Shumkar-Tor CBC
Shumkar-Tor Conservancy is situated in Chon-Kemin Gorge, inside Chon-Kemin National Park, a state nature preserve, in northern Kyrgyz Republic, where the river with the same name starts.
The diversity in habitats results in a diversity of hunting species, which include ibex (Capra ibex), roe deer (Capreolus pygargus), wild boar (Sus scrofa), red deer (Cervus elaphus) and pheasant (Phasianus colchicus mongolicus), chukar partridge (Alectoris chukar) and Himalayan snowcocks (Tetraogallus himalayensis). A number of regionally and globally threatened species visit the area of the Conservancy such as: snow leopard (Panthera uncia), saker falcon (Falco cherrug) and cinereous vulture (Aegypius monachus). There are also a number of other species of conservation interest listed in the Kyrgyz Red Data Book: brown bear (Ursus arctos), stone marten (Martes foina), bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus), Himalayan vulture (Gyps himalayensis), golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), Eurasian griffon (Gyps fulvus), Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo), ibisbill (Ibidorhyncha struthersii).
Additional species of interest include: lynx (Lynx lynx), wolf (Canis lupus), marmot (Marmota baibacina), Tian Shan apollo (Parnassius tianshanicus) and swallowtail (Papilio machaon). This diversity emphasizes the necessity of actions to conserve the territory, its habitats and species.
The number of potential hunting species was assessed by external experts in October 2018. During this estimation there were registered 232 roe deer, 24 red deer, 25 ibexes, 30 wild boars, 5 lynx, 150 chukar partridges and over 100 pheasants and several foxes and hares. Since this first assessment, it is estimated that these numbers have increased by 7 times, thanks to the efforts of the Shumkar-Tor CBC and community.
The Shumkar-Tor CBC was established within the framework of a GIZ project for conservation of rare and threatened species in Kemin area. The CBC has successfully collaborated with GIZ and Ilbirs Foundation to implement its conservation program, and continues to collaborate with Panthera through Ilbirs.
The head of the conservancy is Urmatbek Abykanov, the members of the conservancy are: Temirbek Abdykadyrov, Kanat Abykanov, Jenishbek Abykanov, Kantemir Tashbaev, Nurdin Aliev, Mirbek Maldokmatov, Uzurbek Mukanbet uulu, Eldar Sydykov, Chyngyz Sargashkaev, Rinat Botokanov, and Ilyaz Orozbekov.
Tourism serves as the main source of income for the conservancy. The members of the conservancy have two comfortable year-round guesthouses which are equipped with Internet access. One guesthouse is in Boo-Jetpes gorge in the lower part of the valley. Another one is Kok-Archa in the upper part of the valley. These guesthouses are situated in beautiful places with access to the forest and mountain rangelands. The owners can provide daily horse-trips, bird and wildlife watching trips, hiking tours, nature study tours for children and students and other services.
For more information on booking eco-tours through the Shumkar-Tor CBC, visit pages on:
Chon-Kemin Nature Park, which is in direct proximity to the conservancy, is a great tourist attraction due to its naturally beautiful coniferous forests, rangelands and wildlife.
