First biosphere reserve created in Uzbekistan

The Cabinet of Ministers issued a resolution “On formation of the Ugam-Chatkal State Biosphere Reserve”.

The concept of a biosphere reserve implies a protected natural area created for the purpose of preserving the natural ecosystems and the gene pool of a given region, studying and monitoring the natural environment in it and on the adjacent territories.

In order to ensure effective protection and rational use, as well as further development of environmental facilities of the Ugam-Chatkal National Park in accordance with the Order of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, a reserve was established in part of the Bostanlyk, Akhangaran and Parkent districts belonging to this natural park.

According to the Order, it was transferred to the management of Uzbekiston Temir Yollari. On the basis of this reserve, a new biosphere reserve has been created in parts of the Bostanlyk, Akhangaran and Parkent districts of the Tashkent region. The right of permanent use was transferred to Uzbekistan Temir Yollari JSC.

In July 2016, in accordance with the decision of the 40th session of the UNESCO Committee, the Western Tien Shan was added to the World Heritage List, which also includes part of the territory of the newly formed biosphere reserve. And, undoubtedly, the status of a World Heritage site requires its compliance with international law. In this regard, creation of an environmental reserve in its updated structure will allow to comply with existing regulatory and legal acts, including international ones.

In particular, workers in the protection of the biosphere reserve are equated with environment inspectors, who have the right to draw up protocols on violations of the rule of law, delay vehicles and persons who commit violations, withdraw weapons, illegally produce hunting, fishing and harvesting of plant raw materials, fine and present Claims for damage to nature and so on.

Another of the innovations will be the creation of certain zones. In particular, the buffer (buffer) and transition zone. In the protection zone it will be possible to create nurseries for the reproduction of flora and fauna in the natural environment, including the Red Book.

In the transitional zone, the pristine nature will also be preserved, but at the same time, there are places in its territory, where indigenous population lives, and it will be maximally involved and attracted to the preservation of the environment.