Climate Change and Biodiversity Alignment
Illustrated Analysis
In coordination with UNITAR and UNDP, Zoi Environment Network prepared an illustrated analysis of the interlinkages between climate change, biodiversity, and related challenges and solutions.
Intended use and target audience:
This material is openly accessible and can be used to raise awareness among diverse stakeholders, including local authorities and natural resource users, civil society organizations, youth, and students. The visual synthesis might be helpful in preparing for and participating in international conferences on climate change, biodiversity, health, and sustainable mountain development. It can also support the implementation of national action plans on climate change and biodiversity.
Contributors: V. Novikov, F. Illarionova, I. Domashov, M. Valcheva
Layout and illustrations: D. Adylova, A. Povarich
© Zoï Environment Network and UNITAR, 2025 Kyrgyz Republic
The production team would like to thank the UNDP and UNITAR staff who participated in the review and Switzerland for its financial support.
Financially supported by:
Contents Introduction
In 2024–2025, the Kyrgyz Republic worked on updating its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0) and National Adaptation Plan (NAP) in accordance with the Paris Agreement under the UNFCCC. The country has also progressed in updating its National Biodiversity Strategy (Programme) and Action Plan in line with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and targets.
This visual analysis explores how these climate (approved) and biodiversity (preliminary) plans can be coordinated to enhance their collective performance in addressing climate change and promoting conservation. It helps identify synergies and potential overlaps between the target areas and actions.
Thanks to interagency coordination, a similar timeline, and an openness to stakeholder engagement, as well as the mountain context of Kyrgyzstan, where climate impacts, biodiversity loss, disasters and livelihoods are interconnected, the country worked to align and reinforce the NDC, NAP, and NBSAP wherever possible.
Why alignment matters?
Aligning these plans can create a coherent approach to climate and biodiversity efforts, reducing duplication and ensuring policies and actions work well together. By identifying synergies, Kyrgyzstan can leverage the strengths of each plan to achieve a greater impact on mitigation, adaptation, and conservation. Alignment can help optimize the use of resources by identifying areas where actions can be combined and lead to more resilient development.
The updated NDC 3.0 emphasizes that the Kyrgyz Republic is a mountain country vulnerable to climate change. Rapid glacier melt, growing intensity of floods, landslides, heatwaves and droughts affect water, energy and food security, public health, and infrastructure. Mountain ecosystems are sensitive to climate change. Their fragmentation and degradation reduce the productivity of natural pastures. Air pollution in the densely populated areas combined with waste management challenges exacerbate health risks, particularly for vulnerable groups.
Restoring and protecting ecosystems, particularly forests, grasslands, and wetlands, provides climate mitigation benefits, such as sequestration, as well as climate adaptation benefits, such as flood control and improvements in water quality and availability. Practices that enhance soil health and reduce the use of agrichemicals and fertilizers lead to reduced emissions and pollution. These practices also improve crop resilience, contribute
to biodiversity conservation and support heathy food. Afforestation measures reduce climate-related disaster risks. Increasing green spaces in cities makes them healthier for residents and more attractive to businesses.
There are enabling and reinforcing links, where climate-related actions are intrinsically linked or create conditions for the achievement of progress on biodiversity conservation. However, there are some situations, where a climate commitment, for example on renewable energy or water sector adaptation, could lead to constraints to achieving results in biodiversity area, i.e. raptors or endemic fish conservation.
The snow leopard is a national symbol of Kyrgyzstan whose habitat and future depend on the impact of climate change and conservation efforts. Other examples illustrate how low-emission or climate adaptation measures can benefit biodiversity.
There are several possible ways to analyse climate and biodiversity alignment. The current analysis highlights several themed clusters that are important in the mountainous context of Kyrgyzstan. These clusters include:
1. Agriculture, forestry and landscapes (land use), where the linkages between climate and biodiversity are most direct
2. Natural disasters and extreme weather
3. Densely populated and urban areas
4. One Health
At the end of the visual synthesis, a selection of key facts about the climate and biodiversity of Kyrgyzstan help readers quickly understand the current situation, projections, and national targets. The analysis also offers recommendations and a selection of references.
