Nestled between majestic mountains and shimmering waters, Kyrgyzstan’s Issyk-Kul Basin is more than a scenic wonder, it is a living landscape rich in biodiversity, cultural heritage, and community spirit.
Today, this region is at the heart of a powerful movement to restore and protect nature through Phase 4 of the Community Development and Knowledge Management for the Satoyama Initiative Programme (COMDEKS) – a global initiative that supports community-led conservation and empowerment through the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP), implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
A Landscape Rooted in Nature and Tradition
Lake Issyk-Kul is a Ramsar-listed wetland and a vital stopover for migratory birds and other species. But its importance goes far beyond ecology. “The Issyk-Kul Basin is not only a national treasure, it’s a globally significant landscape,” says Altynai Achilova, Technical Expert at the Rural Development Fund (RDF). “Our communities are deeply connected to the land and have inherited rich traditional knowledge that guides sustainable living.”
This connection is central to the COMDEKS landscape strategy, which blends environmental science with local wisdom to build resilience in the Issyk-Kul Basin in the face of climate change and ecological degradation.