Uzbekistan: Delicate Balance of Nature

Дата публикации: Sep 02, 2016 4:32:41 PM

Media tour to the territory of Ugam-Chotqol State National Natural Park has allowed the central media reporters to explore the largest environmental complex of the country and to learn how its rich flora and fauna are being preserved.

The employees of the State Committee on the Protection of Nature of the Republic, who organized this event, on the example of this picturesque section of nature also talked about the development of ecotourism in the country.

The Ugam-Chotqol State National Natural Park impresses visitors with its scale – its area makes up about 575 thousand ha. Being the coeval of independence of the Republic, it was founded in 1990 as a result of the merger of the Burchmullo forestry fund and the Chirchiq arboriculture. Later it was expanded on account of the Chotqol State Biosphere Reserve and the Okhangaron forestry enterprise.

The territory is divided into the protected zone with the Chotqol State Biosphere Reserve, natural and restored landscapes with the potential possibility of conducting economic and touristic activities without inflicting any damage to nature, and recreation area with pension homes, children’s health centers, tourist facilities and sanatoria.

The main objective for setting up the National Park was the preservation of exemplary juniper ecosystem and numerous species of fauna that inhabit it from the threat of extinction. Fundamental research work is conducted in the conservation area on a regular basis, which provides information on the status of biodiversity and an opportunity to take decisions for its preservation.

The fauna of the Ugam-Chotqol National Park is represented by 230 species of animals, of which 38 species are included in the Red Book, and 1800 species of flora, of which 74 are also in the Red Book.

The beauty of natural scenery of the Ugam-Chotqol National Park attracts many tourists and lovers of wild nature. It is not without reason that the territory of the Western Tian-Shan Mountains this year is included into the UNESCO World Heritage List, which from the side of Uzbekistan is represented by the Chotqol Biosphere Reserve.

As part of the media tour the participants had the opportunity to walk along one of the developed eco-touristic routes to Gulkam gorge with lots of streams and torrents, which flowing into the river, give their waters to the Chorvoq reservoir. There are several waterfalls, occasional birch groves, juniper forests and a great number of medicinal herbs in Gulkam.

The environmentalists and experts stressed at the event, that the territory of Ugam-Chotqol National Park open for visits, requires people to be not just a tourist, but an eco-tourist, that is to be aware of their responsibility before the environment, to get acquainted with the nature without disturbing its delicate balance.

Today, the National Park has developed more than 30 nature trails: trekking, horseback riding, hiking and more. So the flow of tourists keeps growing up here.

The ecological tourism in Uzbekistan is a relatively new and rapidly developing area, which will ensure the protection of nature, increase the importance of the monuments of nature and the well-being of the local population. It was announced at the event that our compatriots and guests will be able to get acquainted with the unique natural corners of our country, potential ecological routes and prospects for the development of ecotourism at the international conference “Eco-tourism - an important factor in sustainable development and environmental protection: the experience of Uzbekistan and foreign practice”, which will be held in Tashkent in October this year.

(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)