Innovation Meets Tradition On Grasslands
In 2021, we spent a couple of days with Aigul Aidarbekova and her husband Urmat Omurbekov, pastoralists in southern Kyrgyzstan.
The couple and their community are among the 200 million pastoralists worldwide who take care of rangelands covering over 40% of the earth's surface.
Since 2013, with the help of ILC Member Kyrgyz Jayity, they have been working against the clock to restore their rapidly degrading pasturelands.
When we covered their success story in 2021, the community was practising pasture rotation.
(That means moving animals from one pasture to another at regular intervals so that the grass they’ve already eaten has a chance to grow back.)
They were also beginning to plant new, climate-resilient seeds to protect both their ecosystems, and their way of life, passed down through generations in the region. Pastoralist practices like these are critical. That's because
Globally, grasslands store approximately 33% of terrestrial carbon.
A big part of the reason Aigul, Urmat, and their community are successful in implementing such practices is because the government supports them. That's in large part thanks to ILC member Kyrgyz Jayity, which has been working with the government to ensure that pastoralists have both land rights and the rights to responsibly manage their lands.
In fact, Kyrgyz Jayity has been able to secure over 9 million hectares of rangelands and engage 454 pasture communities across Central Asia.
But the climate crisis has only intensified since we last talked to Kyrgyz Jayity in 2021.
Increasingly erratic weather patterns have necessitated a more urgent response, Kyrgyz Jayity director, Egemberdiev Abdimalik told us. Today, the organisation continues to tackle the climate emergency head-on, with an exciting mixture of innovation and traditional knowledge.
Aigul Aidarbekova and Urmat Omurbekov take care of their pasturelands
Recently recognised for its exemplary community-based restoration initiatives by the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration, Kyrgyz Jayity intends to restore 52,640 ha of pastureland by 2030. That's an area roughly three times the size of Aruba.
We sat down with Kyrgyz Jayity director, Egemberdiev Abdimalik, who detailed how they are well on their way in advancing towards this goal.
How has the climate crisis continued to affect the lives and livelihoods of pastoralist communities in Kyrgyzstan?
Pastureland is critically important for livestock in Kyrgyzstan. The majority of the population relies on animal husbandry. Successful livestock production is impossible without good pastures.
There are three major factors behind pasture degradation. First, the number of animals has increased significantly. People’s living standards have improved. In other countries, people invest in gold or minerals. But in Kyrgyzstan, people invest in animals. They see livestock as a sustainable and intergenerational investment—something to pass down to children and grandchildren.
Many children of livestock owners work abroad, in Russia, America, and elsewhere, and send money home. They often ask their parents to invest in livestock, treating it like a form of savings or wealth. So more and more families are purchasing animals.
While we’re glad people are doing better economically, the increased livestock numbers put added pressure on pasturelands. This is a major concern for us. We’re now trying to find solutions to this issue.
Second, despite having clear usage rules developed by government bodies and associations, many pasture users don’t follow them. This non-compliance is contributing to degradation as well.
And third, perhaps most importantly, is climate change. Over the past two years, we’ve observed a decline in pasture conditions due to climate impacts. In recent years, there has been less rainfall and hotter summers, both of which are impacting pasture conditions.
Can you update us on the initiatives you’re leading to address the issues you've mentioned?
Yes, in 2021, we discussed pasture rotation. That’s still a core strategy. Let me share more about the current initiatives.
I used to be the director of the Department of Pasture Users under the Ministry of Agriculture, and I helped draft our national law on pasture use. So I’ve worked closely with the government for years and continue to do so now through the association.
Over the last two to three years, the government has started paying more attention. Last year, they allocated special funds to plant pasture grass on degraded lands, about 60,000 hectares. Those seeds have already been sown and are producing good results.
This year, the national budget has also set aside funds to purchase pasture seeds and establish regional seed plots. These pilot plots will allow regions to produce their own seeds without needing to purchase them each year. This reduces dependency on external suppliers and saves money over time. Each region now has support to develop its own seed stock.
Another key initiative: the Ministry of Agriculture has identified the most severely degraded pasturelands—65,000 hectares—and grazing has been temporarily banned there. Local authorities are required to enforce this so the land can naturally recover.
In addition to government efforts, civil society and pasture user associations are working to inform communities. We’re conducting seminars and developing materials to explain the new rules, rotations, and legal protections.
We’re also encouraging a shift from quantity to quality in livestock. Instead of increasing herd size, we’re focusing on improving livestock breeds—those that yield more meat, milk, or wool. We’re applying methods like artificial insemination and importing better breeds from Europe, Russia, Mongolia, and China. We're also planning to collaborate with scientific institutions to assess how new breeds adapt to our local climate and ecosystems.
Another innovation we’ve introduced is artificial glaciers. These ice towers are created by piping mountain water into vertical structures that freeze in winter and melt gradually in summer, providing a reliable water source during dry months. They’re proving to be a helpful solution in combating the impacts of climate change on pasturelands.
The artificial glaciers that Kyrgz Jayity is creating could save pasturelands in the region
Next year has been declared the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists. What do you hope will come from it?
We are very much looking forward to the coming year. This initiative was led by our Mongolian colleagues, and we were proud to join it.
We hope that not only pastoralists, but also government bodies, local authorities, public institutions, and civil society will pay attention to this important issue. Expectations are high, and we’re hoping for only positive outcomes.
Next year, there will be a major event in Mongolia, and we plan to participate. This summer, we’ll also organise a large national event—called "Slyod"—bringing together pasture users from different regions to mark the Year of Pastoralists. We've already shared this plan with them, and we are actively preparing for it.
This isn’t just a Year of Pastoralists—it’s about global sustainability: of nature, of ecosystems, of our shared future. If we can address the challenges faced by pastoralists, we can also help solve the broader climate crisis.
Our hope is that this year will inspire collaborative projects between Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, and other neighbouring countries. Regional cooperation is essential to address shared problems. And if possible, we’d love to see this evolve into global joint initiatives tackling land degradation and climate change.
Why are pastoral land rights such a critical part of this equation?
Unlike in many countries, Kyrgyzstan has a law on pastures that grants rights to pasture users and their associations. In practice, this means pasture users are treated as full owners and stewards of the land. The way they manage the land determines its condition. That’s why it’s vital to educate every pasture user on their responsibilities.
This isn’t just an issue in Kyrgyzstan. Worldwide, land rights are increasingly under threat. Everyone should be able to claim and protect their rights to pastureland.
Even though our government has granted rights to users and associations, many people still lack access to those rights in practice. And similar issues exist in other countries, where people struggle to defend their legal access. Sometimes governments make decisions that override existing land use rights, even when those rights are protected by law.
Ensuring secure land rights is fundamental to next year’s initiative. It’s important to raise awareness, conduct trainings and seminars—both domestically and with other countries—and help pastoralist communities understand and defend their rights.
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