Saryarka – Steppe and Lakes of Northern Kazakhstan

The core zones of both component reserves—Korgalzhyn and Naurzum State Nature Reserves—remain uninhabited, and resource use in the buffer zones appears limited, with no significant conflicts reported (IUCN Consultation, 2017). Local communities engage in traditional agriculture and low-impact resource use, and several initiatives have aimed to support sustainable practices and nature-based tourism in surrounding areas.

Key stakeholders have been formally engaged through several institutional mechanisms. Following its designation as part of the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) network in 2012, Korgalzhyn State Nature Reserve established a Coordination Council, bringing together representatives of the reserve, local authorities, land users, and NGOs to strengthen cooperative governance (KazMAB, n.d.).

Earlier, the GEF/UNDP Wetlands Project (2004–2011) implemented the Territorial Council of Management of Wetland Resources of the Tengiz-Korgalzhyn Territory, which served as a platform for stakeholder coordination on wetland conservation and sustainable resource use. The project also supported the development of tourism infrastructure, including visitor centres and local partnerships (GEF/UNDP, 2011).

As a result of these efforts, six tourism routes were created in Naurzum and two outside the reserve, three visitor centres were built, and agreements were signed with local tourism companies to support conservation-linked livelihoods (IUCN Consultation, 2017).

While no Indigenous Peoples are formally recognized in the region under international criteria, engagement with local communities has focused on building capacity for eco-tourism and participatory governance. However, there is limited evidence that traditional governance systems, gender equity, or long-standing land-use customs are formally integrated into the reserve management frameworks.

The recent rapid increase in saiga numbers has led to complaints by people in the range and especially farmers in the North including in the surrounding of the site about too many saiga causing damage to pastures and crops. This conflict has been intensifying during the last years. Although it refers to areas outside of the World Heritage Site, it might affect it as it involves the saiga antelope, a flagship species for the site (IUCN Consultation, 2025).

The site comprises two legally established State Nature Reserves (SNRs): Naurzum, established in 1931, and Korgalzhyn, established in 1968. Both are classified as IUCN Protected Area Category Ia (strict nature reserves) and were formally recognized by government decrees in 2007 (UNESCO, 2007). The entire area is state-owned, and all land is designated under Kazakhstan’s Law on Specially Protected Natural Territories, which prohibits privatization, re-categorization, or withdrawal for alternative land use (FAOLEX, 2006).

Governance and oversight fall under the authority of the Forestry and Wildlife Committee of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, with day-to-day management responsibilities delegated to the respective reserve administrations. These entities are responsible for implementing conservation measures, ecological monitoring, and the supervision of any permitted land use.

Economic activities such as haymaking and cattle grazing are permitted in defined zones of the buffer areas, but only under formal agreements with the Forestry and Wildlife Committee. These uses are monitored by the State Nature Reserve administrations to ensure they do not compromise the ecological integrity or Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the site (UNESCO, 2007).

The legal framework is well integrated into the site’s management system and is considered sufficient and effective in maintaining its values (IUCN, 2008). There are no known land tenure disputes, and although there are no formally recognized Indigenous Peoples within the property, traditional land-use practices in adjacent zones are accommodated through regulated access and agreements. These mechanisms ensure that the rights and needs of local communities are respected while upholding conservation priorities.

The governance of the site is anchored in the administrative structures of the Korgalzhyn and Naurzum State Nature Reserves, both operating under the Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan. These reserve administrations are responsible for conservation implementation, ecological monitoring, and regulating access and land use in accordance with national legislation (UNESCO, 2007).

Stakeholder engagement mechanisms have been established, particularly during the GEF/UNDP Wetlands Project (2004–2011), which facilitated the creation of the Territorial Council of Management of Wetland Resources for the Tengiz-Korgalzhyn area. This body included local authorities, NGOs, and land users, offering a platform for collaborative planning and decision-making (GEF/UNDP, 2011).

Planning processes at the site have incorporated opportunities for stakeholder and rights-holder involvement. The development of management plans under the GEF/UNDP project emphasized participatory approaches and laid the groundwork for long-term community engagement in conservation activities (GEF/UNDP, 2011).

Roles and responsibilities for site management are clearly defined between the reserve administrations and the Ministry. The division of duties ensures coherence between on-ground management and overarching policy guidance (UNESCO, 2007).

