Specially protected areas in the countries of Central Asia.
An analytical review of legislation.
V.Gromov (Kazakhstan)
Contents:
1. Introduction
2. Review of national SPA legislations
2.1. SPA types
2.2. SPA designation procedures
2.3. Land use regulations on SPA’s
2.4. SPA management regulations
2.5. Liability for damage done to SPA’s
2.6. International collaboration on SPA’s
3. A review of designation procedures for transboundary SPA’s
4. Suggestions for further harmonization of national SPA legislations
5. Annexes
Comparison table 1: SPA types
Comparison table 2: Zapovednik nature reserves
Comparison table 3: National nature parks
Comparison table 4: Zakaznik nature reserves
Comparison table 5: Land use in SPA’s
Comparison table 6: Management of natural objects
Comparison table 7: SPA management
Comparison table 8: Ratified international treaties
1. INTRODUCTION
Developing networks of specially protected nature areas (SPA) is one of the means to provide a
long-term conservation of biological and landscape diversity on the national, regional, and global
levels. Countries of Central Asia have been carrying out sequential actions towards the
ecological network establishment in the region. The SPA networks are established, carry out
their work and develop based on national legislations and international treaties ratified by the
countries of Central Asia.
The countries of Central Asia have a common old-line history of developing policies in the field
of nature conservation. In Soviet times, all Central Asian countries were parts of the Soviet
Union and shared the same legislation system. Although each Soviet republic had its own legal
acts, the republican legislations, including those on SPA’s, were based on standardized Soviet
laws. Thus, all Soviet socialist republics had the same approaches to the establishment,
functioning, and development of SPA’s and the same conceptual structures.
Since 1991, as the countries of Central Asia became independent, they have been developing
their own national legislations, including those on the conservation of biological and landscape
diversity. For now, all the Central Asian countries adopted laws and subordinate acts in the field
of SPA’s, conservation, recruitment, and utilization of animal and plant life.
The development of national legislations on specially protected areas of nature started in earliest
years of independence: in 1991-1996 all Central Asian countries adopted laws on SPA’s. Further
on, these laws were revised and updated or even completely redrafted. Currently, the countries
are undergoing the second stage of the SPA legislation development: Uzbekistan adopted a
restated Law on SPA’s in December 2004; Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan are completing draft
laws on SPA’s. Preparation of these drafts in 2003-2005 was also promoted by active regional
experts in the field of SPA’s.
Over the past few years, conservationists and experts in the field of environmental protection in
Central Asia emphasized the importance of harmonizing national SPA legislations in order to
improve mechanisms of biodiversity conservation in the region and to establish transboundary
SPA’s. Works on the harmonization of SPA legislations in the Central Asian countries were
started in the framework of a TACIS intergovernmental project aimed at biodiversity
conservation in the Western Tien-Shan and a Central Asian transboundary GEF/WB project on
biodiversity conservation in the Western Tien-Shan (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan).
Later, four Central Asian countries - Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan participated in the implementation of the project TCP/INT/2093 ‘Revision and harmonization of
protected area legislation’ launched by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.
The goal of the present review is to analyze current SPA legislations in the five countries of
Central Asia and related concepts in order to further improve regulatory and legal networks of
the countries, with due account for the establishment of ECONET that should promote a longterm conservation of biological and landscape diversity of the region.
2. A REVIEW OF NATIONAL SPA LEGISLATIONS
2.1 SPA types
National legislations of the five Central Asian countries are based on their Constitutions.
According to the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan (RK), ‘Land and its interior, water,
wildlife, and other natural resources are owned by the state’ (item 3 of article 6). Item 1 of article
31 of the RK Constitution says: ‘The state aims at the conservation of the environment that is
beneficial to people’s lives and health’. According to article 38 of the RK Constitution, ‘Citizens
of the Republic of Kazakhstan shall be friendly to nature and conserve natural values.’
According to item 2 of article 4 of the Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic (KR), ‘Land, its
interior, airspace, water, forests, wildlife, and other natural resources are property of the Kyrgyz
Republic and protected by the state.’ Item 2 of article 35 of the KR Constitution says: ‘Friendly
attitude to the environment, natural resources and historical monuments is a sacred duty of every
citizen.’
According to article 13 of the Constitution of the Republic Tajikistan (RT), ‘Land, its interior,
water, airspace, wildlife, and other natural resources are an exclusive domain of the state, and the
state guarantees their efficient use to the benefit of the people.’ Article 44 of the RT Constitution
says: ‘Protection of nature, historical and cultural monuments is everyone’s duty.’
According to article 10 of the Constitution of Turkmenistan, ‘The state is liable for conservation
of the national historical and cultural heritage, the natural environment.’
According to article 55 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan (RUz), ‘Land, its
interior, water, wildlife, and other natural resources are a national wealth that is subject to
sustainable use and protection by the state.’ Article 50 of the RUz Constitution says that ‘citizens
shall be friendly to the natural environment.’
Thus, constitutions of all Central Asian countries lay a foundation to their conservationist
legislations. A most important way of nature conservation in every country is the protection of
their biological and landscape diversity. The state confirms its willingness to protect the natural
environment by adoption of a special legislation, particularly that in the field of conservation of
the biological and landscape diversity.
Four Central Asian countries out of the five legislated the term of ‘a specially protected area of
nature’ (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan), while Uzbekistan uses the term
of ‘a protected natural area’.
All countries of the region have the identical meaning of the ‘specially protected area of nature’
or ‘protected natural area’: these are areas of land or water that are especially important and have
special regimes of protection and use.
Each country of Central Asia has its own number of SPA types, from four in Turkmenistan to
eleven in Kazakhstan and Tajikistan (see Comparison Table 1). The ecological network is built
on SPA’s that protect its most important sites, the so-called nuclei or nodes of the ECONET.
There are three most important SPA types in Central Asia: zapovednik reserves, national nature
parks, and zakazniks (sanctuaries or special purpose preserves). No national nature parks are
stipulated in Turkmenistan. Let us consider details of the establishment, administration, and
protection regimes of these SPA types.
Each SPA type has its own legal regime of protection and management. Because of the historical
integrity of the region, protection and management regimes on SPA’s all over Central Asia
display considerable similarities:
1. Zapovednik reserves rule out economic exploitation of natural resources and activities that
may disturb original development of natural processes and threaten statuses of natural complexes
and objects (see Comparison Table 2).
