On 20–21 November 2025, a working meeting was held in Tashkent as part of the project “Implementing Integrated Watershed Management to Key Protected Areas in the Western Tian Shan” with support of the Regional Program “Integrative and Climate-sensitive Land Use in Central Asia” (GIZ on behalf of the German Government, BMZ).

Specialists from government agencies, protected areas, and experts from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan reviewed the results of the watershed assessment, exchanged experiences, and identified priorities for joint watershed management and wildlife monitoring. Particular attention was given to aligning approaches to data sharing and the further use of the SMART monitoring tool across the three countries.
As part of the meeting, participants visited the Ugam-Chatkal National Park, where they learned about current challenges in conserving biodiversity in border areas and discussed management practices and wildfire prevention measures.
The outcomes of the event reaffirmed the importance of continued transboundary cooperation and joint efforts to protect the natural areas of the UNESCO Western Tien Shan World Heritage Site.