Zone of high mountain meadows, pastures and permafrost
Zone above 2500 m, 57% of the country's area
Zone of runoff formation and carbon sequestration by forests and pastures
Winter and summer tourism and recreation areas
Zone 1500 m to 2500 m, 30% of the country's area
Zone 400 m to 1500 m, 13% of the country's area, 80% of the population
Densely populated valleys and cities. Area of irrigation, energy production and emissions
Climate and Biodiversity by Altitude in Kyrgyzstan
A variety of consequences and effects related to climate change
90% of electricity is produced by the hydropower plants
Negative impacts of climate change on biodiversity and natural resources
Benefits for the climate and biodiversity
Harm to the climate and population
Juniper forests
Fruit and nut forests
Spruce forests
International Day of the Snow Leopard 23 October
Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia)
Kyrgyzstan’s national symbol whose survival depends on conservation measures and the impact of climate change
Threats to the Snow Leopard
The species is listed in the National Red Book of the Kyrgyz Republic, the IUCN Red List (VU), and is the main focus of the Global Snow Leopard Conservation Program
Solutions
Development of protected areas network
Ecological corridors to facilitate species migration
Climate change affects snow, glaciers, and the habitat of snow leopards
Decline in the number of ungulates and degradation of pastures
Retaliatory killing and trapping in response to livestock attacks
Preserving habitats and prey species for snow leopards
Improving access to energy to reduce deforestation and wood fuel collection
Protecting livestock from leopard attacks
Improving monitoring and patrolling
Climate and Biodiversity Alignment
Examples of win-wins and tradeoffs
Planting trees in upper river basins reduces soil erosion and siltation in reservoirs, thereby extending the lifespan of hydropower facilities
Creating reservoirs to regulate runoff as an adaptation measure can negatively impact biodiversity
Building new roads and transport corridors can help expand trade and reduce emissions but can also fragment ecosystems and create barriers for migratory species
Reducing waste and recycling benefit the climate and nature
Monitoring the climate and environment helps track and achieve climate and biodiversity goals
Preserving mountain and floodplain forests and reducing intensive grazing helps reduce erosion and disaster risk while benefiting the carbon balance
Building wind farms and power lines expands access to clean energy but can negatively affect raptors, migratory birds, and other animals
The mass construction of small hydroelectric power plants may negatively impact rivers
Planting fast-growing, fruit-bearing trees increases carbon sequestration and forest cover without addressing the problem of forest degradation
Access to clean energy and an increase in its production without harm to nature reduces the cutting of trees and shrubs and coal consumption
Regulating pasture usage and implementing crop rotation are beneficial for conservation and adaptation. However, converting new lands for agricultural use can result in the loss of carbon and unique species of flora and fauna
Agriculture, Forestry and Landscapes
Expansion of pastures, intensive grazing, and large numbers of livestock lead to increased contact with wild animals, which increases the risk of zoonotic diseases
Climate change and the shrinking of natural spaces are causing new disease carriers and types of diseases to emerge
The intense use of agrichemicals and mineral fertilizers leads to emissions, water pollution, and the poisoning of wildlife
Common challenges associated with climate change and biodiversity loss
Air quality, pollen levels, and dust storms are all closely linked to climate factors and negatively impact public health.
