Kulunatinsky State Reserve

The 27,780-hectare Kulunatinsky State Reserve was established in 2004 to preserve the natural landscapes and biodiversity of a biologically significant part of Kyrgyzstan’s Osh region.

The reserve’s territory, which lies between the Fergana and Alay ridges, in the upper part of the Tar River, is a rich gene pool of flora and a unique mountain and lake ecosystem.

Kulunatinsky State Reserve’s geographical location and climate, when combined with protection from human activity such as poaching, was expected to facilitate the spread of many wild animal, bird, and plant species, including rare ones.

The reserve has diverse nature and resources, such as the beautiful and unique rubble lakes - Kulunata and Ortoko. Lake Kulunata, with its adjacent forest massifs and subalpine and alpine meadows, represents a unique mountain-lake ecosystem.

In addition to promoting the conservation and sustainable use of the forest’s biological resources, the Kulunatinsky State Reserve is involved in outreach campaigns to improve environmental awareness among the local population. The aim of this is to minimise the main anthropogenic factors affecting the population of species in the reserve.

Thanks to the establishment of the reserve and the strict protection measures, the incidence of poaching has gradually decreased and the number of animals has increased noticeably.

The Kulunatinsky State Reserve is currently home to 24 mammal species, 81 bird species, and 808 plant species.

From the total area of the reserve (27434.2 ha) forest land occupies 3483.5 ha (12.7%), covered with forest area occupies 2742.4 ha (10% of the total area of the reserve). Water - 338,3 ha, glaciers - 1164,6 ha, radins - 324,2 ha, glades and wastelands - 416,9 ha, pastures - 12365,6 ha, other lands - 10076,7 ha (42,1% of non-forest land).