Tajikistan Launches National Biodiversity Strategy to Tackle Climate and Ecosystem Challenges

Tajikistan has begun drafting its first National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, a landmark document that will define the country’s long-term path toward environmental protection, sustainable resource management, and low-carbon development.

The initiative took center stage at a national conference held at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Dushanbe, bringing together government officials, scientists, private sector leaders, and environmental experts to shape the nation’s green future, The Caspian Post reports via Tajik media.

The strategy aims to answer pressing questions - how to protect Tajikistan’s unique ecosystems, stop habitat loss, and adapt to climate change, while turning conservation into a driver of sustainable growth and green business.

Experts highlighted three major threats to biodiversity: habitat degradation, overexploitation of resources, and climate change. To counter these, the plan proposes expanding protected natural areas from 22% to 28% of the country’s territory - more than 40,000 square kilometers.

The latest Red Book of Tajikistan lists 242 animal and 304 plant species under threat - a number that continues to grow. “We don’t want to see the Red Book continue to get thicker,” warned Dr. Abdusattor Saidov, urging a shift to sustainable practices.

With 2025 marked as the driest year in a decade, the strategy also prioritizes climate adaptation, restoration efforts, and community-based conservation.

The plan promotes new approaches - from innovative funding mechanisms and women’s participation in environmental decision-making to eco-friendly rural entrepreneurship built on sustainable resource use.

Held under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the conference placed Tajikistan alongside global efforts to protect the planet’s natural wealth.

The event concluded with a symbolic concert titled “Sounds of Nature”, reminding attendees of the harmony that must be restored between humanity and the environment.