Tajikistan is a mountainous country and mountain ecosystems cover significant part of its territory. One of the key species of high-mountain ecosystems is the snow leopard, whose objects of hunting also include valuable species of hoofed animals, particularly markhor sheep (screw-horned goat) and mountain sheep (argali). Considering the increased anthropogenic load roughly in all territories of key high-mountain ecosystems and intensive use of their resources, the issue of conservation of snow leopard has become highly relevant nowadays. Mountain ecosystems, being the habitat of snow leopard and its objects of hunting, are also the crucial sources of supply of food and agriculture resources to the population. In this regard, conservation, and sustainable use of these ecosystems constitutes both national and global priority. Furthermore, development and updating methods and approaches of conservation of fragile mountain ecosystems and its indicator species, like snow leopard and its objects of hunting, is the model for a comprehensive approach for designing the principles of new global biodiversity structure, that was adopted in 15^th Conference of Parties of UN Convention on biodiversity of “Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework”

Framework Program facilitates coherence, complementarity, and cooperation with relevant multilateral agreements between countries and provides the opportunity for cooperation for the preservation of life on Earth.

In the International Conference on snow leopard ecosystems conservation, that is being held in Dushanbe on October 14^th, 2024, the representatives of 12 snow leopard range countries will participate and discuss progress in the implementation of the Global program GSLEP, exchange national and international practices and successful initiatives, implemented in the area of snow leopard conservation, as well as restoration and sustainable use of high-mountain ecosystems, serving as a habitat for snow leopard.

The Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Program (GSLEP) is a comprehensive, collaborative, large scale initiative, that unites 12 snow leopard range countries, nongovernmental and inter-governmental organizations, local communities, and the private sector for the conservation of snow leopard population and its valuable high-mountain ecosystems. Long-term solutions include 10 key principles to ensure the safety of the snow leopard. One of the key principles for the conservation is exchange of experiences, joint programs and capacity building for enhanced coordination on conservation of high-mountain ecosystems, as well as conservation of snow leopard range and its objects of hunting. Particularly this principle will be the key principle in this conference and will lay the foundation for both updating the conservation strategy and systematic development of the potentials of stakeholders and partners.

In addition, within the framework of the relevance of the updating national targets in biodiversity by all countries, lessons learned, knowledge and methodologies on conservation of high-mountain ecosystems and species of mountain biodiversity will facilitate the development and updating of national targets and National Strategy and Action Plan on Conservation of Biodiversity (NSAPCB).

The International Conference will provide an opportunity to consider, discuss and make necessary decisions from the regional and global achievements, trends and new programs related to biodiversity and environmental protection, based on the principles of sustainable development and the “Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework,” national goals and objectives of the snow leopard range countries by using their technological, methodological and programmatic potentials, integrating measures on conservation of mountain ecosystems, as well as improvement of well-being and restoration of mountain areas.