Kyrgyzstan to Update Its Red Book for the First Time in 20 Years
Kyrgyzstan has begun work on a new edition of its Red Book, the country's official register of rare and endangered species of animals, plants, and fungi.
The project is being carried out jointly by the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision of the Kyrgyz Republic and the National Academy of Sciences. The two institutions signed a cooperation agreement in early June 2026.
The project will run for 24 months. During this period, researchers will conduct field and laboratory studies across the country to collect up-to-date data on rare and endangered species of flora and fauna. The findings will be used to create a scientific database that will serve as the foundation for the new edition of the Red Book. The project is valued at approximately 21 million soms.
According to the Ministry of Natural Resources, updating the Red Book will provide a more comprehensive and up-to-date picture of Kyrgyzstan's biodiversity. The information collected will help guide future conservation measures for rare and threatened species.
The current edition of the Red Book includes 57 bird species, 23 mammal species, two amphibian species, eight reptile species, seven fish species, 18 arthropod species, and 89 species of higher plants and fungi.
The last full edition of Kyrgyzstan's Red Book was published in 2006–2007.
The launch of the project was announced on World Environment Day. Alongside the agreement on updating the Red Book, the Ministry of Natural Resources also signed several memorandums of cooperation aimed at developing digital environmental solutions and implementing other conservation initiatives.
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