# Protected areas of Kyrgyzstan

The Protected areas of Kyrgyzstan are regulated by the law on specially protected natural areas of 2 May 2011, last modified on 2 June 2018. In total, they cover 14,761.216 km$^2$ (5,699.337 sq mi) and account for 7.38% of the country's total area (as of 2017). The first protected area in Kyrgyzstan (Issyk-Kul) was established in 1948. According to the Government Decree on Priorities of Conservation of Biological Diversity and the relevant Action Plan for 2014-2024 the target area for the protected areas in Kyrgyzstan is 10 percent of the country’s area by 2024.
The protected areas are subdivided into seven categories:
| Category | IUCN category | Number | Total area (km$^2$) |
| Nature Reserve | Ia | 10 | 5,099.527 |
| Nature Park | II | 13 | 7,246.702 |
| Geological Reserve | III | 19 | 1.00 |
| Integrated Reserve | IV | 2 | 101.42 |
| Botanical Reserve | IV | 23 | 61.154 |
| Game Reserve | IV | 12 | 2,223.25 |
| Forest Reserve | IV | 8 | 28.163 |

## Nature Reserves

The Nature Reserves (Kyrgyz: жаратылыш коругу, Russian: природный заповедник) are the strictest protected areas, in which little human activity is allowed. As of 2017, there were 10 nature reserves:
| Nature Reserve | Established | Region | District | Area (km$^2$) | Remarks |
| Besh-Aral | 21 March 1979 | Jalal-Abad | Chatkal | 1,124.633 | Conservation of the habitat of the Menzbier's Marmot and protection of West Tien-Shan flora |
| Dashman | 12 July 2012 | Jalal-Abad | Bazar-Korgon | 79.581 | |
| Issyk-Kul | 10 December 1948 | Issyk-Kul | Issyk-Kul | 189.990 | Conservation of Ramsar wetlands |
| Karatal-Japyryk | 1 March 1994 | Naryn | Naryn | 363.926 | |
| Kulun-Ata | 11 August 2004 | Osh | Kara-Kulja | 274.340 | |
| Naryn | 29 December 1983 | Naryn | Naryn | 369.690 | |
| Padysha-Ata | 3 July 2003 | Jalal-Abad | Aksy | 305.564 | |
| Sarychat-Eertash | 10 March 1995 | Issyk-Kul | Jeti-Ögüz | 1,491.179 | |
| Sary-Chelek | 5 March 1959 | Jalal-Abad | Aksy | 238.680 | Biosphere reserve, conservation of biodiversity and typical landscapes and unique Sary-Chelek Lake |
| Surmatash | 27 June 2009 | Batken | Kadamjay | 661.944 | |

## Nature Parks

The Nature Parks (Kyrgyz: жаратылыш паркы, Russian: природный парк) are IUCN Category II protected areas. In contrast to the nature reserves, recreational uses are permitted in nature parks. As of 2017, there were 13 nature parks:
| Nature Park | Established | Region | District | Area (km$^2$) |
| Ala-Archa | 1976 | Chüy | Alamüdün | 164.845 |
| Alatay | 2016 | Jalal-Abad | Toktogul | 568.264 |
| Besh-Tash | 1996 | Talas | Talas | 137.315 |
| Chong-Kemin | 1997 | Chüy | Kemin | 1,236.540 |
| Kan-Achuu | 2015 | Jalal-Abad | Toguz-Toro | 304.965 |
| Kara-Buura | 2013 | Talas | Kara-Buura | 615.439 |
| Karakol | 1997 | Issyk-Kul | Karakol | 380.953 |
| Kara-Shoro | 1996 | Osh | Özgön | 144.402 |
| Khan-Tengiri | 2016 | Issyk-Kul | Ak-Suu | 2,758.003 |
| Kyrgyz-Ata | 1992 | Osh | Nookat | 111.720 |
| Salkyn-Tör | 2001 | Naryn | Naryn | 104.190 |
| Sarkent | 2009 | Batken | Leylek | 399.994 |
| Saymaluu-Tash | 2001 | Jalal-Abad | Toguz-Toro | 320.072 |

## Natural Monuments

There are 19 official natural monuments (IUCN Category III) (Kyrgyz: жаратылыш эстелиги, Russian: памятник природы) or hydrogeological reserves (Kyrgyz: гидрогеологиялык заказник, Russian: гидрогеологический заказник) in Kyrgyzstan:
| Natural Monument | Region | District |
| Abshir-Ata Waterfall | Osh | Nookat |
| Ajydaar-Üngkür (cave) | Osh | Nookat |
| Ala-Myshyk Cave | Naryn | Naryn |
| At-Bashy Canyon | Naryn | At-Bashy |
| Barskoon Waterfall | Issyk-Kul | Jeti-Ögüz |
| Big Gates Cave (Barite Cave) | Osh | Nookat |
| Chil-Mayram Cave (Beshüngkür) | Osh | Aravan |
| Chil-Ustun cave | Osh | Aravan |
| Dangi Canyon | Osh | Nookat |
| Jeti-Ögüz Rocks | Issyk-Kul | Jeti-Ögüz |
| Jiydeli Cave | Batken | Kadamjay |
| Kan-i-Gut cave | Batken | Batken |
| Kara-Jygach Rocks | Jalal-Abad | Aksy |
| Kögüchkön-Sugat Waterfall | Chüy | Alamüdün |
| Kök-Jerty Canyon | Naryn | Naryn |
| Sogon-Tash Cave | Jalal-Abad | Bazar-Korgon |
| Tegerek Waterfall | Jalal-Abad | Bazar-Korgon |
| Ysyk-Ata Waterfall | Chüy | Ysyk-Ata |

