Sustainable Asset Valuation of NBI for Ecotourism and Disaster Risk Reduction in Kyrgyzstan

The southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul is one of Kyrgyzstan’s most important cultural and ecological landscapes. The surrounding Teskey Ala-Too Mountains are home to more than 156,000 people and are being considered for designation as a UNESCO Geopark. But the region faces significant challenges: steep slopes are prone to landslides and mudflows and, at the same time, rapid growth in tourism is placing additional pressure on fragile ecosystems. 

To address these risks, the Directorate of the Teskey Ala-Too Geopark, in partnership with the Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Development (CREEED) and the Center for Economic Modeling and Analysis at the Kyrgyz Economic University (KEU), is exploring a package of NBI solutions to integrate into the park’s development.

The SAVi assessment is supporting, and being delivered in conjunction with a larger project on the “Institutionalization of a Green Economy Model in the Kyrgyz Republic”—part of the program “Green Economy and Sustainable Development of the Private Sector in the Kyrgyz Republic” implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, with co-financing from the Government of Germany, the European Union, and the Government of Switzerland.

Proposed interventions include: 

• Planting 100 hectares of native vegetation to stabilize soils, reduce runoff, and improve habitats. 

• Restoring 20 hectares of wetlands to trap sediments, enhance water quality, and buffer erosion. 

• Introducing 20 hectares of sustainable agriculture practices to build soil fertility and conserve water. 

• Developing ecotourism infrastructure such as nature trails, birdwatching platforms, and floating docks to guide visitors while safeguarding sensitive areas. 

The NBI Centre will assess these measures against a business-as-usual scenario. The focus will be on how NBI can reduce climate damage, maintain the health of Lake Issyk-Kul, and generate co-benefits for livelihoods. These interventions are also expected to create green jobs and local income, diversify tourism opportunities, and protect biodiversity, while increasing environmental sustainability.