Although the available documentation does not specify a formal grievance mechanism, the involvement of stakeholders in governance councils suggests that concerns may be raised and addressed through existing participatory structures. However, enhancing formal channels for dispute resolution and complaint handling would strengthen governance equity.

The site’s governance system incorporates elements of adaptive management, supported by a cycle of planning, implementation, monitoring, and review. Monitoring frameworks introduced during the GEF/UNDP project provided a foundation for data-driven decision-making, though the sustainability and institutionalization of these frameworks warrant further review (GEF/UNDP, 2011).

The site is integrated into Kazakhstan’s national conservation and development frameworks. While there are no specific local development plans directly referencing the site, its component reserves—Korgalzhyn and Naurzum State Nature Reserves—are recognized in national strategies such as the National Action Plan for Nature Protection under the State Programme 2030, the National Biodiversity Conservation Strategy (1999), and the Protected Areas System Development Programme (2006–2008) (UNESCO, 2007).

The Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative (ADCI), launched in 2006, represents a significant effort to integrate conservation objectives with broader landscape management. ADCI is a collaborative partnership involving the Government of Kazakhstan, the Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan (ACBK), Fauna & Flora, the Frankfurt Zoological Society, and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. The initiative aims to restore and protect Kazakhstan’s steppe, semi-desert, and desert ecosystems, focusing on the conservation of the saiga antelope and other flagship species. ADCI's efforts encompass about 73 million hectares, aligning conservation goals with sustainable land use and community engagement (Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative, n.d.).

Management plans for the site have been developed with consideration of the social and economic contexts of the surrounding regions. These plans incorporate sustainable development priorities and respect for local customs and livelihoods. The GEF/UNDP Wetlands Project contributed to this integration by introducing participatory management planning processes, thereby enhancing the alignment of conservation objectives with regional development goals (GEF/UNDP, 2011).

The site comprises two distinct components: the Korgalzhyn and Naurzum State Nature Reserves. Each reserve is encircled by a buffer zone of at least 2 kilometers, designed to enhance the protection of the core areas. The boundaries of both the core zones and buffer zones are well-demarcated on the ground and were deemed adequate at the time of the site's inscription on the World Heritage List in 2008.

In 2008, the Korgalzhyn State Nature Reserve underwent an extension of 284,224 hectares to the west, increasing its total area to 543,171 hectares. This expansion, although not part of the World Heritage site, was supported by the IUCN evaluation mission and aimed to bolster the conservation of the region's biodiversity.

The Naurzum State Nature Reserve consists of three strictly protected clusters, each surrounded by buffer zones and interconnected by an ecological corridor. This configuration ensures the maintenance of ecological processes and species movement across the landscape.

The buffer zones are regulated to support the site's conservation objectives. Activities within these zones are managed to prevent adverse impacts on the core areas, thereby enhancing the overall protection of the site's Outstanding Universal Value. The clear delineation and effective management of both the core and buffer zones contribute significantly to the site's integrity and the preservation of its natural attributes.

Only one of the site's component reserves - the Korgalzhyn State Nature reserve - is designated as Biosphere Reserve, meaning that there is only a partial overlap in regard to the whole World Heritage Site.

The site's component areas—Korgalzhyn and Naurzum State Nature Reserves—both overlap with internationally recognized Ramsar Wetlands of International Importance. Korgalzhyn was designated as a Ramsar site in 1976 and Naurzum in 2009 (Ramsar Sites Information Service, 2023). Additionally, Korgalzhyn was designated Kazakhstan’s first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2012, further reinforcing its ecological and governance significance (UNESCO, 2012).

These overlapping designations are managed under a unified national legal and administrative framework. Both reserves fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan. Day-to-day management is conducted by the respective reserve administrations, which are responsible for implementing conservation measures and ensuring compliance with national and international requirements (UNESCO, 2007; WHC, 2024). No evidence was found of competition for national or international funding across these designations. Rather, the integrated nature of site planning appears to support streamlined resource mobilization.

