Best Protected Area

The Badai Tugai Nature Reserve is a vital protected area within Uzbekistan’s Amu Darya delta tugai forest. It supports significant biodiversity including the Bukhara deer and the rare white-tailed eagle. This ecological reserve offers opportunities for conservation research and responsible wildlife...

Protects the Zarafshan river valley and its riparian ecosystems, home to the Bukhara deer and numerous endemic plants.

Mount Chatkal Biosphere Reserve, established in 1997 and located in Uzbekistan's Western Tian Shan mountains, protects diverse flora & fauna including snow leopards and marmots across its rugged terrain.

Pap National Nature Park, located in northeastern Papua New Guinea, encompasses approximately 370,000 hectares of pristine lowland rainforest and supports exceptional biodiversity including numerous endemic species.

Chatkal State Nature Reserve, located in Uzbekistan's western Tian Shan mountains, encompasses diverse ecosystems including forests, alpine meadows, and rugged peaks, protecting numerous endemic flora and fauna across roughly 380,000 hectares.

Omankutan National Nature Park in Borneo, Indonesia, safeguards approximately 745 square kilometers of lowland dipterocarp forest and peat swamp habitat crucial for orangutan populations and diverse wildlife.

Zaamin State Nature Reserve, located in Uzbekistan's western Tian Shan mountains, protects diverse flora and fauna including endemic species of plants and animals across its rugged terrain.

Nuratau State Nature Reserve in Uzbekistan protects diverse montane ecosystems and unique flora & fauna, including the endemic Nuratau pheasant, across its rugged landscapes.

The Kyzylkum Desert Reserve safeguards Uzbekistan’s largest desert region, a remarkably diverse landscape. It encompasses ancient saxaul woodlands, vital habitat for species like goitered gazelles and the Central Asian cobra, alongside unique geological formations. The reserve supports ecological to...

The Aydar-Arnasay Lakes System in Kazakhstan is a Ramsar site and national park encompassing two saline lakes vital for migratory birds and supporting unique halophyte ecosystems within the Kyzylkum Desert.

Lower Amudarya State Biosphere Reserve, established in 2005 across Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, protects vital wetlands supporting diverse flora & fauna including the critically endangered Saiga antelope and numerous migratory bird species.

Lake Dengizkul, located in the Tuvaim Mountains of Tuva, Russia, is a high-altitude endorheic lake within the Uvs Nuur Basin National Park, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its unique wetland ecosystem.

Surkhan State Nature Reserve in southern Uzbekistan protects diverse riparian habitats along the Surkhan River and surrounding mountains, safeguarding species like the striped hyena and various birdlife.

The Bukhara Special Nature Reserve safeguards a significant portion of Uzbekistan’s Kyzylkum Desert. It protects ancient saxaul woodlands – a unique tree species vital to the region's ecosystem – and supports populations of the endangered goitered gazelle. Established for conservation, the reserve i...

Babatag National Nature Park, located in East Kazakhstan, protects globally important nesting sites for Dalmatian pelicans and diverse steppe ecosystems supporting rare flora and fauna.

Sudochye Lake System, located in Belarus' Pripyat National Park, comprises seven interconnected lakes and surrounding wetlands recognized as a Ramsar site for its significant biodiversity and ecological value.

Hisar State Reserve in Kazakhstan protects globally important breeding grounds for the Dalmatian pelican and white-winged black tern within a vast wetland ecosystem.

The Tugay Forest Reserve safeguards a unique ecosystem within Uzbekistan’s eastern region. It protects the distinctive tugay forests—dense woodlands found alongside the Amu Darya River. These forests are vital for conserving endangered species like Turkestan wild boar and represent a significant bot...

South Ustyurt National Nature Park in Kazakhstan protects vast landscapes of eroded chalk cliffs and desert plains, harboring unique flora & fauna adapted to its harsh, arid environment.

Jeyran Ecocenter, located in Uzbekistan's Kyzylkum Desert, protects reintroduced goitered gazelle populations and surrounding habitats through conservation efforts and sustainable tourism initiatives.

Markaziy Kizilkum National Nature Park, located in Uzbekistan, protects approximately 769,423 hectares of desert landscapes including sand dunes, badlands, and mountain areas supporting diverse flora and fauna.

Aralkum National Nature Park in Uzbekistan protects a fragile desert landscape formed by the retreating Aral Sea, supporting unique flora and fauna adapted to extreme conditions.

Aral-Paygambar Reserve in Kazakhstan protects diverse habitats including saxaul forests and wetlands vital for migratory birds along the now-shrinking Aral Sea basin.

Located within the Aksu-Jabagly Nature Reserve in Uzbekistan, the Tudakul and Kuymazar Water Reservoirs provide vital habitat for diverse flora and fauna amidst a unique mountain landscape.

Kitab Geological National Nature Park in Azerbaijan preserves unique exposures of Middle Eocene sedimentary rocks showcasing fossilized plants and marine organisms, vital for understanding regional geological history.

Khorezm National Nature Park, established in Uzbekistan, safeguards diverse ecosystems including wetlands, desert landscapes, and saxaul forests vital for migratory birds and endemic flora & fauna across the Aral Sea basin.

Aralbuyi National Nature Park, located in Xinjiang, China, protects diverse habitats including wetlands and grasslands supporting vulnerable species like the wild camel and snow leopard.

The Suzak State Nature Reserve is a protected area within Uzbekistan’s Syr Darya Valley. It encompasses significant wetland ecosystems crucial for numerous migratory birds, most notably the Dalmatian pelican – one of the world's rarest wading bird species. The reserve supports diverse wildlife and p...

Sangardak Nature Sanctuary, located in Azerbaijan, protects diverse habitats including forest, steppe, and wetland ecosystems supporting numerous rare and endemic plant and animal species.