Zapovednik reserves in Central Asia have a similar objective, i.e. to organize scientific research
by means of stationary all-year-round observations in centers, laboratories, and departments
established in the reserves.
Proceeding from the objective and management principles and keeping in mind criteria of the
International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN 1994),
zapovednik reserves are protected areas of nature under category 1A – strict nature reserves.
Zapovednik reserves may be designated as biosphere reserves in order to carry out global
ecological monitoring in three Central Asian countries (Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and
Turkmenistan).
2. National nature parks are established in order to protect natural objects and complexes of
ecological, cultural and aesthetic importance and use them for conservation, recreation, scientific
or cultural purposes. They have differentiated regimes of protection and land use, which is
provided by dividing the reserve territory into functional zones. The functional zones and
subzones are established depending on protection regimes and purposes of land use: zapovednik
zones; zakaznik zones and subzones; recreation zones; administrative and industrial zones;
tourist and visitor zones; zones of limited economic activity, etc. (see Comparison Table 3).
National nature parks belong to IUCN category II – SPA protected and managed to preserve its
natural condition.
3. Zakaznik reserves are established to preserve, reproduce, and restore certain natural objects
and complexes. Depending on the protection object, there may be zoological, botanical,
hydrological, geological, geomorphological, hydrogelogical, soil, landscape, and complex
zakaznik reserves. Within their borders, any activities that may affect certain natural objects and
complexes are restricted or ruled out permanently or temporarily (see Comparison Table 4).
Zakaznik reserves of Central Asia fall into IUCN categories III (SPA protected and managed to
preserve its natural or cultural features) and IV (SPA managed primarily to ensure the
maintenance of habitats or to meet the requirements of specific species).
While zapovednik reserves in the five countries of the region are areas of national importance,
nature parks and zakaznik reserves are divided into SPA’s of national importance and local
importance (except Kazakhstan, where all zakaznik reserves are of national importance).
2. SPA establishment procedures
Having similar regimes of protection and land use, the SPA categories (zapovednik reserves,
national nature parks, and zakaznik reserves) are also similar as far as the procedures of
establishment and changes in their area or status are concerned.
Special establishment procedures are legislated depending on whether a SPA is of national or of
local importance (see Comparison Tables 2 to 4). SPA of national importance are established by
decrees of the Government or the Cabinet, while SPA of local importance are established by
resolutions of local executive authorities.
Designated state authorities in the field of SPA and nature (environment) conservation play a key
part in the establishment of specially protected areas:
 establishment of SPA’s of national importance is initiated by the designated authority in
the field of SPA;
 SPA’s of local importance are established on application of designated authorities in the
field of SPA;
 to establish a SPA, an ecological and technical-economic feasibility analysis should be
carried out by a research institute or other project organization and approved by the state
environmental audit.
2.3. Practice of land use in SPA
Land use procedures are legislated depending on the SPA type (see Comparison Table 5).
In the five countries of Central Asia, specially protected areas are owned by the state. In
Uzbekistan, lands can be allotted to legal and private persons for an establishment of private
zakaznik reserves.
In Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, lands under SPA belong to the category of SPA lands (except
game zakaznik reserves in Kyrgyzstan). In Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, lands under
SPA fall into the nature conservation lands (except game zakaznik reserves in Tajikistan). In
Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, lands under game zakaznik reserves belong to other land categories in
accordance with their designated purpose (agricultural lands, forest lands, water resources
protective lands, or reserve lands).
Allocation of lands under SPA of national importance to the category of SPA lands is made by
decrees of the Government (the Cabinet). Designation of lands under SPA of local importance to
the category of SPA lands is made by resolutions of local executive authorities. Lands can be
designated as SPA lands on application of a designated authority in the field of SPA (interested
central and local executive authorities), after the environmental impact assessment has been
approved by the state environmental audit.
Land use planning and control are carried out by a designated authority on management of land
resources and its local bodies.
The right for SPA land plots arises after demarcation on the ground, mapping, making
description of land plots, and after the state registration of documents that certificate the right for
the plots.
Peculiarities of the establishment and activities of various SPA types are legislated in land use
procedures different for each SPA type (see Comparison Table 5).
2.4. SPA management scheme
In all Central Asian countries, natural resources are owned by the state. To organize a
management system, national legislations in each of the countries designate state authorities
responsible for the management of natural objects (see Comparison Table 6).
As a matter of details, management of natural objects can be divided into the following types:
- conservation of nature (environment) and general nature management;
- management of wildlife;
- management of forests;
- SPA management;
- management of fish resources and other water organisms.
In Kazakhstan, nature conservation and management of natural objects are divided at the
governmental level: RK Ministry of Environmental Protection is responsible for nature
conservation and management of mineral resources, while biological resources are protected by a
designated governmental agency – the Forestry and Game Committee of the RK Ministry of
Agriculture.
In Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, nature conservation and management
of natural resources are maintained by one governmental body through its specialized branch
organizations.
All the five Central Asian countries legislated designated governmental SPA management
authorities (see Comparison Table 7). In Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan, SPA are
managed by one governmental body. In Kyrgyzstan, SPA are managed by one governmental
body, with the exception of the Ala-Archa National Park that is managed by the Presidential
Administration of KR). In Uzbekistan, SPA are managed, depending on their type, by several
governmental bodies. Rights of the designated SPA management authorities are legislated by
decrees of the Government or the Cabinet (in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and
Uzbekistan), with the exception of Turkmenistan, where the SPA management is legislated by a
Law of Turkmenistan, standard regulations depending on the SPA type, and standard regulations
on the SPA site.
2.5. Liability for damage done to SPA
The five Central Asian countries enacted liability for non-observance of the SPA legislations.
Questions of liability for violations of the SPA legislations are regulated by the penal code and
the administrative offence code. The codes contain special norms of the penal and administrative
law that create liability for violations of SPA regimes or increased liability for certain types of
ecological offenses, should these be committed within the SPA borders, such as, for example,
violation of order of wildlife use.
Additionally to penalties for violations of the SPA legislations, in all countries of Central Asia
physical and legal persons who did damage to SPA by breaking the SPA legislation should fully
compensate for it. The recovery of damages done by breaking the SPA legislation is fulfilled
voluntarily or upon court order in accordance with established procedures, approved rates, and
methods of damage evaluation.
