On 31 January 2026, a Snow Leopard Conservation and Ecotourism Festival was held in the Chon-Kyzyl-Suu valley of Jeti-Oguz district. The event supported the implementation of Presidential Decree No. 369 (2023), which recognises the snow leopard as a national symbol of the Kyrgyz Republic.
The festival aimed to increase awareness of snow leopard and biodiversity conservation, promote environmental awareness, and support ecotourism and sustainable use of natural resources. More than 600 people took part, including representatives of local and national authorities, local self-government bodies, civil society organisations, tourism businesses, youth and local communities. A delegation from Kemin district also attended to support learning and experience sharing.
A key activity was the opening of a small bridge leading to a jade stone tourist site in Chon-Kyzyl-Suu. The site is part of the “Seven Wonders of Jeti-Oguz” tourism concept and has potential to attract eco-tourism and support local livelihoods.
The festival is included in the Socio-Economic Development Programme (SEDP) of Jeti-Oguz district as a priority tourism activity. The SEDP was developed with support from the EGED Programme. Members of the district Coordination Council played an active role in planning and delivering the event.
The festival contributed to increased local awareness of environmental protection and demonstrated how local development plans can support sustainable tourism and inclusive economic growth.
