BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 16. Kazakh President
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has proposed establishing a regional office
of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity in
Almaty, speaking at the COP17 Leaders' Summit on Biodiversity
Conservation in Yerevan, according to the presidential press
service.
Tokayev said the office could support Central Asian countries in
implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework,
promoting scientific exchange and carrying out joint environmental
projects.
He also informed summit participants of Kazakhstan's proposal to
establish an International Fund for the Protection of Rare Species
and Biodiversity Conservation and called on international partners
to support the initiative.
"Kazakhstan has also adopted a 10-year national program for
biodiversity conservation aimed at restoring natural habitats,
protecting species and expanding the network of protected areas. We
are also establishing a National Biodiversity Genetic Bank,"
Tokayev said.
He noted that Kazakhstan was actively involved in regional
environmental cooperation. In April 2026, Astana hosted the UN
Regional Ecological Summit, which resulted in the adoption of the
Astana Declaration on Environmental Solidarity in Central Asia.
Kazakhstan is also promoting regional cooperation on water
resource management. With the support of Caspian littoral states,
the country is proposing an intergovernmental program to preserve
the Caspian Sea's water resources.
Tokayev highlighted the need for closer regional coordination on
water security, noting that Kazakhstan had proposed establishing an
International Water Organization within the United Nations system
in 2025.
"We believe this initiative could bring together Central Asian
countries while remaining open to all interested states. Our goal
is to strengthen water security and protect ecosystems whose
well-being depends on the condition of rivers, lakes and wetlands,"
he said.
The Kazakh president also called for greater use of
technological advances to conserve biodiversity.
"Today, effective partnerships must rely on digital technologies
and artificial intelligence, which can fundamentally transform
approaches to ecosystem monitoring, natural resource management and
environmental risk forecasting. In Kazakhstan, artificial
intelligence development and digital transformation have been
recognized as national priorities," Tokayev said.
He proposed using the International Artificial Intelligence
Center in Astana as a platform for joint scientific research,
biodiversity data analysis, the development of early warning
systems, and the training of specialists.
