In 2017, Kyrgyzstan will play host to a snow leopard conservation summit. The announcement was made during a meeting of the summit’s organising committee chaired by Kyrgyz First Deputy Prime Minister Mukhammetkaly Abulgaziyev.

After the meeting, Mr Abulgaziyev gave instructions to address in a prompt and coordinated manner matters concerning preparations for the summit. In addition, the Kyrgyz government has drafted a preliminary version of the National Snow Leopard Conservation Concept.

Representatives of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) have approved the choice of Kyrgyzstan as the summit’s host country amid hopes that it will help bolster interstate ties to protect endangered animal species.

The next meeting of the summit’s organising committee is due in early February 2017.