Green Movement Advances Towards Making Katon-Karagai Central Asia's Eco-friendly Hub
Going Green in Central Asia: Katon-Karagai Leads the Way
Step into the breathtaking Katon-Karagai region, nestled in Eastern Kazakhstan, and you might just be setting your sights on Central Asia's first fully green territory. This revelation was dropped by Rae Kwon Chung, a Nobel Peace Prize winner and member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, at the recent Samarkand Climate Summit in Uzbekistan [1][2].
Katon-Karagai, already famous for its eco-tourism potential, plays home to Kazakhstan's largest national nature park covering 68% of the district. In 2024, it earned a spot on the global Green Destinations list [2].
As we grapple with global climate change, Katon-Karagai offers a promising test bed for implementing renewable energy sources, smart waste management, and modern climate monitoring methods [1]. It could serve as a model for other regions, embracing the future without compromising its rich cultural heritage and time-honored respect for nature.
Other countries like South Korea, Singapore, and several in Scandinavia have dabbled in green pilot projects, but Central Asia hasn't yet taken the lead. Experts believe that Kazakhstan, with its economic and natural potential, could be the region's pioneer in adopting green economy principles [2].
Chung suggested launching a Green Region Manifesto, a public declaration of values, and a roadmap to 2035, complete with environmental, social, and technological benchmarks [1]. Katon-Karagai is poised to become a pioneer in this exciting new journey, where advanced technologies and traditional values intertwine, paving the way for the region's ecological modernization [1].
Keton-Karagay National Park, a stunning landscape of mountain landscapes, serene lakes, healing springs, and alpine meadows, is an ideal playground for ecotourism and wellness retreats [1][2]. The initiative focuses on sustainable tourism practices through community-led projects, such as ethno-villages and designated trails, aiming to strike a balance between tourism growth and the preservation of the environment and culture [3].
References:- [1] Sustainable Rural Development Fund. (2023). Katon-Karagai could become the first green region in Central Asia. Retrieved from https://www.srdf.kz/en/press-center/24494- [2] The Astana Times. (2023). Katon-Karagai: A laboratory of the future in Central Asia. Retrieved from https://astanahabitat.kz/en/2023/04/06/katon-karagai-a-laboratory-of-the-future-in-central-asia- [3] Green Destinations. (2024). Katon-Karagay National Park, Kazakhstan. Retrieved from https://www.greendestinations.org/destination/1399/katon-karagay-national-park-kazakhstan- [4] Green Destinations. (2025). The Green Destinations Top 100. Retrieved from https://www.greendestinations.org/content/top-100-sustainable-destinations-2025
- The Katon-Karagai region in Eastern Kazakhstan, a potential hotspot for eco-tourism, is poised to set sustainable benchmarks in environmental-science, pioneering the adoption of renewable energy sources and smart waste management.
- Following Rae Kwon Chung's declaration at the Samarkand Climate Summit, Katon-Karagai's goal is to become a leading climate-change test bed in Central Asia, while maintaining its cultural heritage and reverence for nature.
- In the face of global climate change, Katon-Karagai, already home to the country's largest national nature park, is functioning as a science laboratory to develop modern climate monitoring methods, potentially serving as a blueprint for other green destinations.
- Adrenalin-seekers and nature-lovers alike can enjoy the serene environment of the Katon-Karagay National Park while supporting sustainable tourism practices designed to preserve both the environment and cultural heritage, ensuring a harmonious balance between development and conservation.
