The Kazakhstan leg of the international Silk Road Caravan, organized within the framework of the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, has successfully concluded, bringing together experts, scientists and government representatives to promote sustainable rangeland management and combat land degradation.
The initiative was organized by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan and local authorities. The Caravan aimed to promote sustainable pasture management, biodiversity conservation, land degradation prevention and climate-resilient agricultural development.
Kazakhstan represented one of the longest and most significant segments of the Caravan’s global route, which began in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and follows the historic Silk Road across multiple countries.
The country was selected as a key dialogue platform due to its vast rangeland resources, unique natural and cultural heritage and extensive experience in sustainable land management.
The international delegation included 22 experts and researchers from Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Russia, Iran, Mongolia and other countries. During the expedition, participants travelled through the Turkistan, Zhambyl and Almaty regions, visiting more than twenty sites of environmental, cultural and agricultural importance.
The field mission was led by Olga Andreeva, UNCCD researcher, together with Kazakh specialists headed by Daulet Bizhanov, Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Land Resources Management under the Ministry of Agriculture of Kazakhstan.
Particular attention was paid to Kazakhstan’s best practices in sustainable agriculture and land management. Participants visited modern agro-industrial enterprises, cotton production facilities, dairy farms, greenhouse complexes, irrigated farming sites and agricultural processing facilities.
The programme also included visits to institutions engaged in land monitoring, land-use planning, soil assessment and the digitalization of land resources.
In addition to the technical programme, participants explored several cultural and natural heritage sites, including the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, the Aksu-Zhabagly State Nature Reserve, the Tekturmas Historical and Cultural Complex and the Karakhan Baba Architectural Complex.
The international Caravan served as an important platform for knowledge exchange, international cooperation and the promotion of sustainable land and rangeland management practices. Participants highlighted Kazakhstan’s progress in combating land degradation and preserving rangeland ecosystems.
The findings and recommendations generated during the Caravan will contribute to preparations for the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNCCD (COP17), which will take place in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, in 2026.
📍 Source: Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan
