About the organization
Ilbirs Foundation is a Kyrgyzstan-based non-governmental organization dedicated to conserving
biodiversity, strengthening protected area management, and promoting sustainable community
development across Central Asia. Established in 2016, the Foundation works to protect endangered
wildlife and critical mountain ecosystems through scientific research, conservation action,
environmental education, and community engagement. Its work places particular emphasis on flagship
species such as the snow leopard and argali, while also addressing broader ecosystem challenges
including habitat degradation, climate change, human-wildlife conflict, and unsustainable natural
resource use.
The Foundation collaborates closely with government agencies, local communities, international
donors, and conservation partners to develop innovative approaches that link biodiversity
conservation with improved livelihoods. Key areas of work include protected area support, wildlife
monitoring, community conservancies, ecosystem restoration, environmental awareness, and climate
resilience initiatives. Through projects implemented in Kyrgyzstan and across the wider Central Asian
region, Ilbirs Foundation seeks to foster a future where healthy ecosystems, thriving wildlife
populations, and sustainable rural communities coexist and support one another for generations to
come.
Main areas of activity
Wildlife conservation, biodiversity research, protected area management, environmental education, SMART, community-based conservation.
Target species / subspecies
Tian Shan Argali (Ovis ammon karelini), Severtzov's Argali (Ovis ammon severtzovi), Marco Polo Argali (Ovis ammon polii).
Geographic scope of work
Kyrgyzstan, the Tian Shan Mountains, the Pamir-Alai Mountains, all protected areas of Kyrgyzstan.
Experience working with wild sheep
Ilbirs Foundation has extensive experience in argali conservation across Kyrgyzstan. Under the UNEP
Central Asian Mammals and Climate Adaptation (CAMCA) Project, the Foundation conducted a national
climate vulnerability assessment for argali populations. In partnership with the Ministry of Natural
Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision, it supports annual nationwide argali surveys and
implements long-term camera trap monitoring to improve population data and distribution knowledge.
Ilbirs Foundation has also worked closely with community-based conservancies in the Pamir-Alai region
along the Tajikistan border, where conservation efforts have contributed to the return of argali to
areas where the species had not been observed for many years. Its conservation activities span all
regions of Kyrgyzstan and include collaboration with transboundary partners in Tajikistan, Kazakhstan,
and Uzbekistan to promote coordinated monitoring, research, and conservation of shared argali
populations.
Key projects during the last 5 years
UN Environment Programme — Central Asian Mammals and Climate Adaptation (CAMCA)
2021–2025 · Project lead: United Nations Environment Programme (Maarten Hofman)
A five-year, multinational project across Central Asia focusing on the conservation of migratory
mammal species in the face of climate change. Carried out in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan,
the project addresses the needs of the Asiatic ibex, argali sheep, Tian Shan brown bear, snow
leopard, Tian Shan maral and Bukhara deer to enhance their climate resilience, developing interventions
based on climate vulnerability assessments of both flagship species and surrounding communities.
Enhancing Transboundary Conservation Efforts Between Chon-Kemin State Natural Park (Kyrgyzstan)
and Ile-Alatau National Park (Kazakhstan)
2023–2024 (12 months) · Project lead: GIZ Kyrgyzstan (Marat Asanaliev)
Strengthening transboundary cooperation between two neighboring protected areas on the Northern Tian
Shan ridge through data exchange, joint wildlife monitoring, and capacity building of local
stakeholders and park staff, culminating in a joint action plan based on a memorandum of
understanding.
Introducing Integrated Watershed Management to Strengthen Conservation in Key Protected Areas
of the Transboundary Western Tian Shan
2024–2026 (16 months) · Project lead: GIZ Kyrgyzstan (Marat Asanaliev)
Developing watershed management plans for three protected areas of the Western Tian Shan (Aksu-Zhabagly
in Kazakhstan, Padysha-Ata in Kyrgyzstan, and Ugam-Chatkal in Uzbekistan), addressing data gaps,
strengthening transboundary cooperation, and building park staff capacity on watershed management and
the SMART system.
Scaling up the Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART) in Kyrgyzstan
2023–2025 · Project lead: Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF)
Promoting the adoption of SMART in multiple protected areas of western Kyrgyzstan, training park
authorities in the platform's desktop, mobile and online tools to improve park management and
community engagement.
Cores, Corridors and Cats across Central Asia
2023–2026 · Donor: National Geographic Society, SEGRE Foundation · Project lead:
Conservation X Labs (Tanya Rosen)
Bringing together leaders from three countries to protect Persian and snow leopards through
community-based conservation, new conservation technologies, new protected areas, and enhanced law
enforcement.
One Health in Nature Conservation — 1Health4Nature
2024–2029 · Donor: International Climate Initiative (IKI), German Federal Ministry for
the Environment · Project lead: IUCN
A five-year regional initiative to prevent the emergence and spread of zoonotic diseases across
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. As part of this multi-country
consortium, Ilbirs Foundation serves as the Species Monitoring consultant team in Kyrgyzstan, leading
target species selection, baseline wildlife assessments, monitoring methodology coordination, and
local ecological knowledge gathering for national and regional One Health strategies.