2.6. International collaboration on SPA
International collaboration on SPA between the Central Asian countries is based on bilateral and
multilateral collaboration and participation in activities of international nature conservation
conventions and organizations.
International conservationist organizations that promote the development of SPA networks at
national and local levels are as follows:
-
World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF);
-
International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN);
-
Technical Assistance for the Commonwealth of Independent States (TACIS);
-
Global Environmental Facility of the World Bank (GEF/WB);
-
UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO).
Since the Central Asian countries obtained independency, the above listed international
conservationist organizations financed and implemented a number of international projects on
the improvement of the SPA system and development of Ecological networks:
-
TACIS intergovernmental project on conservation of the biological diversity in the West
Tien-Shan (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan);
-
GEF/WB Central Asian transboundary project on biodiversity conservation in the West
Tien-Shan (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan);
-
FAO project ‘Improvement and harmonization of the SPA legislation’ (Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan);
-
WWF project ‘Establishment of ECONET for long-term biodiversity conservation in
ecoregions of Central Asia’ (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and
Uzbekistan);
-
GEF/WB project ‘The Caspian environmental programme’ (Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan,
Russia, Azerbaijan, and Iran).
All the Central Asian countries legislated the priority of international law over national ones: if
international treaties ratified by the country set norms other than those in the national legislation,
then the international norms should be applied (except in Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan, where
international norms should be used, unless national norms are stricter). Main international
environment conservation agreements ratified by the countries are as follows (see Comparison
Table 8):
-
Convention on Biological Diversity (ratified by all the CA countries);
-
Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitats
(ratified by all the CA countries except Turkmenistan);
-
World Heritage Convention (ratified by all the CA countries);
-
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
(ratified by Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan);
-
Convention on Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (ratified by
Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan);
-
Agreement on Cooperation in ecology and environment conservation (signed by all the
CA countries);
-
Agreement on Cooperation in joint regulation of use and protection of water resources of
international water sources (signed by all the CA countries).
The Central Asian countries home several regional organizations, foundations, and commissions
whose activities are aimed at nature conservation:
-
The Regional Ecological Center of Central Asia (REC CA);
-
Intergovernmental Commission on Sustainable Development (ICSD);
-
International Foundation for Saving the Aral Sea (IFSA);
-
Intergovernmental Coordination Commission on Water Management in Central Asia
(ICCW).
Currently, the Central Asian countries are discussing the project of a framework convention on
environment conservation for the sustainable development of Central Asia.
In accordance with the national legislations, Central Asian SPA can be included in the World
Heritage List and designated as nature reserves of international importance in the sense of
international conventions.
3. SUGGESTIONS ON FURTHER HARMONIZATION OF NATIONAL LEGISLATIONS ON SPA
To further harmonize national legislations on SPA, countries of Central Asia should, at the
national level, continue analyzing national legislations in regional and international contexts and
taking into account interests of local population, need for conservation of landscape and
biological diversity, and provision of sustainable use of natural complexes.
At the legislative level, each country of the region should:
Priority measures of the national level, aimed on the regional legal harmonization
are the following:
1. Develop and adopt a standard classification of SPA types abiding by IUCN
categories;
Standardize the conceptual structure of terms and definitions on SPA of the countries of
Central Asia, with legal determination of protection regime for each of the PA’s types, similar
for different countries of the Region. This could ensure proper functioning of existing and newly
created PAs as core–areas of Econet in accordance to the recommendations of Econet CA
development. Simultaneously, such standardization would speed-up the process of transboundary
PAs establishment.
In order to standardize the conceptual structure of terms and definitions on SPA of the
countries of Central Asia, the following could be recommended on the national level:
1.1. A new form of PAs: “State national nature parks” (SNNP) need to be established in
Turkmenistan, which coincide to PA area of category II IUCN. Basing on the existing practice
of establishment and management of different types of PAs of Turkmenistan, a standard
regulation status for SNNP should be developed and ratified
1.2. Regimes of protection and management of existing types of PAs of Uzbekistan and
Turkmenistan should be brought in accord with coinciding IUCN categories (using terminology,
standard for Eurasia).
2. Legally standardize procedures of development, approving, and implementation
of SPA management plans.
The procedures of development, approving, and implementation of SPA management
plans are put in a special order in the new law of PAs of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Legal
standardization of the procedures of development, approving, and implementation of SPA
management plans in all countries of the Region would allow to secure necessary funding for
PAs, to develop realistic plans for different measures in particular and PAs’ activities as a whole,
and would allow to involve local communities in decision-making processes and practical
activities of the PAs.
Recently, evaluation and adoption of the “Framework Convention on Environmental Protection
for Sustainable Development in Central Asia” is on-going in the Region. The main goal of this
Convention is environment conservation as an integral part of sustainable development in the
region of Central Asia through establishment of reciprocal rights and obligations of the countries
of the region. Harmonization of legislation, dealing with PAs system could be achieved by
adoption of a Protocol to this Convention, which needs to include regulations for inter-regional
cooperation in the field of biodiversity and landscape conservation of the Central Asian
countries.
Protocol on biodiversity and landscape conservation of the Central Asian countries
for the “Framework Convention on Environmental Protection for Sustainable Development
in Central Asia” should include the following components:
1. Work out and recommend standard procedures of establishment and function of
trans-boundary SPA.
Legislation of Central Asian countries on PAs envisage possibility of transboundary PAs
establishment, but procedures, mechanisms of coordination for establishment and management
of transboundary PAs are not developed. Legal adoption of such mechanisms could speed up
the process of transboundary PAs and other Econet elements establishment in Central Asia.
2. Harmonize and adopt common conceptual set of definitions of the varieties of PAs
and Econet elements, such as “ecological network”, “environmental (ecological) corridor”,
“transboundary SPA”, “buffer zone”, etc.
Recently different countries of the region of Central Asia use different terminology and
variable set of types and categories of PAs. Unification of the terminology and set of types and
categories of PAs would improve possibilities of regional cooperation in the field of regional
ecological network establishment.
3. Work out and recommend unified regimes of protection and sustainable use for
various types of SPAs in accordance to guidelines and recommendations of IUCN.
Some of the countries of the Region don’t follow guidelines and recommendations of
IUCN concerning regimes of protection and sustainable use of various types of SPAs. Variations
in the regime of protection applied for similar types of PAs could lead to weakening of
biodiversity and landscape protection of the whole ecological network of Central Asia.
