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About the initiative

Five Central Asian countries together safeguard their lakes, deltas and marshes — and together fulfil their commitments under the Ramsar Convention.

Yurts on the shore of Lake Song-Kol, Kyrgyzstan. Photo: Ninara, CC BY 2.0

Mission

Rivers, lakes and birds know no borders: the Amu Darya and Syr Darya cross several countries, and flamingos nest in the steppes of Kazakhstan and winter on the Caspian. So wetlands cannot be protected by one country alone.

The Ramsar Regional Initiative for Central Asia (RRI-CA) helps Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan act in concert: keep records and monitor wetlands together, share experience and data, and speak for the region on international platforms. The work is carried out within the Ramsar Convention and its Strategic Plan for 2025–2034.

Member countries
5
Ramsar sites in the region
24
Potential sites
9
Convention Strategic Plan
2025–2034

Areas of work

How the initiative helps countries meet their commitments under the Convention.

  • Monitoring and data

    Observing the condition of wetlands, collecting data on water and biodiversity, regional databases.

  • Research

    Scientific reports, assessment of threats and ecosystem services, conservation recommendations.

  • Management plans

    Help in developing site management plans and reconciling the interests of all parties.

  • Training

    Training courses, seminars and methodological materials for wetland specialists.

  • Education

    Work with the public under the CEPA programme: explaining why wetlands matter and how to protect them.

  • Regional cooperation

    Cross-border work on shared waters and ecosystems, a common regional position in international dialogue.

A flock of flamingos and swans in the shallows
Flamingos and swans on Lake Karakol, Mangystau, Kazakhstan. Photo: Максат79, CC BY-SA 4.0
Participants of the meeting on the Sudochye lake system A working group at an RRI-CA seminar Presentation of the results of a wetlands project A meeting with representatives of the countries of the region

RRI-CA meetings, seminars and field trips.

Member countries

Each country has its own Ramsar sites: from the high-mountain lakes of the Pamirs to the Caspian coast.

All sites on the map
Sunset over Lake Aydarkul, Uzbekistan Lake Aydarkul
Uzbekistan 5 Ramsar sites, 4 potential
Lake Alakol, Kazakhstan Lake Alakol
Kazakhstan 10 Ramsar sites
Lake Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan Lake Issyk-Kul
Kyrgyzstan 3 Ramsar sites
Lake Karakul in the Pamirs, Tajikistan Lake Karakul
Tajikistan 5 Ramsar sites
The Caspian Sea at Turkmenbashi, Turkmenistan Caspian Sea at Turkmenbashi
Turkmenistan 1 Ramsar site, 5 potential

Photo: Lake Aydarkul — Marat Nadjibaev, CC BY-SA 4.0; Lake Alakol — Coopypasted, CC BY-SA 4.0; Lake Issyk-Kul — Vilya Shoni, CC BY-SA 4.0; Lake Karakul — Ekrem Canli, CC BY-SA 3.0; Caspian Sea at Turkmenbashi — Doron, CC BY-SA 3.0.

International platforms and databases of the Ramsar Convention.

Want to work with us?

RRI-CA is open to cooperation with organisations, researchers and specialists working on the wetlands of Central Asia.

Contacts