3 March 2022, Nur-Sultan – This World Wildlife Day the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) announces the launch of a joint Project with the Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan on restoration of ecosystems in the Ile-Balkhash region.

The initiative is being implemented as part of UNDP's longstanding cooperation with the Government of Kazakhstan on expansion of protected areas for wildlife restoration and protection.

The Project plans to restore the floodplain forests of the Ile River Delta and create a stable food supply for the reintroduction of the Turan tiger on the territory of the Ile-Balkhash State Nature Reserve. Special attention will be paid to raising public awareness of the importance of preserving the unique nature and biodiversity in the region, as well as supporting local community initiatives.

"Restoration of unique ecosystems and key species of biodiversity, flora and fauna is an important condition for ensuring the socio-economic stability of the region, as well as for the protection of wildlife. This initiative will have a multi-fold effect – by preserving the biodiversity, it will also develop ecotourism and expand livelihood opportunities for the local communities," said Yakup Beris, UNDP Resident Representative in Kazakhstan.

"Kazakhstan pays great attention to the problems of biodiversity conservation, including in the framework of various targeted programs. The current Concept for the Transition of the Republic of Kazakhstan to a Green Economy identifies priorities for reforming the main sectors of the Kazakhstan’s economy, including issues of effective management and conservation of ecosystems and biodiversity in accordance with the principles of sustainable development," said Nurlan Kylyshbayev, Chairperson of the Forestry and Wildlife Committee of the Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources of Republic of Kazakhstan.

UNDP's support to create sustainable foundations and conditions for the reintroduction of the Turan tiger in its historical habitats by improving the ecological situation is one of the country’s priorities under the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030.

The World Wildlife Day  2022 is celebrated under the theme “Recovering key species for ecosystem restoration” and aims to draw attention to the conservation status of some of the most critically endangered species of wild fauna and flora, and to drive discussions towards imagining and implementing solutions to conserve them.