The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) are supporting five countries in Central Asia—Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan—and the Russian Federation to strengthen national efforts toward Target 3 of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. This target aims to conserve at least 30 percent of land, inland waters, and seas by 2030 through protected areas, other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs), and recognition of indigenous and traditional territories. A subregional workshop held in Tashkent from 3 to 6 February 2026 brought together delegates to identify priority actions, assess gaps and opportunities, and reinforce regional cooperation for effective biodiversity conservation.
Effective implementation of Target 3 requires aligning scientific knowledge with national policy and legal frameworks. Marianela Araya, Program Officer at the CBD Secretariat, emphasized that the workshop facilitates sharing experiences, addressing implementation gaps, and using available tools and guidance to advance progress under the Framework. Protected and conserved areas not only safeguard ecosystems and wildlife but also support human well-being by providing clean water, enhancing food security, mitigating disaster risks, regulating climate, and generating livelihoods. These areas contribute to the One Health approach by reducing risks associated with biodiversity loss and the emergence of zoonotic diseases.
Madhu Rao, Chair of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas, highlighted the importance of practical tools, knowledge, and cooperation to translate commitments into action. IUCN provides expertise, science-based standards, and tools such as the IUCN Green List Standard to support the development of effectively and equitably managed protected and conserved areas. Such measures are essential for biodiversity conservation, sustainable development, and human resilience to global challenges.
The workshop fostered peer learning, exchange of experiences, and strengthened cross-border collaboration among participating countries. Uzbekistan, for example, has expanded its protected natural territories from 4 to over 14 percent of its land in the past seven years, adding five million hectares. Deputy Chairman Jusipbek Kazbekov stressed that the country aims to further increase protected areas while focusing on ecological connectivity, effective management, and active community involvement.
The workshop is supported by IUCN as the official CBD Subregional Technical and Scientific Cooperation (TSC) Support Centre for Central Asia. TSCs help accelerate the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework by providing tailored scientific knowledge, tools, expertise, capacity-building opportunities, and access to technical and financial resources. The event was delivered by IUCN’s Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, the CBD Secretariat, NatureXpairs, and the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, with support from the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change of Uzbekistan. Financial support came from the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, the Republic of Korea, the Office Français de la Biodiversité, and the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, through initiatives aimed at enhancing landscape resilience and consolidating nature conservation systems in Central Asia.
