises to taking real action. Between now and 2032, we should expect to see.
More arrests of wildlife smugglers and stronger punishments for those who break the law
Better protection of mountain corridors that allow snow leopards to move safely between countries
Healthier forests and wetlands where endangered species can thrive
Stronger partnerships between governments, scientists, and local communities
Greater financial support for conservation projects across the region
The Bottom Line
The Samarkand Declaration represents a turning point for Central Asian wildlife and nature. By choosing to work together, the five nations—Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan—are sending a clear message: Central Asia’s unique and irreplaceable natural heritage is worth protecting, and together, they have the power to make a real difference.
This agreement proves that when countries unite for nature, amazing things become possible. The world is watching to see how successful these efforts will be—and the implications extend far beyond Central Asia’s borders.