4. Formalize that SPA downgrading and allocation of SPA lands into other land
categories are only possible in exceptional cases, such as a loss of a site’s special importance
as a result of a natural disaster.
Unfortunately, within the last 15 years a tendency can be registered in some of the
countries of the region to abolish some of the PAs (or their parts), or to bring down their status of
protection. This tendency is definitely negative for the environment conservation of the region as
a whole and of the countries in particular. In order to ensure biodiversity and landscape
conservation limitations for downgrading should be included in the national laws of all of the
countries.
5. Increase status and improve regimes of protection and use on SPA included in the
World Heritage List and the list of internationally important wetlands (Ramsar sites)
All countries of the region are parties of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, and
all countries besides Turkmenistan are parties of the Ramsar Convention (Wetlands of
international importance). Unfortunately, not all of the countries follow the rules and standards
of these Conventions, concerning the regime of protection and use on SPA included in the World
Heritage List and the list of internationally important wetlands (Ramsar sites). Adoption of a
protocol on biodiversity and landscape conservation could improve conservation of these sites in
the region of Central Asia.
6. Recommend to standardize the system of financing SPA, including budget means,
own means, and other financing sources (including entrance fees for visitors)
Different countries of the Region legally support different ways of PAs’ system funding.
Unification of the potential ways of PAs funding could improve biodiversity and landscape
conservation on a regional level.
7. Develop a standard approach to the concept of protection zones and buffer zones
on SPA; formalize measures of official support and economic promotion of sustainable
nature management in protection and buffer zones of SPA’s and environmental corridors.
Unified measures of official support and economic promotion of sustainable nature
management of land- and resource-users in protection and buffer zones of SPA’s and
environmental corridors of the region could improve biodiversity and landscape conservation on
a regional level in protection and buffer zones and ecological corridors.
8. Standardize liability for violations of laws on SPA, as well as on protection,
recruitment, and utilization of wild animals and plants.
Unification of liability for violations of laws on SPA would support a common approach of the
countries of the region towards the rule-breakers in the system of PAs legislation, which would
help to decrease the level of nature conservation laws violation in the region (in the
transboundary territories in particular).
All nature complexes and ecological processes in the countries of the Region are interconnected
and interrelated. So, in case, that such a Protocol is developed and adopted, the following
concrete measures could be recommended as the first step of the protocol obligations’
implementation in order to support transboundaty coordination of establishment and
management of PAs of the region:
1. Development and regional endorsement (ISDC level) of a unified Concept of planning,
designing and management of SPAs of the region (Econets).
2. Development, evaluation and adoption of a scheme (regional plan) and timetable of
transboundary PAs establishment.
3. Development of unified approaches towards monitoring and management of natural nature
complexes of transboundary PAs.
4. Preparation and concluding special treaties on the management of particular transboundary
PAs.
5. Development of proposals on the establishment of an inter-regional monitoring system and
information exchange, especially concerning threats or initiation of extreme situations in
/around the transboundary PAs.
Being based on the Regional documents and decisions, national documents can be further
developed in the countries, including concrete measures and obligations, concerning particular
transboundary PAs, falling under jurisdiction of the country. As one of the possible examples of
such documents “Decree of the Government of Russian Federation” ( № 907-р, 3 July 2003) can
be suggested.
It includes both a separate paragraph (§5) «Cooperation in the sphere of
sustainable use of nature resources and environment conservation”, as well as particular
measures, connected with customs regulation (CITES), infrastructure creation, science and
information exchange, etc. –which are directly connected with the establishment, functioning
and management of transboundary PAs – elements of Econet.
4. ATTACHMENTS.
Comparison Table 1 – SPA types
Comparison
object
Types of
protected areas
Countries of Central Asia
Tajikistan
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
1. State Strict Nature
Reserves (zapovednik),
including Biosphere
Reserves;
2. State National Nature
Parks;
3. State Nature Reserves
(reservat);
4. State Nature Parks;
5. State Monuments of
Nature;
6. State Protection Zones;
7. State Nature Reserves
(zakaznik);
8. State Game Parks;
9. State Botanical
Gardens;
10. State Arboretum
Parks;
11. State Nature Seporter
Reserves
1. State Strict Nature
Reserves (zapovednik);
2. State National Nature
Parks;
3. State Nature Reserves
(zakaznik);
4. State Monuments of
Nature;
5. State Botanical
Gardens;
6. State Arboretum Parks;
7. State Game Parks;
8. Nature Areas of
Recreational Value
1. State Strict Nature
Reserves (zapovednik),
including Biosphere
Reserves;
2. State Nature Parks of
national importance
(national parks) and local
importance (provincial
parks);
3. State Nature Reserves
(zakaznik) of national and
regional importance;
4. State Monuments of
Nature of national and
regional importance;
5. Ecological and
ethnographic zones;
6. Arboretum Parks;
7. Botanical Gardens;
8. Nature zones;
9. Resorts;
10. Zones of Therapeutic
Importance;
11. National Recreation
Zones;
Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan
1. State Strict Nature
Reserves (zapovednik),
including Biosphere
Reserves;
2. State Nature Reserves
(zakaznik);
3. State Monuments of
Nature;
4. Nature Sites of
Therapeutic Importance
1. State Strict Nature
Reserves (zapovednik);
2. Complex (landscape)
Nature Reserves (zakaznik);
3. Nature Parks;
4. State Monuments of
Nature;
5. Territories for
conservation, reproduction
and restoration of nature
objects and complexes
(zakaznik reserves, nature
nurseries and fish ponds);
6. Protected landscapes
(natural resort territories,
recreation zones, water
protection zones, coastal
margins, sanitary protection
zones of water bodies,
formation zones of surface
and underground streams;
7. Territories for managing
certain nature resources
(lands of the state forest
fund and game reserves)
Comparison Table 2 – Zapovednik Nature Reserves
Comparison
object
Term in Use
Definition
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
State Strict Nature Reserve
(zapovednik)
SPA designed for conservation
and research of natural
processes, typical and singular
ecosystems, biological diversity,
and genetic heritage of plant and
animal life
State Strict Reserve (zapovednik)
Establishment
procedure
Decision is made by the
Government on application of
designated authorities after the
ecological and technicaleconomic feasibility analysis has
been approved by the state
environmental audit
Management
Legal person in the form of a
state institution controlled by
designated authorities
Regime
A strict protection regime that
rules out economic exploitation
of natural resources. Educational,
tourist, recreation and other
similar activities are allowable
on specially allocated sites that
do not include valuable
ecological systems.
