Kazakhstan is establishing a national genetic biodiversity bank and implementing a biodiversity conservation programme. The programme is designed to run for 10 years and aims to restore natural habitats, protect species and expand the network of specially protected natural areas. The country’s President, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, outlined these plans to participants at the Leaders’ Summit on Biodiversity ahead of the 17th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations (UN) Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17). The Kazakh President’s speech is available on his website.
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev informed summit participants of Kazakhstan’s proposal to establish an international fund for the protection of rare species and the conservation of biodiversity, calling on foreign partners to join this initiative.
“This initiative is complemented by our National Biodiversity 10-years program, which guides habitat restoration, species safeguarding and the expansion of protected areas. We are also launching the National Bank of Genetic Biodiversity. Kazakhstan’s engagement also extends across the region,” said the President of Kazakhstan.
According to him, water resource management is one of the priority areas for joint work. Last year, Kazakhstan put forward an initiative to establish an international water organisation within the UN system.