Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- A meeting was held in Karakalpakstan with the participation of representatives of the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan.

The meeting in Nukus discussed cooperation on the Ustyurt Plateau, a transboundary hotspot designated by the Central Asian Mammal Initiative (CAMI) of the UN Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). Also at the event, representatives of the Institute of Zoology of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan presented updated information on species migrating along the Kazakh-Uzbek border.

Animal monitoring was carried out within the framework of the newly introduced monitoring system and SMART patrols with the support of the GIZ project for environmentally oriented regional development in the Aral Sea region and the Michael Zuckov Foundation.

It should be noted that camera traps installed along the borders showed an abundance of wildlife along the border fence.

In addition, participants from Kazakhstan presented a project for a new cluster site of the South Ustyurt State Nature Reserve, adjacent to the borders of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.

The participants discussed close cooperation between the three protected natural areas, considered the possibilities of creating a transboundary protected area.

Representatives of Turkmenistan expressed their interest in participating in future discussions, as well as in providing information on the monitoring of the Kaplankyr Reserve.

The meeting approved the commitments made by the countries within the framework of the CAIM Action Plan for the protection of Central Asian mammals and ensuring their natural migration.

This event ended with a trip to Sudochye Lake of the Sudochye-Akpetki State Reserve and the Aral Sea.