Kazakhstan's natural reserves may be included in the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves
UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) is an Intergovernmental Scientific Programme launched in 1971 in order to study the conservation of biological and ecosystem diversity, as well as the improvement of relationships between people and their environments. One of the Programme's major directions is the development of a global network of biosphere reserves, which currently counts 621 biosphere reserves in 117 countries all over the world, the UNESCO Almaty Cluster Office reports.
Kazakhstan due to its vast territory and ecosystem diversity has become a member of three biosphere reserves networks - South and Central Asian, European, and East Asian networks. Two republican nature reserves, such as Korgalzhyn and Alakol, have already been included in the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves. In September 2013 the MAB-UNESCO Secretariat received 3 new nominations from Kazakhstan prepared by the National MAB Committee: Ak-Zhayik and Aksu-Zhabagly nature reserves and Katon-Karagay national nature park. Currently these proposals are in the process of international assessment.
These biosphere reserves play a key role in case of the conservation of biological and cultural diversity, promotion of economic and social development through harmonization of partnerships between people and nature, thus making a big contribution to further sustainable development.