From May 5 to 8, international experts from the Michael Succow Foundation visited Turkmenistan.

During the visit, the experts, together with their Turkmen colleagues, visited the Koytendag State Nature Reserve. The expedition's main goal was to conduct field research, assess the condition of natural complexes, and collect additional data to prepare a joint nomination dossier for the inclusion of the Kugitang Transboundary Mountain Landscape on the UNESCO World Heritage List. This was reported on the website of the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan.

The transboundary site unites two of the region's most important protected areas: the Koytendag State Nature Reserve in Turkmenistan and the Surkhan State Nature Reserve in Uzbekistan.

The nomination dossier is being prepared jointly by the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan, the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and international partners.

The visit by experts from the Michael Succow Foundation allowed for a detailed analysis of the current state of the sites to ensure compliance with the strict requirements of the UNESCO Operational Guidelines (2024 edition).

A great deal of work lies ahead: submitting the application for preliminary assessment, harmonizing management plans for the transboundary site, finalizing the nomination dossier, and preparing the final package of documents. Including the "Kugitang Karsts, Canyons, and Caves" on the World Heritage List will not only preserve this unique corner of the planet for future generations but also strengthen international cooperation in environmental protection in Central Asia.

As a reminder, the decision to establish the transboundary site "Kugitang Karsts, Canyons, and Caves" reached a new level in July 2025, when the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan, together with its partners, prepared a joint Declaration of Intent and Roadmap. In September 2025, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan jointly prepared and submitted to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre an updated Tentative List under the unified title "Kugitang Karsts, Canyons, and Caves."