On March 25, 2025, the Kyrgyz National University named after J. Balasagyn in Bishkek hosted the Introductory Forum on "Preservation of Glaciers and Sustainable Development of Mountain Territories: Challenges, Prospects, and Solutions." The event was dedicated to World Water Day (March 22), established by the United Nations.
The forum brought together scientists, environmentalists, government officials, universities, international donor organizations, financial institutions, and local companies to discuss critical issues related to the preservation of unique natural resources and the sustainable development of Kyrgyzstan’s mountainous regions.
Forum Objectives:
1. Address challenges related to glacier conservation and promote environmentally friendly water management practices.
2. Support the sustainable development of mountain areas by preserving biodiversity, including the protection of the snow leopard—a key indicator of ecological balance.
3. Identify effective strategies for climate change adaptation and mitigation.
4. Strengthen collaboration between government agencies, academia, civil society, and the business sector to advance sustainable development initiatives.
During the forum, participants discussed current environmental challenges related to melting glaciers, climate change and its consequences for mountain ecosystems.
“According to the WMO Report, 2024 was the warmest year on record, and for the first time the global annual temperature anomaly exceeded the threshold of 1.5°C compared to pre-industrial levels. Although exceeding this limit for one year does not mean that the goal of the Paris Agreement is lost forever, it serves as a stark reminder that global temperatures are rising beyond what modern civilization has experienced. At the same time, in Asia, 2024 was marked as the second warmest year on record, with temperature anomalies 2.17°C above average, with each month of 2024 being more than 1.5°C above the 1991-2020 average,” noted Vladimir Grebnev, Regional Climate Change Specialist of the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC).
Particular attention was paid to issues of sustainable use of natural resources, the introduction of innovative technologies in the field of ecology and the development of a green economy.
The experts who spoke shared their research and proposals to prevent further destruction of ecosystems, and considered prospects for the development of mountain areas, taking into account environmental, social and economic factors. Solutions were proposed that include both international cooperation and efforts at the local community level. This exchange of experience was part of the inaugural forum dedicated to World Water Day.
“CAREC's water initiatives and projects are primarily aimed at exchanging experience between water sector specialists, joint discussions and solutions to problems in the water sector by representatives of the authorities of the five countries, and demonstrating the experience of other countries to water users, farmers, water management specialists and decision makers. An important point is also to increase the potential of all stakeholders, each project includes activities for various trainings, trainings and exchange of experience,” said Kuban Matraimov, Director of CAREC Country Office for Kyrgyzstan.
One of the main aspects of the forum was the need for active interaction between government agencies, the scientific community, civil society organizations, the business sector and international organizations. Such cooperation is important for the effective implementation of strategies to combat climate change, resolve the global water crisis and preserve the natural wealth of mountainous areas.
Participants stressed that only an integrated approach and coordination of efforts by all stakeholders will help achieve sustainable development of mountain regions and ensure long-term water security for the population.
The Forum participants included representatives of government and scientific organizations, non-governmental and youth organizations, university teachers and students.
Additional information:
Kuban Matraimov, Director of CAREC Country Office for Kyrgyzstan, kmatraimov@carececo.org