## Integrated Reserves

As of 2017, there were 2 integrated or complex reserves:
| Integrated Reserve | Established | Region | District | Area (km$^2$) |
| Ak-Suu | 1971 | Chüy | Moskva | 76 |
| Talas | 1973 | Talas | Bakay-Ata, Talas | 1300 |

## Botanical Reserves

As of 2017, there were 23 botanical reserves:
| Botanical Reserve | Established | Region | District | Area (km$^2$) |
| Almaly (Yablonevoye) | 1978 | Chüy | Jayyl | 1.0 |
| Aydarken (Khaydarken) | 1975 | Batken | Kadamjay | 0.3 |
| Aygül-Tash | 2009 | Batken | Batken | |
| Baydamtal | 1975 | Issyk-Kul | Tong | 0.2 |
| Chanach (Kanysh) | 1975 | Jalal-Abad | Ala-Buka | 0.3 |
| Chatkal | | Jalal-Abad | Ala-Buka | |
| Chong-Aryk | 1978 | Chüy | Alamüdün | 0.8 |
| Chong-Kuurchak | 1979 | Chüy | Alamüdün | 1.0 |
| Chyrandy | 1975 | Batken | Kadamjay | 5.0 |
| Janggakty | 1975 | Batken | Leylek | 0.8 |
| Jel-Tiybes | 1975 | Jalal-Abad | Aksy | 8.0 |
| Kosh-Tektir | 1975 | Jalal-Abad | Ala-Buka | 0.4 |
| Kyrgyz-Ata | 1975 | Osh | Nookat | 0.3 |
| Kyrgyz-Gava | 1975 | Jalal-Abad | Bazar-Korgon | 0.5 |
| Maymak | 1980 | Talas | Kara-Buura | 0.4 |
| Ming-Kush | 1984 | Naryn | Jumgal | 0.77 |
| Oy-Kayyng | 1975 | Osh | Alay | 0.5 |
| Ryazan-Say | | Jalal-Abad | Aksy | |
| Sary-Mogol | 1975 | Osh | Alay | 0.6 |
| Shilbili-Say | 1980 | Talas | Kara-Buura | 1.0 |
| Sülüktü | 1975 | Batken | Sülüktü (city) | 0.3 |
| Suusamyr | 1990 | Chüy | Jayyl | 21.7 |
| Tüp | 1975 | Issyk-Kul | Tüp | 1.0 |

## Game Reserves

| Game Reserve | Established | Region | District | Area (km$^2$) |
| Ak-Buura | 1975 | Osh | Kara-Suu | 100 |
| Chandalash | 1975 | Jalal-Abad | Chatkal | 253 |
| Chatyr-Köl | 1972 | Naryn | At-Bashy | 1,900 |
| Chychkan | 1973 | Jalal-Abad | Toktogul | 360 |
| Gülchö | 1968 | Osh | Alay | 6.0 |
| Jardy-Kayyngdy | 1976 | Chüy | Panfilov | 87 |
| Jargylchak | 1990 | Issyk-Kul | Jeti-Ögüz | 230.98 |
| Jazy | 1975 | Osh | Özgön | 50 |
| Jeti-Ögüz | 1958 | Issyk-Kul | Jeti-Ögüz | 316.1 |
| Keng-Suu | 1990 | Issyk-Kul | Tüp | 87.12 |
| Kochkor | 1977 | Naryn | Kochkor | 20 |
| Teploklyuchenka | 1958 | Issyk-Kul | Ak-Suu | 322 |
| Toguz-Toro | 1977 | Jalal-Abad | Toguz-Toro | 50 |
| Tüp | 1976 | Issyk-Kul | Tüp | 150 |

## Forest Reserves

| Forest Reserve | Established | Region | District | Area (km$^2$) |
| Baltyr-Khan | 1975 | Jalal-Abad | Aksy | 3.04 |
| Bülölü | 1975 | Osh | Alay | 3.84 |
| Iyri-Suu | 1975 | Naryn | Naryn | 3.95 |
| Jylgyndy | 1975 | Osh | Nookat | 3.00 |
| Kayyngdy | 1977 | Naryn | Naryn | 1.00 |
| Kichi Ak-Suu | 1977 | Issyk-Kul | Issyk-Kul | 1.00 |
| Kuru-Köl | 1975 | Jalal-Abad | Ala-Buka | 3.48 |
| Miskin-Say | 1975 | Jalal-Abad | Ala-Buka | 4.83 |
| Uzun-Akmat | 1977 | Jalal-Abad | Toktogul | 5.00 |