Koytendag — Towards the UNESCO World Heritage List: Strategic Steps and International Cooperation
The efforts to include the Koytendag mountain ecosystem, one of Turkmenistan's most unique natural landmarks, in the UNESCO World Heritage List have entered a new phase. A significant step in this direction was the visit of international experts from the Michael Succow Foundation for Nature Conservation (Germany) to the country from May 5 to 8, 2026.
The project, titled "Karsts, Canyons, and Caves of Koytendag," is characterized as a transboundary site. It links the most important natural reserves of two countries:
- In Turkmenistan: Koytendag State Nature Reserve.
- In Uzbekistan: Surkhan State Nature Reserve.
This mountain range, a unified geographic and ecological landscape, is part of the Pamir-Alay system and maintains a common ecosystem despite the state border. In July 2025, the parties signed a joint Declaration of Intent and a Roadmap, and by September of that year, the updated Tentative List was submitted to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre.
Uniqueness of Koytendag:
- Karsts and Caves: A complex and fascinating system of caves formed by underground dissolution processes.
- Endemic Species: Due to unique climatic conditions, this area is home to flora and fauna species found nowhere else in the world.
- Scientific Expeditions: Research conducted with the support of international organizations (CXL, CLLC, and RSPB) has revealed new data on the region's biodiversity.
The field research conducted in May followed the requirements of the 2024 UNESCO Operational Guidelines. Future plans include coordinating management plans for the transboundary site and finalizing the nomination dossier for international evaluation.