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While the site lacks a publicly accessible and dedicated climate change adaptation and mitigation management plan, some relevant considerations are included in the original UNESCO nomination dossier. The nomination emphasizes the importance of maintaining key ecological processes—particularly hydrological dynamics in wetland areas such as Lake Tengiz—recognizing their sensitivity to climate variability (UNESCO, 2007). However, the dossier does not provide detailed strategies to protect the site’s Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) from the projected impacts of climate change.

There is currently no known dedicated system in place to monitor the specific effects of climate change on the OUV. While general biodiversity and hydrological monitoring is conducted by reserve staff and national environmental agencies, these efforts are not explicitly structured to track long-term climate-related trends such as shifts in temperature, precipitation patterns, or phenological changes in species distributions (IUCN, 2020; UNESCO, 2007).

The site nonetheless contributes to global climate mitigation through the conservation of its steppe and wetland ecosystems, which function as important carbon sinks and biodiversity reservoirs. These landscapes support ecological resilience to climate variability, although their potential role in structured national or regional climate strategies is not clearly articulated in current public sources.

To strengthen climate action, the site would benefit from the development of a climate-focused monitoring framework and integration of scenario-based planning into future management cycles.

The site is managed through a structured governance system involving separate administrations for Korgalzhyn and Naurzum State Nature Reserves, both reporting to the Forestry and Wildlife Committee under the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan (UNESCO, 2007). Each reserve operates under its own management plan, which includes components such as protection, research, monitoring, education, tourism, and training. These are supported by annual work programmes that guide operational implementation (UNESCO, 2007).

A joint management plan for the site as a whole has also been established, intended to harmonise conservation strategies across the two component reserves. However, the extent to which this overarching plan is integrated with or supersedes the individual management plans remains unclear from available documentation (UNESCO, 2007; IUCN Consultation, 2017).

The management system has been assessed as adequate, particularly given the legal designation of the reserves as IUCN Category Ia protected areas and the absence of permanent settlements or resource extraction within their core zones (IUCN, 2008). Management efforts are reinforced by national legal protection and have been complemented by project-based collaborations, including initiatives focused on flagship species conservation undertaken jointly by both reserves (IUCN Consultation, 2017).

Despite this framework, there is insufficient publicly available information to assess whether the management plans are up to date or systematically implemented to address defined values, threats, and objectives. It is also unclear whether adaptive management is in use, or whether impacts on local communities are regularly assessed and addressed in line with conservation goals. No specific reference to community wellbeing initiatives or structured local employment strategies is provided in the reviewed documents.

Further transparency and updated public reporting would be necessary to evaluate whether current management practices fully meet the standards of integrated, adaptive and participatory conservation management expected of World Heritage properties.

The legal framework governing the site is generally enforced, with both Korgalzhyn and Naurzum State Nature Reserves reporting to the Committee of Forestry and Wildlife under the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan. However, enforcement challenges persist, particularly concerning poaching activities.

In 2014, a governmental restructuring transferred the management of protected areas from the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Water Resources to the Ministry of Agriculture with the former Ministry being completely dissolved. This shift reportedly impacted the conservation status of protected areas and, in some instances, created conflicts of interest between conservation objectives and agricultural development priorities (Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan, 2017). In 2019, the Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources (now without Geology) was founded, taking over the responsibility for all nature conservation and environment issues, which improved the status of nature conservation topics and among them protected areas.

The enforcement capacity within the reserves includes ranger services tasked with patrolling and monitoring activities. Despite these efforts, incidents of poaching have been reported, indicating that enforcement measures may not be fully effective in deterring illegal activities. But starting in 2019, the legal framework has been improved with increased penalties for illegal hunting as well as the status and equipment of rangers, which has led to a rather efficient protection from poaching, including the prosecution of offenders and the deterrence of illegal activities, although a certain level of illegal hunting remains (CMS, 2025).

Regarding human rights safeguards, the available information does not detail specific mechanisms to ensure that enforcement activities respect the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities, including land tenure rights and access to resources. Similarly, the existence and effectiveness of accountability mechanisms for enforcement agencies, such as processes to identify, hear, and resolve complaints or grievances, are not clearly documented in the current sources.

As of 2025, there is no publicly available updated information on the budgets of Korgalzhyn and Naurzum State Nature Reserves. The most recent detailed figures date back to 2016, when Naurzum SNR reported an annual budget of approximately USD 311,000—roughly similar in dollar terms to the 2005 budgets of USD 380,000 for Korgalzhyn and USD 300,000 for Naurzum.

Additional support from international projects, such as those funded by GEF/UNDP, GEF/UNEP, and conservation NGOs, has provided infrastructure, equipment, and capacity-building inputs (Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, 2007). Nonetheless, annual reports from 2015–2016 indicated continued staffing and logistical shortfalls, including the need for additional cordons, rangers, and vehicles to ensure more effective territorial coverage (Naurzum SNR Annual Report, 2016).

Due to the absence of updated financial disclosures or recent reporting beyond 2016, the current level of financial resourcing for the site cannot be reliably assessed.

As of the latest available information, the staffing levels at the site remain consistent with earlier reports. Naurzum State Nature Reserve has a team of 44, while Korgalzhyn State Nature Reserve used to employ 51 staff members before the enlargement of 2008, which required to hire an additional 33 personnel to effectively manage its expanded territory.

Both reserves have implemented annual training programs covering conservation, research, legislation, monitoring, interpretation, fire safety, public relations, and tourism management. In 2015, Naurzum staff underwent a 42-hour intensive training with an attestation process, supplemented by an 8-hour field training session.

Despite these efforts, there is an acknowledged need for enhanced interpretation skills and scientific capacity among the staff. Specifically, the reserves have highlighted the necessity for additional technically proficient staff, particularly those skilled in IT and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data analysis.

Regarding equipment and infrastructure, while some improvements have been made through international projects, both reserves have indicated that further resources are required to ensure efficient management and coverage of their territories.

In summary, while the site has a foundational staffing and training framework, there remains a need for capacity-building, particularly in technical areas, to fully meet the management objectives and ensure the protection of its OUV.

Both Korgalzhyn and Naurzum State Nature Reserves have implemented a range of education and interpretation programmes aimed at enhancing public understanding of the site’s ecological significance. Visitor centres in both reserves serve as central hubs for environmental education. The Korgalzhyn Visitor Centre, often referred to as the "Bird Paradise" centre, features thematic exhibition halls focused on the region’s ecosystems and endangered species, alongside interactive facilities such as a winter garden, children's room, and cinema hall for educational films (KazMAB, 2015; Eurasia.travel, 2024).

Structured educational excursions are regularly conducted for schoolchildren from local regions and from Astana, offering one-day programs that foster environmental awareness and appreciation of biodiversity values (KazMAB, 2015). Both reserves have established ecological education departments responsible for planning and executing activities, including outreach visits to nearby schools and settlements, reportedly reaching approximately 1,000 participants annually (IUCN, 2020). Programmes such as ecological weekends and field-based learning experiences for university students—such as those from L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University—support practical environmental education (IUCN, 2020).

Public events such as exhibitions, the Flamingo Festival, and open days, along with participation in national initiatives like the annual “March of Parks” (which reportedly involves over 12,000 participants per reserve), further strengthen conservation messaging and community engagement (IUCN, 2020).

There is limited information on whether programmes explicitly address sustainable use regulations or build awareness around resource access rules and compliance requirements. Further development of this aspect may strengthen stakeholder support for sustainable site management.

Both Korgalzhyn and Naurzum State Nature Reserves have invested in visitor infrastructure and ecotourism initiatives aimed at raising awareness of the site’s ecological values and supporting community outreach. In Korgalzhyn Reserve, a modern visitor centre was constructed in 2009 with financial and technical support from the GEF/UNDP Steppe Wetlands project. The centre includes interactive exhibits and multimedia resources designed to educate visitors about the region’s biodiversity, particularly its importance as a Ramsar site and critical bird migration habitat (UNDP Kazakhstan, 2010; KazMAB, 2015).

Tourism development has progressed significantly since the early 2000s, when Korgalzhyn received only 1,000–2,000 visitors annually. More recent reports suggest the reserve now hosts over 5,000 visitors each year, although data since 2020 was not available for this assessment update. Three main trails have been developed, featuring wildlife viewing platforms and infrastructure to support overnight stays. Seven guesthouses are available to accommodate ecotourists, and tourism operations are supported by partnerships with the Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan (ACBK), which coordinates regular guided tours (KazMAB, 2015).

