Prestigious recognition from The Earthshot Prize 2024 for efforts to protect and restore vast grasslands in Kazakhstan

The Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative (Altyn Dala) is one of three finalists in the ‘Protect and Restore Nature’ category, following its vision and results to conserve and restore the grassland, wetland, and deserts of Kazakhstan. Covering an area equivalent to Turkey (over 75 million hectares / 185 million acres), the work of Altyn Dala has been instrumental in the remarkable recovery of the once Critically Endangered Saiga Antelope while also benefiting other threatened wildlife and creating rural employment.

The Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative (Altyn Dala – meaning Golden Steppe in Kazakh) has today been announced as one of 15 finalists for The Earthshot Prize 2024 and one of three in the ‘Protect and Restore Nature’ category.The initiative has been recognised for its efforts to conserve and restore the ecosystems of the ancient Kazakh steppe, wetlands, and deserts for the benefit of Saiga Antelope and other globally important wildlife.

As a long-term collaborative partnership between Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Ecology & Natural Resources, the Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan (ACBK), Fauna & Flora, Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS), and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), Altyn Dala, was initially founded in 2005 to prevent the extinction of Saiga Antelope.

Today, Altyn Dala is working across 75 million hectares (185 million acres) of steppe ecosystems – equivalent in size to Turkey – to create and expand protected areas, restore threatened species’ populations, address illegal wildlife trade, and provide professional training and public education.

Through these efforts Altyn Dala has reversed spectacularly the prospects of the unique Saiga Antelope, a keystone species across the steppe. Targeted by criminal poaching gangs for their horns, the Saiga Antelope population collapsed by 2005, reaching lows of fewer than 40,000. Sustained research, anti-poaching, anti-smuggling, protected area establishment, and public education efforts have since enabled Saiga Antelope populations to recover to an unprecedented level of over 2.8 million in 2024. This represents one of the most dramatic recoveries of a mammal ever recorded.

Beyond the efforts to recover Saiga Antelope populations, Altyn Dala partners are additionally working to revive a series of other priority threatened species, including Steppe Eagles, Sociable Lapwing, Kulan (wild ass) and Przewalski’s Horse – the latter reintroduced in 2024 after a 200 year absence.

Having today been selected as a finalist for The Earthshot Prize 2024 from over 2,400 nominees, the announcement follows the global recognition of Altyn Dala by the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration as one of only 17 World Restoration Flagships in 2022.

As Daniyar Turgambayev from The Committee of Forestry and Wildlife of the Government of Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources shares: “We are delighted to have had this recognition on the world stage for the collaborative efforts of the Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative and we congratulate our fellow finalists. There is, however, much work to still be done to ensure the golden steppes of Kazakhstan continue to benefit people, wildlife and climate long into the future. We look forward to continuing to work as a partnership to further utilise the learnings and training of local conservationists across a wider range and with bigger ambition.”

Building upon Altyn Dala achievements, significant challenges remain to expand protected areas further, recover more depleted species, and ensure rural communities continue to benefit from nature restoration within Kazakhstan. Beyond Kazakhstan, due to the multiple problems facing temperate grasslands globally, Altyn Dala is collaborating with other major grassland initiatives in the Mongolian steppe, the American prairie, and Argentinian pampas regions. By sharing knowledge and experience with like-minded teams, Altyn Dala is contributing to global initiatives to protect and restore temperate grasslands.

On hearing the news, Vera Voronova, Director of ACBK, said: “It is both inspiring and deeply humbling that our conservation efforts alongside Kazakh governmental agencies and civil society organisations 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.”

Efforts to secure the long-term future of the ancient Kazakh steppe ecosystems are ongoing through Altyn Dala, and will include building their resilience to climate change impacts, maintaining anti-poaching and anti-smuggling activities, completing the recovery of threatened species and connecting restored landscapes that function both for wildlife and communities’ land uses. Additionally, to strengthen national capacity for delivering conservation effectively, investment in existing professionals, the current generation of students, and school children across Kazakhstan will all be crucial to further restoring and understanding the unique habitats, flora and fauna found in Kazakhstan.