Working Together to Protect the Sudochye Lake System

At the end of October, a consultation meeting was held in Nukus, the capital of the Republic of Karakalpakstan in northwestern Uzbekistan, to develop a tailored management plan for the Ramsar Site “Sudochye Lake System.” The goal: to define joint strategies for the long-term and effective conservation of this ecologically and regionally significant wetland.

On 30 October 2025, representatives of the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan (MEEPCC), the Michael Succow Foundation, the Ramsar Regional Initiative for Central Asia (RRI-CA), as well as other national and regional stakeholders, gathered in Nukus to discuss the draft of the new management plan.

Key topics included assessing the current ecological status, refining conservation objectives, and planning concrete measures for the area’s protection. Participants emphasized the importance of close cooperation between government authorities, scientists, and local communities to balance ecological, social, and economic interests.

The Sudochye Lake System, an internationally recognized Ramsar Site, plays a crucial role in maintaining the water balance and biodiversity of western Uzbekistan. It provides vital habitat for numerous bird species – including many migratory ones – and holds potential for sustainable, nature-based tourism as a local source of income.

The new management plan will lay the foundation for a long-term, integrated conservation and sustainable use strategy – an important step toward safeguarding the future of the Sudochye Lake System.

Photo: J. Wunderlich / Michael Succow Stiftung

« Back