Zhongar Biosphere Reserve

UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, inscribed 2018, in Kazakhstan. Zhongar Biosphere Reserve lies on the northern slopes of the Zhetysu Alatau Range in south-eastern Kazakhstan. It incorporates the entire range of mountain ecosystems characteristic of Central Asia, spanning full altitudinal belts from lowland steppe and wild fruit forests to spruce stands, subalpine meadows and nival rock zones. The territory is of global importance as the location of the wild apple gene bank. The reserve’s core purpose is to conserve intact mountain ecosystems while supporting sustainable development in surrounding districts.