It is possible to designate a
zapovednik as a state biosphere
seporter reserve that is aimed at
the restoration and study of
unique natural complexes
disturbed by human activities
and unable to self-restore.
Peculiarities
Countries of Central Asia
Tajikistan
Conservationist and research
institutions established to
conserve and study genetic
heritage of plant and animal
communities; typical and unique
ecosystems and landscapes; to
provide conditions for the due
development of natural
processes; to lay the groundwork
for nature conservation
Designated by a governmental
regulation based on technicaleconomic and ecological
feasibility analysis and project
proposal developed by competent
research or other project
organizations and approved by
state nature conservation
authorities
Legal person financed from the
state budget and other sources;
acts on the basis of the Statute
approved by its overhead
organization
Banned are economic and other
activities that contradict the goals
of the reserves; disturb
development of natural
processes; or threat natural
complexes and objects.
None
Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan
State Strict Reserve (zapovednik)
State Strict Reserve (zapovednik)
SPA organized to conserve and
study genetic fund of animal and
plant life; typical and unique
ecological and geological
systems and landscapes; to
provide conditions for the proper
development of natural
processes; to lay a scientific
foundation for nature
conservation
Established as a legal person
under the Standard Regulation on
State Reserves of Turkmenistan
(1995)
SPA of national importance
having a strict protection regime
for natural objects and
complexes; and targeting
conservation and study of typical
ecological systems, genetic
heritage of plants and animals
Acts on the basis of the Statute
approved by the Government of
Tajikistan. Management is
provided by the Ministry of
Nature Conservation.
Banned are economic and other
activities that disturb the
development of natural
processes; threaten the status of
natural complexes and objects; or
contradict the goals of the
reserve
Legal person that acts according
to the Statute and is financed
from the state budget.
Acts on the basis of statute
approved by the Cabinet of
Uzbekistan.
Banned are economic and other
activities that contradict the goals
of the reserves; disturb
development of natural
processes; or threat natural
complexes and objects.
Any activities are forbidden
apart from research and
monitoring of the natural
environment. Fire prevention
measures are legitimate.
A zapovednik included in the
international system of biosphere
reserves, carrying out global
ecological monitoring, and
having a UNESCO certificate is
designated as a state biosphere
reserve.
SPA has the status of state nature
reserves (zapovednik), including
biosphere reserves
None
State Strict Nature Reserve
(zapovednik)
Conservation and research
institutions aimed at preservation
and study of natural resources,
processes, and phenomena;
genetic heritage of
microorganisms, plants, and
animals; typical and unique
ecosystems
Decision is made by the
Government of Tajikistan on
application of designated nature
conservation authorities, local
administrations, and interested
state bodies
Established as a state nature
conservation and research
institution by decision of the
Cabinet after a designated
authority submits a respective
proposal
Comparison Table 3 – National nature parks
Comparison
Countries of Central Asia
object
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Tajikistan
Turkmenistan
National nature park
National nature park
State nature park
Not provided for
Term in Use
The SPA meant for the
The SPA are established for the
Conservationist institutions that
Definition
conservation, restoration, and
conservation of natural
include natural complexes of
manifold use of natural,
historical, and cultural
complexes and objects of special
ecological, recreational, and
scientific importance
Decision is made by the
Government on application of
designated authorities after the
ecological and technicaleconomic feasibility analysis was
approved by the state
environmental audit
complexes of special ecological,
historical, and aesthetic
importance;
Management
Legal person in the form of a
state institution controlled by
designated authorities
Zoning
Depending on protection regimes
and goals of land use, there are
the following functional zones
and subzones:
1) strict protection regime
(zapovednik);
2) zakaznik protection regime
with subzones:
- recreational use;
- administrative or
manufacture use;
- tourist and visitor services;
- limited economic use;
Legal person that acts on the
basis of the Statute approved by
its overhead organization and is
financed from the state budget
and other sources;
Regimes of protection and nature
use vary from site to site
(zapovednik subzones, recreation
subzones, etc.) depending on
their ecological, cultural, and
aesthetic importance.
Establishment
procedure
Designated by a governmental
regulation on application of
designated authorities
special ecological, historical, or
aesthetic importance and are to
be used in conservationist,
recreational, educational,
scientific, and cultural purposes.
Decision on the establishment of
state nature parks of national
importance (national parks) and
the approval of their Statute are
made by the Government of
Tajikistan on application of
designated authorities. Decisions
on the establishment of natural
parks of local importance
(provincial parks) are made by
local communities based on
application of designated
authorities.
The SPA act on the basis of
statutes approved by establisher
authorities.
Differentiated protection and
utilization regimes determined
by the Regulation on State
Nature Park in accordance with
local natural and social
peculiarities. Therefore, national
nature parks are divided into the
following zones:
- zapovednik zones with
protection regimes applied
to state nature reserves;
- zakaznik zones, protection
zones of historical objects,
zones of recreation,
economic and other use
that do not contradict goals
of the state nature park.
Possibility and expedience
of dividing territory of a
state nature park into zones
are determined by
designated nature
conservation authorities.
Uzbekistan
Nature park
SPA aimed at conservation and
use of natural objects and
complexes of special ecological,
cultural, and aesthetic
importance in conservationist,
recreational, scientific, or
cultural purposes
The SPA’s are state nature
conservation institutions.
National nature parks are
established by decision of the
Cabinet of Uzbekistan. Nature
parks of local importance are
established by decisions of local
administrations on application of
a designated governmental
authority.
The SPA act on the basis of
statutes approved by designated
state authorities.
Protection
regimes
differ
according to the following zones:
- zapovednik zones
- zones of recreation,
economic and other use
Should there be conditions for
health resorts in a nature park,
special resort zones are outlined,
with protection regimes specified
for natural health resort areas
Regime
Banned in zapovednik zones are
any economic and recreational
activities. These zones have a
protection regime provided for
state strict nature reserves
(zapovednik).
