Lessons from the Pandemic: Succow Foundation strengthens One Health Approach in Central Asia

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown how closely human health is linked to the health of nature. At the partner coordination meeting in Almaty, the Succow Foundation contributed its long-standing regional and technical expertise to strengthen the Central Asian protected area network – helping to prevent future pandemics and fostering resilient landscapes and healthy societies.

The partner coordination meeting of the project “One Health in Nature Conservation” took place from August 26-28, 2025, in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Together with IUCN, the Institute of Zoology of Kazakhstan, and many other conservation actors from across all Central Asian countries, participants discussed baseline data, monitoring approaches, and governance issues for protected areas.

One focus was on coordinating conservation-related topics with the monitoring of potential zoonoses in wildlife, as well as developing strategies to strengthen the resilience of landscapes.

The Succow Foundation contributed its expertise in protected area management and sustainable land use and supported discussions on indicators for effective and equitable nature conservation.

The meeting concluded with an excursion to the Manul Protected Area, where practical monitoring methods were presented.

Did you know? The Manul Protected Area directly borders the Altyn Emel National Park to the south, which in 2023 – also with the support of the Succow Foundation – was recognized as part of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site Cold Winter Deserts of Turan.

Photos: J. Wunderlich / Michael Succow Foundation

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