Naurzum Reserve has similarly upgraded its visitor infrastructure, including the opening of a new visitor centre in 2012. The reserve offers six ecotourism trails equipped with interpretive signage, gazebos, and resting points. In 2016, these trails recorded 186 visits, reflecting modest but ongoing interest in nature-based tourism (IUCN, 2020), more recent data is unavailable. Visitor programmes include school group activities and community events such as the annual “March of Parks” environmental festival (IUCN, 2020).

While tourism is not yet a major driver of reserve operations, it is increasingly recognised as a strategic management priority (State Party of Kazakhstan, 2023). However, no formal or publicly accessible tourism management plan could be identified. As such, it remains unclear whether visitor services are governed by a systematic approach to minimise environmental impacts or ensure alignment with the site’s Outstanding Universal Value (OUV). The development of a formal tourism strategy would enhance coordination across facilities, guide future infrastructure investments, and help manage visitor pressure sustainably.

Sustainable resource use within the site is minimal and closely regulated to ensure the protection of its natural values. In the core zones of both Korgalzhyn and Naurzum State Nature Reserves, extractive activities are largely prohibited, with limited activities permitted under strict controls. For instance, in Korgalzhyn Reserve, regular annual fishery melioration measures are conducted in winter to prevent fish die-offs from hypoxia. These are based on a Biological Justification Report and are implemented through controlled ice-fishing quotas, monitored by reserve staff (IUCN, 2020).

In the buffer zones, small-scale haymaking and regulated grazing continue under the supervision of the reserve authorities. These practices are confined to non-sensitive periods, particularly avoiding the nesting seasons of key ground-nesting bird species, and are spatially restricted to prevent ecological disturbance (UNEP-WCMC, 2011; State Party of Kazakhstan, 2023).

While there is no recent detailed assessment of sustainable yield thresholds for natural resource use within the property, there is no evidence that current practices have negatively impacted the site’s values. Moreover, the legal and regulatory frameworks are considered sufficient to safeguard against overexploitation (State Party of Kazakhstan, 2023). Access to resources is regulated by the state, and there is no indication of unresolved conflicts over rights or use within the reserves.

Monitoring at the site is conducted primarily through the Science, Information, and Monitoring Departments of both Korgalzhyn and Naurzum State Nature Reserves. Annual monitoring activities are based on the “Chronicles of Nature” approach, a long-standing practice in Kazakhstan’s protected areas system (UNEP-WCMC, 2011). A standardized set of six indicators was introduced to guide this monitoring framework, as outlined in the original nomination documents (Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, 2007).

In the framework of a Global Environment Facility (GEF)-funded project, the Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan and UNDP developed a monitoring system with an online biodiversity monitoring database and accompanying capacity-building support and provision of field equipment (IUCN Consultation, 2013). Each reserve reportedly develops five-year monitoring plans with corresponding annual reporting, although publicly available data confirming the full scope and implementation of these plans remains limited. Recently, the Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan has provided training in the use of the SMART monitoring system to protected areas in Kazakhstan.

Monitoring activities cover a range of key species and ecological indicators. These include regular seasonal observations of migratory waterbirds, as well as population assessments of muskrat, marmot, badger, saiga antelope, red fox, and wild boar. In Naurzum Reserve, the monitoring of flora and vegetation dynamics is conducted regularly (Annual Reports, 2015–2016). While this long-term data collection contributes to understanding trends related to biodiversity and habitat conditions, further integration of monitoring results into adaptive management decision-making would strengthen conservation effectiveness.

Research remains a strong component of the site’s conservation framework. According to available data, Naurzum State Nature Reserve has produced over 600 reports and publications, primarily focusing on zoology, ornithology, limnology, and forest soil ecology, with a summary available in Rachkovskaya and Bragina (2012). Korgalzhyn State Nature Reserve has contributed more than 300 publications, mainly covering limnology, ichthyology, and vegetation ecology (UNEP-WCMC, 2012).

Both reserves operate with defined research strategies, as evidenced by the thematic programmes listed in their respective annual reports. At Korgalzhyn Reserve, research priorities for 2016–2020 included studies on the ecology of fish species, population monitoring of Anseriform birds and dendrophilic passerines, sandpiper ecology, vegetation cover regeneration, and mammalian population dynamics (Annual Report, 2016). At Naurzum Reserve, research activities documented in 2015 included biodiversity monitoring, regeneration of Pinus sylvestris, the status of steppe marmots, and long-term tracking of rare bird populations in the North-Turgai Region (Annual Report, 2015). More up to date priorities were not available to the assessor.

