Forestry and Protected Areas Service

Welcome to the page of the Forestry and Protected Areas Service! The Service keeps the forests of the Zone and its protected areas, issues permits for trekking, riding, grazing and felling, and runs the ranger posts.

Area	Since	Size	Remarks
Besh-Tash National Park	1996	c. 11,000 ha (core)	lower valley ISEZ; Ranger Headquarters at Kök-Oi
Besh-Tash Ecological Conservation Area	1996	c. 32,400 ha	buffer zone; regulated grazing and trekking
Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve (Irad part)	1926	c. 128,000 ha	clan wardens since 2007
Kyrk-Kazyk Caves	2004	c. 1.8 km of passages	Sary-Bulak District; gated in winter for the bats

PERMITS FOR BESH-TASH are given at the Ranger Headquarters at the park entrance at Kök-Oi, every day in the season (May to October) from 8:00 to 18:00. Trekking 50 som a day, riding 80 som, grazing in the buffer zone by the season. The upper valley and the lakes are beyond the line and are patrolled by the clan wardens: the Service cannot give permits there!

The Chatkal Wildlife Protection Post in upper Sary-Bulak District has eight rangers who patrol against poaching. Report poaching or a forest fire: +996-39-2-21-31-99 (round the clock).

The Red Data Book of the ISEZ (2012) lists the rare animals and plants of the Zone, among them the snow leopard. Copies can be seen at the Service and at the National Library.

Besh-Tash valley

Snow leopard (Red Data Book)