The Faculties of Geography and Environmental Management and of Biology and Biotechnology of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University will hold an international scientific and practical conference, 6–8 November 2025, entitled “Challenges and Prospects for Biodiversity Conservation in Central Asia.”

At the 4th National Kurultai, held on 14 March 2025 in Burabay, the Head of State emphasized the urgency of protecting biodiversity of flora and fauna, which is currently endangered due to destructive human activities. It was noted that preserving natural ecosystems is not merely an environmental issue, but a strategic task for the sustainable development of the country. Habitat destruction of rare species, environmental pollution, climate change, and overexploitation of natural resources threaten the unique natural heritage of Kazakhstan and the entire Central Asian region.

In this regard, we invite the scientific community to support this initiative, to actively participate in developing effective measures for conserving natural ecosystems, and to propose evidence-based solutions for biodiversity protection. The importance of these tasks is directly linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular SDG 13 “Climate Action,” SDG 14 “Life Below Water,” and SDG 15 “Life on Land.”

Conference Goal – to exchange knowledge and share cutting-edge advances on biodiversity issues in Central Asia, the conservation of the Sievers apple (Malus sieversii (Ledeb.) M.Roem.), environmental protection, ecotourism, and education.

Co-organizers: National Academy of Sciences under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan; the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kazakhstan; German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU); Kazakhstan National Committee of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme; RSE “Institute of Botany and Phytointroduction”; “Institute of Zoology of the Republic of Kazakhstan”; JSC “Institute of Geography and Water Security”; State Institution “Almaty State Nature Reserve”; NJSC “Kazakh National Agrarian Research University”; RSE “Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology”; State Institution “Ile-Alatau National Park”; Almaty Tourism Bureau; NGO “Jerdin Dostary”.