Climate warming creates favorable conditions for the spread of agricultural pests and diseases
Heat and drought negatively impact human and livestock health
Air pollution and air quality, pollen levels, and dust storms are all closely linked to climate factors and negatively impact public health
Key Facts on Climate Change and Biodiversity in Kyrgyzstan
Glaciers
Reduction since the 1960s: 15-45%
Projected reduction by the 2090s: 50-90%
Changes in monthly river flow and peak values; decreased flow and higher aridity in lowlands; increased flow in glacier-covered areas due to rapid melting
National carbon balance in 2023:
Total GHG emissions 19.4 million tonnes CO2-e
Natural sinks 10.3 million tonnes CO2
Net GHG emissions 9.1 million tonnes CO2-e
Share of renewables (mainly hydropower) in power production: 90%
Protected areas coverage 1.3 million ha (6.5%)
Conservation target 2030-2035:
10% protected areas
30% of area under conservation
Summer (high mountain) pastures 3.9 million ha
Spruce and fir forests 300 thousand ha
Juniper forests 260 thousand ha
Climate warming scenarios by 2090 +3.7°C to +6.2°C
Current warming (1980-2022) 0.28 °C per decade
GHG emissions reduction compared to the projected baseline level by 2030 18-30%
Fruit and nut forests 100 thousand ha
Spring and autumn pastures
2.8 million ha Forest
Floodplain forests 40 thousand ha
Winter (low mountain) pastures
2.4 million ha
Recommendations for synergistic actions across nature and
climate agendas
▶ Integrate biodiversity safeguards into environmental impact assessments at both strategic and project levels, ensuring renewable energy and infrastructure development protect sensitive mountain and river ecosystems.
▶ Assess cumulative impacts of climate mitigation and adaptation actions on water, riverine, forest, and mountain systems to prevent trade-offs and maladaptation.
▶ Scale up nature-based solutions such as afforestation, reforestation, and pasture restoration focusing on native species, supported by community stewardship and traditional knowledge.
▶ Expand and connect protected areas and ecological corridors and improve monitoring to enhance ecosystem and species resilience, prevent zoonotic risks, and support climate adaptation.
▶ Promote sustainable agriculture by reducing pesticide and chemical use, fostering soil restoration, and encouraging gender-inclusive, ecosystem-based approaches to farming.
▶ Address waste and pollution in urban and tourism areas, such as IssykKul, through circular economy approaches creating green employment opportunities for women and youth.
▶ Increase climate resilience of natural ecosystems through early warning systems, climate-informed species monitoring, and gender-responsive community adaptation planning.
▶ Enhance green and blue spaces in urban areas to improve local climate regulation, wellbeing, and biodiversity awareness.
▶ Institutionalize cross-sectoral coordination between climate, environment, agriculture, and gender agencies to ensure coherent implementation of NDC, NAP, and NBSAP priorities.
Selected references
▶ A checklist for national policymakers: Effectively Delivering on Climate and Nature: NDCs, NAPs and NBSAPs Synergies. A joint publication of GIZ, IISD, WWF (2024): https://www.adaptationcommunity.net/ publications/effectively-delivering-on-climate-and-nature-checklist
▶ Global biodiversity framework: https://www.cbd.int/gbf
▶ National reports and action plans on biodiversity: https://www.cbd.int/ reports
▶ National environmental statistics of Kyrgyzstan: https://stat.gov.kg/ru/ statistics/turizm-otdyh-ohrana-okruzhayushej-sredy
▶ Ministry of natural resources, ecology and technical supervision of the Kyrgyz Republic, GHG emissions: https://mnr.gov.kg/ru/page/vybrosy-kadastr
▶ UNFCCC NDC registry: https://unfccc.int/NDCREG and NDC 3.0 of the Kyrgyz Republic: https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/2025-10/NDC3.0_Kyrgyzstan_ English_30-09-2025%20%282%29.pdf
▶ ISO standards on climate change: https://www.iso.org/sectors/environment/ climate-change
▶ ISO standards on biodiversity: https://www.iso.org/biodiversity
▶ de Silva, S., Jacewicz, N., Kovaka, K. et al. Navigating synergies vs. trade-offs between climate mitigation and biodiversity conservation. NATURE 4, 22 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44185-025-00092-8 and https://www. nature.com/articles/s44185-025-00092-8
▶ The concept of biotic regulation: https://www.bioticregulation.ru/pubs and BIOM posters and publications on this topic: https://next.biom.kg/activities/ biodiversity