Within the framework of the Plenary Session of CMS COP14 in Samarkand, a memorandum of cooperation in the field of wildlife conservation on the Ustyurt Plateau was signed between the Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Aziz Abdukhakimov, and the Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Nurken Sharbiyev.

Under the memorandum, a working group will be established, and a roadmap for actions to ensure the conservation of transboundary wildlife populations and their migratory species on the Ustyurt Plateau will be developed. The document will provide for:

— Coordinated monitoring, research, and inventory of migratory species;

— Protection of migratory species of wild animals and conservation of biodiversity;

— Creation of cross-border OPT and migration corridors;

— Exploring opportunities for the sustainable use of wildlife resources and the development of ecotourism;

— Training, and professional development of specialists;

— Consultations on the selection and application of modern and innovative technologies in the field of conservation of migratory species;

— Coordination and strengthening of measures to combat illegal and/or unsustainable trapping of migratory animals, including poaching and smuggling of wild animals and their derivatives;

— conducting joint scientific and practical seminars and conferences;

— preparation and publication of joint scientific and popular science publications;

— Measures to prevent fragmentation and degradation of habitats;

— attracting investments and funds for the implementation of the relevant measures of the Roadmap.

It is worth noting that the agreement was signed to fulfill the obligations of the Central Asian countries to preserve the transnational World Natural Heritage site “Turanian Deserts of the Temperate Zone”, included in the list of World Natural Heritage sites in 2023.