Protected Kyrgyzstan

Today I published an article about the Republic of Kyrgyzstan, where the authorities have introduced a proposal to establish a moratorium on any business interference in protected areas. For years, big business has used "pocket officials" to push through various legislative initiatives aimed at weakening the protection status of wildlife. And they were successful. Just like everywhere else. At the same time, one part of the government repeatedly tried to resist, but it appears that the pressure from powerful lobbying groups has been overwhelming.

I hope the moratorium will be adopted, and that the destruction of the protected area system will be halted for the next 20 years. Checkmate to the major powers that are, on the contrary, tearing apart wildlife sanctuaries right now! This would become an outstanding precedent built on the lessons of the past. By combining documented evidence of environmental destruction with the government's final decision, we will have a powerful example that can be used in dialogue with other systems of governance.

But there is something else.

Together, we have now begun our field research expeditions to determine the boundaries of future Territories of Complete Ecological Tranquility (TCETs). One of the key centers should be the Republic of Kyrgyzstan itself. And now this development. I believe we certainly can—and should—begin a dialogue in the future, meet and speak with those who stood up for nature and fought for this moratorium. Who knows? Perhaps real change will begin with Kyrgyzstan. Especially considering that the country controls the water resources of all Central Asia, and the lives of tens of millions of people depend on the preservation of its natural ecosystems.