The Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative (Altyn Dala) has been selected as one of three finalists in the ‘Protect and Restore Nature’ category of The Earthshot Prize 2024, a prestigious recognition of their efforts to conserve and restore the vast grasslands, wetlands, and deserts of Kazakhstan. Altyn Dala is a recipient of an Endangered Landscapes & Seascapes Programme planning grant for the West Kazakh Steppe.
Altyn Dala, meaning ‘Golden Steppe’ in Kazakh, was founded in 2005 as a long-term collaborative partnership to prevent the extinction of the saiga antelope. Covering an area over 75 million hectares (equivalent to the size of Texas), Altyn Dala’s work has been instrumental in the remarkable recovery of the once Critically Endangered saiga antelope, while also benefiting other threatened wildlife and creating employment opportunities in rural communities.
Partners include Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, the Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan (ACBK), Fauna & Flora, the Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS), and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).
Przewalski’s horse reintroduction to central Kazakhstan in June 2024. Photo: Jan Mengr.
Vera Voronova, director of ACBK, says, “It is both inspiring and deeply humbling that our conservation efforts have been recognised by such a prestigious global award. We hope this recognition will enable us to expand our partnerships, bringing in additional expertise, experience, and resources to scale up our work in protecting and restoring grasslands for the benefit of nature, climate, and communities.”
Since its founding, Altyn Dala has expanded its work to cover steppe ecosystems across the country, creating and expanding protected areas, restoring threatened species populations, combating illegal wildlife trade, and offering professional training and public education.
One of the initiative’s most remarkable successes is the dramatic recovery of the saiga antelope. By 2005, rampant poaching for their horns had driven the saiga antelope population to fewer than 40,000. However, through sustained efforts, including research, anti-poaching and anti-smuggling operations, and the establishment of protected areas, the saiga antelope population has now risen to over 2.8 million in 2024 – one of the most extraordinary recoveries of a mammal species ever recorded.
A herd of saiga during calving period, west Kazakhstan. Photo: Evgeniy Leshenko.
In addition to the saiga antelope, Altyn Dala’s partners are working to revive other threatened species, including steppe eagles, sociable lapwings, kulan (wild ass), and Przewalski’s horse. The latter was reintroduced to Kazakhstan in 2024, marking their return after a 200-year absence.
Altyn Dala’s accomplishments have not gone unnoticed. In 2022, the initiative was recognised as one of only 17 World Restoration Flagships by the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. This recognition highlights the initiative’s global significance and its contribution to restoring ecosystems on a massive scale.
Despite these successes, significant challenges remain. Daniyar Turgambayev of Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources says, “We are delighted to receive this recognition on the world stage. There is, however, much work still to be done to ensure the golden steppes of Kazakhstan continue to benefit people, wildlife, and climate long into the future.”
Herd of kulan in Altyn-Emel. Photo: Anne Dohrman.
Looking ahead, the Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative will continue its critical work to protect and restore Kazakhstan’s steppe ecosystems. Priorities include building resilience against climate change, maintaining anti-poaching and anti-smuggling efforts, completing the recovery of threatened species, and ensuring restored landscapes benefit both wildlife and local communities. Investment in conservation training for professionals, students, and schoolchildren will also play a crucial role in ensuring the long-term protection of these unique habitats.
To find out more about the West Kazakh Steppe planning grant, visit their project page. To learn more about the, Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative, visit their website.