Research findings are reported annually to the Forestry and Wildlife Committee of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, and each year a number of journal articles and local publications are released to disseminate results. The monitoring system known as the “Chronicles of Nature” remains a key tool across both reserves (UNEP-WCMC, 2011). While the reserves maintain regular monitoring and research activities, the limited availability of updated, peer-reviewed data in accessible formats remains a constraint to broader collaboration and adaptive management planning.

While the governance and management systems of the site demonstrate adequate internal coordination and site-level protection, their capacity to influence and respond to external threats—such as upstream water use, regional development pressures, poaching networks, and climate-induced land degradation—remains limited. Both component State Nature Reserves (SNRs) operate under the Forestry and Wildlife Committee of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources and maintain separate administrations with shared oversight of the World Heritage property. However, this structure does not currently extend to integrated landscape-level planning or cross-sectoral governance mechanisms that could proactively address broader threats.

For instance, while declining water levels in freshwater lakes such as Lake Tengiz and associated hydrological impacts were once acute, some progress has been made through dam infrastructure maintenance and water release coordination managed by Kazvodkhoz (Che et al., 2021). Yet, these hydrological issues are largely influenced by land use and water allocation decisions beyond the reserves' administrative remit, including upstream water extraction for agriculture and industry along the Nura River (Che et al., 2021; State Party of Kazakhstan, 2023).

Similarly, although fire management is recognised as an operational priority, and seasonal monitoring occurs at the reserve level (Annual Reports, 2015–2016), the increasing frequency and severity of steppe fires—exacerbated by climate change—call for stronger coordination with regional emergency services and landholders in buffer and adjacent zones (Zhurgenov, 2023; Kazakh Emergency Ministry, 2022). The governance system currently lacks formalised mechanisms to ensure such landscape-scale coordination.

The site’s involvement in multi-stakeholder initiatives like the Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative and its integration into national biodiversity and climate policies suggests some degree of alignment with broader environmental governance frameworks (State Party of Kazakhstan, 2023). However, these efforts are often project-based and time-bound, rather than institutionally embedded within long-term intersectoral planning processes.

Therefore, while the site-level governance and management systems are largely effective in addressing internal threats, they remain only partially effective in mitigating external pressures. Strengthening interagency coordination, watershed-scale planning, and integration into national and regional development frameworks is necessary to ensure the long-term integrity of the site’s OUV.

The management system within the site is considered generally effective in addressing internal threats to the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV), with both State Nature Reserves (Korgalzhyn and Naurzum) implementing site-level conservation, monitoring, and enforcement measures. The protected areas are governed by the Forestry and Wildlife Committee under the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan and are designated as IUCN Category Ia strict nature reserves, providing a high level of legal protection (Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, 2007; IUCN, 2008).

Each reserve has a designated administrative body, staffed ranger services, and a management planning system, including annual work plans and thematic research and monitoring strategies (Annual Reports, 2015–2016). These plans have historically addressed threats such as poaching, fire outbreaks, and habitat degradation. Patrols and monitoring protocols are in place, supported by long-standing practices such as the Chronicles of Nature monitoring programme and species-specific surveillance (UNEP-WCMC, 2011).

Targeted conservation action has addressed critical issues, such as regular melioration fishing measures to prevent fish die-offs in winter (Government of Kazakhstan, 2007), and fire risk management through fire safety training, firebreaks, and response planning (Annual Reports, 2015–2016). Poaching has historically posed a concern, particularly in Korgalzhyn Reserve, but increased patrolling and awareness efforts have helped reduce incursions (IUCN Consultation, 2019).

However, several capacity-related gaps remain. Staff numbers remain below optimal levels, especially in light of expanded reserve boundaries, and there is a need for improved technical and GIS capacity among staff (Annual Reports, 2015–2016). Equipment shortages and under-resourced monitoring departments also constrain the capacity to address threats in real time.

While the reserves have established robust internal governance mechanisms, adaptive management remains somewhat limited by infrequent updates to management plans and an absence of real-time integration of monitoring data into threat response strategies.