Zakaznik zones provide
conditions for conservation of
natural complexes and objects,
with strictly regulated land uses
that include recreation, limited
economic activities,
administrative and fabrication
functions, and visitor services;
allowed are sport hunting and
fishing, exploitation of
recreational centers, hotels,
camping sites, museums and
other tourist facilities
Banned are any activities that
threaten protected natural
complexes and other objects, in
particular:
- activities that alter water
regimes of the parks;
- construction and
exploitation of industrial or
other objects irrelevant to
the park activities;
- prospecting and mining for
mineral resources;
- principal felling of forests;
- introduction of new species
of animal and plant.
Regulations on national nature
parks may restrict or ban other
types of activity in the park that
decrease natural, scientific,
aesthetic, and cultural values of
its territory.
Banned are:
- activities that threaten the
existence of natural
complexes and protected
historical and cultural
objects;
- prospecting and mining for
mineral resources;
- felling trees and shrubs,
immethodical use of flora
and fauna;
- manufacturing activities
that are dangerous to the
environment (pulp and
paper mills, chemical
industry);
- activities that alter the
water regime;
- construction of principal
roads, pipelines, power
lines and other utilities
irrelevant to park
activities;
- introduction of living
organisms for
acclimatization.
According to the Regulation on
Natural Parks, other types of
activity may be banned or
restricted in the park, if they
decrease natural, scientific,
aesthetic, and cultural values of
its territory.
Peculiarities
A SPA of national importance
Not provided for
The SPA may be of national
importance (national parks) or of
local importance (provincial
parks)
Zapovednik zones have
protection regimes provided for
state strict nature reserves.
Depending on status of nature
objects and complexes,
recreational zones may be
divided into sites with different
protection regimes. Zones of
economic or other land use may
be used for settlements and
activities that do not disturb
natural objects and complexes.
Protection regimes of each zone
are determined by the Regulation
on Natural Parks. In a nature
park it is forbidden:
- to cut trees and shrubs
(except for improvement
thinning and sanitation
felling);
- to alter water regimes and
hydrogeological regimes;
- to carry out road or other
communication works that
do not fit into park
activities;
- to store and bury wastes, to
discharge effluents;
- to introduce alien species
and subspecies of living
organisms for
acclimatization purposes.
Other types of activity that may
harm natural objects and
complexes can be limited or
banned in nature parks.
The SPA may be of national
importance (national nature
parks) or of local importance
(provincial parks)
Comparison Table 4 – Zakaznik Nature Reserves
Comparison
object
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
State Nature Reserve
State Nature Reserve (zakaznik)
Term in Use
(zakaznik)
Countries of Central Asia
Tajikistan
State Nature Reserve (zakaznik)
Turkmenistan
Nature Reserve (zakaznik)
State zakaznik reserves are
established by decision of the
Cabinet of Uzbekistan on
application of designated
authorities as well as of legal
or physical persons. Zakaznik
reserves of local importance
are established by decisions
of local administrations on
application of a designated
governmental authority as
well as of legal or physical
persons.
Protection regimes of each
zakaznik reserve are detailed
in their Statutes approved by
governmental authorities,
legal or physical persons that
are in charge of the reserve.
A state nature reserve
(zakaznik) or a site with a
regulated regime of economic
activities aimed at
conservation and reproduction
of one or several objects of
the state protected natural
fund.
Decision is made by the
Government on application of
designated authorities after
the ecological and technicaleconomic feasibility analysis
was approved by the state
environmental audit
The SPA are established for the
conservation, reproduction, and restoration
of natural complexes or their parts in order
to solve conservationist problems of the
reserve.
Sites allocated for conservation
and restoration of natural
complexes or their parts for the
period necessary for completing
this task.
Established by a governmental regulation
or by decisions of provincial
administrations.
State zakaznik reserves are
established by decision of the
Cabinet of Tajikistan on
application of designated
authorities. Zakaznik reserves of
local importance are established
by decisions of provincial or
local authorities.
Established according to the
Standard Regulation on State
Zakaznik Reserves of
Turkmenistan (1995).
Management
The central executive
authority, which supervises
state zakaznik reserves,
organizes actions on
conservation and restoration
of state protected objects
within the reserves. They are
carried out by special
agencies financed from the
sources allocated for SPA’s.
Goals, objectives, and regimes of state
zakaznik reserves are determined in their
Statutes approved by the supervising
authority. Establishment and functioning
of the reserves are financed from the state
budget and other sources.
Goals, objectives, and regimes
of state zakaznik reserves are
determined in their Statutes.
Costs associated with the
establishment and functioning
of the reserves are covered
from the state budget and other
sources.
Regime
Banned are any activities that
threaten existence or
reproduction of protected
objects. State nature zakaznik
reserves can be used,
according to their Statutes, for
scientific, educational,
awareness-raising, and limited
economic activities. Owners
and land users can carry out
economic activities in state
zakaznik reserves, if they
observe established
limitations.
Banned are types of activity that contradict
goals of the zakaznik reserves, in
particular:
regimes of complex zakaznik
reserves are equivalent to those of
state strict nature reserves
(zapovednik) and ban economic
activities that threaten persistence
of natural complexes;
regimes of zoological zakazniks
ban all types of hunting for wild
animals, destroying their
structures and shelters, collecting
eggs and other activities that may
cause death of the animals;
regimes of botanical zakaznik
The state zakaznik reserves of
national importance are
supervised by designated
authorities and financed from the
state budget. Subordination and
financing of zakaznik reserves
are determined by the authorities
that make decisions on their
organization. Statutes of zakaznik
reserves should be approved by
the establisher of the reserves.
Banned or restricted on
territories of state zakaznik
reserves are any activities that
contradict objectives of the
reserves. Objectives and
protection details of each state
zakaznik reserve are specified in
its Statute. Companies,
institutions, and organizations
that own land within borders of
state zakaznik reserves must
observe protection regimes of the
reserves.
Definition
Establishment
procedure
Uzbekistan
State Nature Reserve
(zakaznik)
The SPA are established for
the conservation, reproduction,
and restoration of parts of
natural complexes for the
period necessary to solve
conservationist problems of the
reserve.
Banned or restricted on
territories of state zakaznik
reserves are any activities that
contradict goals of the
reserves.
SPA aimed at conservation,
reproduction, and restoration
of natural objects and
complexes.
