The Protected areas of Kyrgyzstan are regulated by the law on specially protected natural areas of 2 May 2011, last modified on 2 June 2018.Law 2 May 2011 No. 18 "On specially protected natural areas" In total, they cover and account for 7.38% of the country's total area (as of 2017). The first protected area in Kyrgyzstan (Issyk-Kul) was established in 1948. According to the Government Decree on Priorities of Conservation of Biological Diversity and the relevant Action Plan for 2014-2024 the target area for the protected areas in Kyrgyzstan is 10 percent of the country’s area by 2024.Decree 17 March 2014 No. 131 "On Priorities for Biodiversity Conservation of the Kyrgyz Republic for the period up to 2024 and the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Priorities for conservation of biological diversity of the Kyrgyz Republic for 2014-2020"

The protected areas are subdivided into seven categories:

Category IUCN category Number Total area (km2) Nature Reserve Ia 10 Nature Park II 13 Geological Reserve III 19 Integrated Reserve IV 2 Botanical Reserve IV 23 Game Reserve IV 12 Forest Reserve IV 8

Nature Reserves

The Nature Reserves (, ) are the strictest protected areas, in which little human activity is allowed. As of 2017, there were 10 nature reserves: Nature Reserve Established Region District Area (km2) Remarks Besh-Aral 21 March 1979 Jalal-Abad Chatkal 1,124.633 Conservation of the habitat of the Menzbier's Marmot and protection of West Tien-Shan flora Dashman 12 July 2012 Jalal-Abad Bazar-Korgon 79.581 Issyk-Kul 10 December 1948 Issyk-Kul Issyk-Kul 189.990 Conservation of Ramsar wetlands Karatal-Japyryk 1 March 1994 Naryn Naryn 363.926 Kulun-Ata 11 August 2004 Osh Kara-Kulja 274.340 Naryn 29 December 1983 Naryn Naryn 369.690 Padysha-Ata 3 July 2003 Jalal-Abad Aksy 305.564 Sarychat-Eertash 10 March 1995 Issyk-Kul Jeti-Ögüz 1,491.179 Sary-Chelek 5 March 1959 Jalal-Abad Aksy 238.680 Biosphere reserve, conservation of biodiversity and typical landscapes and unique Sary-Chelek Lake Surmatash 27 June 2009 Batken Kadamjay 661.944

Nature Parks

The Nature Parks (, ) are IUCN Category II protected areas. In contrast to the nature reserves, recreational uses are permitted in nature parks. As of 2017, there were 13 nature parks:

Nature Park Established Region District Area (km2) Ala-Archa 1976 Chüy Alamüdün 164.845 Alatay 2016 Jalal-Abad Toktogul 568.264 Besh-Tash 1996 Talas Talas 137.315 Chong-Kemin 1997 Chüy Kemin 1,236.540 Kan-Achuu 2015 Jalal-Abad Toguz-Toro 304.965 Kara-Buura 2013 Talas Kara-Buura 615.439 Karakol 1997 Issyk-Kul Karakol 380.953 Kara-Shoro 1996 Osh Özgön 144.402 Khan-Tengiri 2016 Issyk-Kul Ak-Suu 2,758.003 Kyrgyz-Ata 1992 Osh Nookat 111.720 Salkyn-Tör 2001 Naryn Naryn 104.190 Sarkent 2009 Batken Leylek 399.994 Saymaluu-Tash 2001 Jalal-Abad Toguz-Toro 320.072

Natural Monuments

There are 19 official natural monuments (IUCN Category III) (, ) or hydrogeological reserves (, ) in Kyrgyzstan:

Natural Monument Region District Abshir-Ata Waterfall Osh Nookat Ajydaar-Üngkür (cave) Osh Nookat Ala-Myshyk Cave Naryn Naryn At-Bashy Canyon Naryn At-Bashy Barskoon Waterfall Issyk-Kul Jeti-Ögüz Big Gates Cave (Barite Cave) Osh Nookat Chil-Mayram Cave (Beshüngkür) Osh Aravan Chil-Ustun cave Osh Aravan Dangi Canyon Osh Nookat Jeti-Ögüz Rocks Issyk-Kul Jeti-Ögüz Jiydeli Cave Batken Kadamjay Kan-i-Gut cave Batken Batken Kara-Jygach Rocks Jalal-Abad Aksy Kögüchkön-Sugat Waterfall Chüy Alamüdün Kök-Jerty Canyon Naryn Naryn Sogon-Tash Cave Jalal-Abad Bazar-Korgon Tegerek Waterfall Jalal-Abad Bazar-Korgon Ysyk-Ata Waterfall Chüy Ysyk-Ata

