Kazakh Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative reaches finals of 2024 Prince William’s Earthshot Prize

ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s conservation efforts have received global recognition as the country’s Altyn Dala conservation initiative has advanced to the finals of the prestigious 2024 Earthshot Prize, founded by Prince William. The announcement was made on September 24 during the third annual Earthshot Prize Innovation Summit, held during Climate Week in New York.

This is the first time that a Kazakhstan-led environmental project has reached the finals of the Earthshot Prize, marking a significant milestone in the country’s growing role on the global stage of environmental activism. Photo credit: earthshotprize.org

The Kazakh initiative is one of 15 finalists for the award and one of three in the Protect and Restore Nature category. Selected as a finalist from more than 2,400 nominees, this milestone puts Kazakhstan in the global spotlight for its commitment to environmental sustainability and biodiversity protection.

Daniyar Turgambayev, chairman of the Forestry and Nature Management Department of the Kazakh Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, expressed pride in the recognition.

“However, much work remains to be done to ensure that Kazakhstan’s golden steppes continue to benefit people, wildlife and the climate long into the future. We plan to continue working together as a partnership to leverage our experience and provide training to local conservationists in a wider range of locations,” he said.

Project scope Altyn Dala. Photo credit: Steffen Zuther/ FZS

The Altyn Dala Initiative, originally established in 2005 to protect saiga antelopes, has expanded its reach. The initiative represents a long-term partnership between the Kazakhstan Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, the Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan (ACBK), the Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS) and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).

It works across 75 million hectares of steppe ecosystems. It focuses on creating and expanding protected areas, restoring populations of endangered species, tackling illegal wildlife trade, and providing professional training and public education.

Altyn Dala’s work has played a major role in recovering the once critically endangered saiga antelope.

In 2005, the saiga population was close to collapse, with fewer than 40,000 individuals remaining, largely due to relentless poaching by criminal gangs seeking their valuable horns. Thanks to years of dedicated research, robust anti-poaching and anti-trafficking operations, the creation of protected areas, and widespread public awareness campaigns, the saiga has made a stunning comeback, reaching an unprecedented 2.8 million in 2024, marking one of the most dramatic recovery rates for wildlife ever recorded.

Capturing saiga for collaring, western Kazakhstan. Photo credit: Adbuaziz Madyarov

Challenges remain in expanding protected areas, restoring more threatened species and ensuring that rural communities continue to benefit from Kazakhstan’s ongoing restoration efforts.

Vera Voronova, ACBK executive directordescribes Altyn Dala’s success as “both inspiring and deeply humbling.”

Vera Voronova leads the Altyn Dala Initiative, together with ACBK. Photo credit: Photo credit: earthshotprize.org

“We hope this recognition will enable us to expand our partnerships, bringing additional expertise, experience and resources to scale up our work on grassland protection and restoration for the benefit of nature, climate and communities,” she said.

In addition to saiga antelopes, Altyn Dala also led the reintroduction of other important endangered species, including the steppe eagle, the critically endangered social lapwing and the kulan. A historic milestone was reached in 2024 with the reintroduction of the Przewalski horsethus returning to the region after a 200-year absence.

Przewalski’s horse at the Alibi reintroduction center in central Kazakhstan. Photo credit: Albert Salemgareyev

Altyn Dala works hand in hand with local communities, raising awareness of the vital importance of the steppe and its role. It not only aims to create jobs and provide training opportunities, but also to engage children and schools in learning about the region’s ecosystem and wildlife.

Launched in 2020, the Earthshot Prize is considered one of the world’s leading environmental awards, aiming to inspire and empower people to find solutions to the planet’s greatest environmental challenges.

The competition has five categories: Protect and Restore Nature, Clean Our Air, Revive Our Oceans, Build a Waste-Free World and Fix Our Climate. In this category, Altyn Dala has been placed with the Peru-based Amazon Sacred Headwaters Alliance and NatureMetrics, which specialise in providing biodiversity data.

“I’m thrilled to introduce you to this year’s 15 new Earthshot Prize finalists. These solutions are some of the most exciting, innovative and impactful we’ve ever seen. And the people behind them are truly inspiring. I know you’re as passionate as I am about making a difference for our planet, and we can’t wait to share their stories with you,” Prince William said in a video message to the summit.

The winners of each of the five categories will be announced during Earthshot Week in Cape Town on November 6, with the finalists receiving a prize of £1 million (US$1.3 million).

Whatever the outcome, Kazakhstan’s advancement to the Earthshot Prize finals is already a triumph for the country’s conservation efforts and a testament to the possibility of positive environmental change through innovative action and collaboration.