Banned within territories of
the zakaznik reserves (except
for
complex
landscape
zakaznik
reserves),
permanently or temporarily,
are any activities that may
harm natural objects of
complexes. Legal persons and
individuals that own land or
water within borders of
zakaznik
reserves
must
observe
the
established
protection regimes.
Peculiarities
A SPA of national
importance. There can be the
following types of state
zakaznik reserves:
- zoological;
- botanical;
- hydrological;
- geological;
- geomorphological;
- hydrogeological;
- soil;
- landscape;
- complex.
reserves ban cattle grazing, hay
harvesting, collecting flowers,
bulbs and tubers, making fires,
driving vehicles and other
activities that may cause destroy
plants;
regimes of forest zakaznik
reserves ban cattle grazing, hay
harvesting, all types of felling
(except for sanitary cutting),
introduction of tree plants alien to
the area;
regimes of hydrogeological
zakaznik reserves ban extraction
of stone, gravel, sand and other
minerals, destruction of caves,
excavations, activities that may
alter natural hydrological
regimes, surveys and research
activities associated with
destruction of natural components
of the reserve.
Subdivided to zakaznik reserves of
national importance, with duration of 10
years or more, and zakaznik reserves of
local importance, with duration of up to 5
years. Thematically, they are divided to
the following types:
complex reserves;
zoological reserves;
botanical reserves;
forest reserves;
hydrogeological reserves.
The SPA may be of national or
local importance
None
The zakaznik reserves are
established for at least 10
years or permanently. They
can be of national or local
importance; state or private;
corporate or non-corporate.
They are subdivided to the
following types:
biological (botanical,
zoological);
- paleontologic;
hydrological (mire,
lake, river);
geological;
- mineralogical
Comparison Table 5 – Land Use in SPA’s
Comparison
object
Land tenure
Land category
Land allocation
procedure
Scheme of land
allocation
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Countries of Central Asia
Tajikistan
Uzbekistan
State owned
State owned
State owned
State owned
Lands of specially protected
areas of nature
Lands of specially protected
areas of nature (except for game
zakaznik reserves)
Allocation of lands to categories
and from one category to another
is made by designated authorities
within their competence.
Protected conservation lands of
zakaznik reserves (except for
game zakaznik reserves)
Lands are allocated by
designated executive authorities.
Protected conservation lands
Protected conservation lands.
Lands are allocated to categories
according to long-term plans of
land use approved by the
Government of Turkmenistan.
Lands are allocated by the
Cabinet of Uzbekistan.
Land allocation is maintained by
the Land Management
Committee of Kyrgyzstan and its
local bodies. The decision is
made by designated authorities.
Government of Tajikistan
allocates plots for perpetual and
limited land use from all land
categories with no regard of plot
size as agreed with local,
municipal, and provincial
executive authorities and the
Land Management Committee of
Tajikistan.
Lands are allocated by decision
of the Government of
Turkmenistan.
In accordance with the Statute of
the reserve.
Lands for SPA establishment are
allocated by decisions of local
governmental authorities on
application of designated
governmental authorities as well
as legal or physical persons. The
lands owned by the state are
managed by the Cabinet of
Uzbekistan.
The right for land plots arises
after land plots are delineated,
plans and descriptions made, and
ownership papers state
registered.
The decision on establishment of
a state zapovednik reserve is
made by Cabinet of Uzbekistan
on application of a designated
authority.
Not provided for
Nature parks are situated on
plots allocated to them for use
and on plots that belong to other
legal and physical persons.
Establishment of state zakaznik
reserves does not entail a
withdrawal of corresponding
plots of land or water from
owners or users.
Land plots can be allocated to
legal or physical persons for the
establishment of private zakaznik
reserves. Land plots and nature
objects are allocated for
Allocation of lands to specially
protected areas of national
importance is made by the
Government of Kazakhstan,
while allocation of lands to
specially protected areas of local
importance is made by provincial
executive authorities on
application of central executive
authorities after the ecological
and technical-economic
feasibility analysis was approved
by the state environmental audit
Land allocation for SPA’s is
based on the programme of SPA
development. Lands are
allocated without withdrawal of
plots from users and owners. The
right of land use is granted by
governmental regulations.
Measuring works on land
allocation for specially protected
areas are financed from the state
budget or local budgets,
depending on the SPA category.
Peculiarities for
zapovednik
reserves
They have right for land use (are
land users).
Plots of land and water are
withdrawn from economic
exploitation and allocated for
perpetual use with all natural
resources and objects that are
found within their borders.
Peculiarities for
national nature
parks
Zones of limited economic use
may include plots allocated to
the park for perpetual use or
settled without withdrawal from
other owners and users.
The zakaznik reserves are
established on plots without their
withdrawal from owners and
users. The owners and users shall
provide the right of a limited
Plots of land or water with all
natural resources and objects
within them are allocated to
nature parks for perpetual use.
Land is allocated, completely
and free, for perpetual use as a
zapovednik reserve. The order of
land use is determined by
supervising authorities. Leasing
land and other natural resources
of the reserve is forbidden.
Nature parks are situated on plots
allocated to them for use or
ownership and on plots of other
owners and users.
Establishment of state zakaznik
reserves does not entail a
withdrawal of corresponding
plots of land or water from
owners or users.
Establishment of state zakaznik
reserves does not necessitate a
withdrawal of corresponding
plots of land or water from
owners or users.
Peculiarities for
zakaznik reserves
Turkmenistan
State owned
appropriated use of the settled
plots.
incorporated private zakaznik
and state zakaznik reserves in
accordance with a standard
procedure. Plots that contain
non-corporate zakaznik reserves
are not withdrawn from
economic use by their owners
and tenants.