Reserves

Integrated Reserves As of 2017, there were 2 integrated or complex reserves:

Integrated Reserve Established Region District Area (km2) Ak-Suu 1971 Chüy Moskva 76 Talas 1973 Talas Bakay-Ata, Talas 1300

Botanical Reserves As of 2017, there were 23 botanical reserves:

Botanical Reserve Established Region District Area (km2) Almaly (Yablonevoye) 1978 Chüy Jayyl 1.0 Aydarken (Khaydarken) 1975 Batken Kadamjay 0.3 Aygül-Tash 2009 Batken Batken Baydamtal 1975 Issyk-Kul Tong 0.2 Chanach (Kanysh) 1975 Jalal-Abad Ala-Buka 0.3 Chatkal Jalal-Abad Ala-Buka Chong-Aryk 1978 Chüy Alamüdün 0.8 Chong-Kuurchak 1979 Chüy Alamüdün 1.0 Chyrandy 1975 Batken Kadamjay 5.0 Janggakty 1975 Batken Leylek 0.8 Jel-Tiybes 1975 Jalal-Abad Aksy 8.0 Kosh-Tektir 1975 Jalal-Abad Ala-Buka 0.4 Kyrgyz-Ata 1975 Osh Nookat 0.3 Kyrgyz-Gava 1975 Jalal-Abad Bazar-Korgon 0.5 Maymak 1980 Talas Kara-Buura 0.4 Ming-Kush 1984 Naryn Jumgal 0.77 Oy-Kayyng 1975 Osh Alay 0.5 Ryazan-Say Jalal-Abad Aksy Sary-Mogol 1975 Osh Alay 0.6 Shilbili-Say 1980 Talas Kara-Buura 1.0 Sülüktü 1975 Batken Sülüktü (city) 0.3 Suusamyr 1990 Chüy Jayyl 21.7 Tüp 1975 Issyk-Kul Tüp 1.0

Game Reserves

Game Reserve Established Region District Area (km2) Ak-Buura 1975 Osh Kara-Suu 100 Chandalash 1975 Jalal-Abad Chatkal 253 Chatyr-Köl 1972 Naryn At-Bashy 1,900 Chychkan 1973 Jalal-Abad Toktogul 360 Gülchö 1968 Osh Alay 6.0 Jardy-Kayyngdy 1976 Chüy Panfilov 87 Jargylchak 1990 Issyk-Kul Jeti-Ögüz 230.98 Jazy 1975 Osh Özgön 50 Jeti-Ögüz 1958 Issyk-Kul Jeti-Ögüz 316.1 Keng-Suu 1990 Issyk-Kul Tüp 87.12 Kochkor 1977 Naryn Kochkor 20 Teploklyuchenka 1958 Issyk-Kul Ak-Suu 322 Toguz-Toro 1977 Jalal-Abad Toguz-Toro 50 Tüp 1976 Issyk-Kul Tüp 150

Forest Reserves Forest Reserve Established Region District Area (km2) Baltyr-Khan 1975 Jalal-Abad Aksy 3.04 Bülölü 1975 Osh Alay 3.84 Iyri-Suu 1975 Naryn Naryn 3.95 Jylgyndy 1975 Osh Nookat 3.00 Kayyngdy 1977 Naryn Naryn 1.00 Kichi Ak-Suu 1977 Issyk-Kul Issyk-Kul 1.00 Kuru-Köl 1975 Jalal-Abad Ala-Buka 3.48 Miskin-Say 1975 Jalal-Abad Ala-Buka 4.83 Uzun-Akmat 1977 Jalal-Abad Toktogul 5.00

References