The transnational serial nomination "Western Tien Shan" (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan) is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and the Navruz holiday and cultural traditions associated with the national dish — pilaf — are also now in the list.
Certificates of this were presented in Tashkent. The event was organized by the State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Nature Protection and the National Commission for UNESCO in Uzbekistan. The event was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Public Education, the Academy of Sciences, the Tashkent Regional Administration, the administration of the Ugam-Chatkal State National Nature Park, the Association of Chefs of Uzbekistan, as well as employees of the diplomatic corps, the representative office of UNESCO, the OSCE UNDP in the Republic of Uzbekistan, the press service of the State Committee for Nature of Uzbekistan reports.
In accordance with the decision of the 40th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, held on July 17, 2016 in Istanbul, part of the Central Asian Tien Shan mountain system, covering the territories of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as a cross-border object "Western Tien Shan".
On the territory of Uzbekistan, it covers the protected areas of Maidantal and Bashkyzylsay of the Chatkal Reserve, which is part of the Ugam-Chatkal State National Nature Park. The "Chatkal Mountains" of the transnational object "Western Tien Shan" is the first natural object in Uzbekistan to receive World Heritage status.
The Chatkal Nature Reserve is a real treasure trove of rare and endemic species of flora and fauna inhabiting the mountain ecosystems of Central Asia, which boast significant areas of mountain forests, unique ancient Quaternary relic communities of foothill steppes and highly diverse nuciferous forests. Thanks to effective conservation activities, the wild ancestors of many cultivated plants are preserved in the reserve, making up a globally significant gene pool for breeding. The flora and fauna of the reserve is represented by 1,060 species of plants, 168 birds, among which are the griffon vulture, lammergeier, Egyptian vulture, Himalayan snowcock and cinereous vulture, and 32 species of mammals, including the wild boar, roe deer, Siberian ibex, Tien Shan brown bear, Central Asian otter, red fox, snow leopard and Menzbier's marmot.
The Republic of Uzbekistan also plans to include the following natural sites in the World Heritage List: Sarmyshsay rock paintings, Shakhimardan, Zaamin Mountains, Hissar mountainous area and Baysun. As part of the event, the documentary Western Tien Shan and videos dedicated to the Navruz holiday and the traditions and culture of pilaf were broadcast.