Comparison table 6 – Management of natural objects
Comparison
object
Conservation of
nature (natural
environment)
and land
management
Wildlife
Forests
SPA
Kazakhstan
Ministry of nature
conservation of RK
(Governmental Decree No
1113 from 28.10.2004)
Countries of Central Asia
Designated state authorities (regulatory legal act)
Kyrgyzstan
Tajikistan
Turkmenistan
Ministry or ecology and
emergency response
(Governmental Decree of
KR No 140 from
18.03.2005)
Forestry and Game
Committee of the Ministry
of Agriculture of Republic
Kazakhstan
(Governmental Decree of
Republic Kazakhstan No
310 rom 06.04.2005)
State Forestry Service of
Kyrgyzstan Republic
(Presidential edict No 3
from 04.01.2002)
Ministry of nature
conservation of RT (Law of
RT No 905 from
27.12.1993);
State committee of
environmental protection
and forestry of RT
(Governmental Decree No
70 from 01.03.2004)
Ministry of nature
conservation of RT (Law of
RT No 990 from
20.07.1994);
Local councils (majlis)of
people’s deputies (Law of
RT No 990 from
20.07.1994)
Forestry production
association of RT (FPA
"Tajikles") (Law of
Republic Tajikistan No 770
from 24.06.1993)
State committee of
environmental protection
and forestry of RT
(Governmental Decree No
70 from 01.03.2004)
Ministry of nature
conservation of
Turkmenistan (Law of
Turkmenistan No 230-I
from 12.11.1991; Law
of Turkmenistan No
230-I from 12.06.1997)
Uzbekistan
State Committee of RUz
for nature conservation
(Resolution of the
Cabinet of RUz from
01.04.1998);
Forestry Board of the
Ministry of agriculture
and water management of
RUz (Presidential edict
of RUz No УП-2536
from 07.02.2000)
Forestry Board of the
Ministry of agriculture
and water management of
RUz (Presidential edict
of RUz No УП-2536
from 07.02.2000)
State Committee of RUz
for nature conservation
(Resolution of the
Cabinet of RUz from
01.04.1998);
Forestry Board of the
Ministry of agriculture
and water management of
RUz (Resolution of the
Cabinet of RUz from
28.07.2003)
Fish and other
water animals
Fisheries Committee of the
Ministry of agriculture of
Republic Kazakhstan
(Governmental Decree of
RK No 310 from
06.04.2005)
Ministry or ecology and
emergency response
(Governmental Decree of
KR No 140 from
18.03.2005)
State fisheries
committee of
Turkmenistan (Law of
Turkmenistan No 230-I
from 12.06.1997)
State Committee of RUz
for nature conservation
(Resolution of the
Cabinet of RUz from
01.04.1998);
Comparison table 7 – SPA Management
Comparison
object
Zapovednik
reserves
National nature
parks
Zakaznik
reserves of
national
importance
Kazakhstan
Forestry and Game
Committee of the RK
Ministry of Agriculture
(RK Governmental Decree
No 310 from 06.04.2005)
Countries of Central Asia
Designated state authorities (regulatory legal act)
Kyrgyzstan
Tajikistan
Turkmenistan
State Agency for
environment conservation
and forestry of the KR
Government (KR
Governmental Decree No
617 from 16.12.2005)
State Environment and
Forestry Committee of RT
(RT Governmental Decree
No 70 from 01.03.2004)
Ministry of Nature
Conservation of
Turkmenistan (Law of
Turkmenistan from 12
November 1991, Law of
Turkmenistan from
12.06.1997 No 230-I)
State Agency for
environment conservation
and forestry of the KR
Government (KR
Governmental Decree No
617 from 16.12.2005)
except for the Ala-Archa
national park that is
managed by the
Presidential
Administration of KR.
Not provided for (the
SPA type is not
stipulated).
State Agency for
environment conservation
and forestry of the KR
Government (KR
Governmental Decree No
617 from 16.12.2005)
Ministry of Nature
Conservation of
Turkmenistan (Law of
Turkmenistan from
12.11.1991, Law of
Turkmenistan from
12.06.1997 No 230-I)
Uzbekistan
State Committee of RUz
for nature conservation
(Resolution of the
Cabinet of RUz from
01.04.1998);
Forestry Board of the
Ministry of agriculture
and water management of
RUz (Resolution of the
Cabinet of RUz from
28.07.2003)
State Committee of RUz
for nature conservation
(Resolution of the
Cabinet of RUz from
01.04.1998);
Forestry Board of the
Ministry of agriculture
and water management of
RUz (Resolution of the
Cabinet of RUz from
28.07.2003) except for
the national park
managed by the Tashkent
Khakimat
(administration).
State Committee of RUz
for nature conservation
(Resolution of the
Cabinet of RUz from
01.04.1998);
Forestry Board of the
Ministry of agriculture
and water management of
RUz (Resolution of the
Cabinet of RUz from
28.07.2003)
Comparison Table 8 – Ratified international treaties
Comparison object
Convention in biological diversity (CBD)
Biosafety Protocol
Convention in International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna
(CITES)
The Convention in the Conservation of
Migratory Species of Wild Animals (Bonn
convention)
United Nations Convention to Combat
Desertification (UNCCD)
The Convention in Wetlands of International
Importance, especially as Waterfowl Habitat
(Ramsar Convention)
Convention in access to information, public
participation in decision-making and access to
justice in environmental matters (Aarhus
Convention)
UN Framework Convention in Climate
Change
Basel Convention in the Control of
Transboundary Movements of Hazardous
Wastes and Their Disposal
Convention Concerning the Protection of the
World Cultural and Natural Heritage
(UNESCO WHC)
Vienna Convention for the Protection of the
Ozone Layer
The Montreal Protocol in Substances That
Deplete the Ozone Layer
Countries of Central Asia -Dates of ratification / joining (according to convention secretariats)
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Tajikistan
Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan
Ratified in
September 1994
Joined in
August 1996
Joined in
October 2005
Joined in
October 1997
Joined in
February 2002
Joined in
September 1996
Joined in
July 1995
-
-
Joined in January
2000
-
-
-
Joined in
July 1997
Ratified in
December 2005
-
Joined in
February 2001
-
Joined in
September 1998
July 1997
Joined in
September 1996
Joined in
July 1997
Ratified in
September 1996
Ratified in
October 1995
Ratified in
December 2005
Joined in
March 2003
Joined in
November 2001
-
Joined in
February 2002
January 2001
Joined in
May 2001
Joined in
July 2001
Joined in
June 1999
-
Ratified in
May 1995
Joined in
May 2000
Ratified in
July 1997
Joined in
June 1996
Joined in
May 1993
Joined in
September 1997
Ratified in
February 1996
-
Ratified in
August 1996
Ratified in
May 1996
Joined in
April 1994
Joined in
July 1995
Succeeded in
August 1992
Succeeded in
September 1994
Succeeded in
January 1993
Joined in
October 1997
Joined in
May 2000
Ratified in
December 1997
Joined in
November 1993
Ratified in
May 1997
-
Ratified in
Ratified in