On May 23, 2025, a roundtable organized by the Aarhus Center of Issyk-Kul took place in the meeting hall of the Ayil Okmotu in Kajy-Sai village, Ton District, Issyk-Kul Region.

The main goal of the roundtable was to promote the principles of the Aarhus Convention, ensure citizens’ right to access environmental information, and increase public participation in environmental protection.

The roundtable was attended by the head of Kajy-Sai village, Islam Akunov, Senior Lieutenant of the Tourist-Environmental Police Bakiyar Barakanov, deputies of the Ayil Kenesh, and local residents.

S. Tursunyakunov, manager of the Aarhus Center for Issyk-Kul Region, delivered an opening speech, providing information on the Center’s activities, ongoing work in the region, and plans for the rest of the year. Then, I. Akunov, head of the village, and B. Barakanov, a representative of the regional environmental police, presented information on their environmental work.

During the discussion of the presented information, participants shared their opinions and recommendations for improving environmental protection activities in villages and for joint activities with state bodies. Particular problems in these areas include accumulations of unauthorized garbage dumps and a lack of garbage bins or designated storage areas in villages, which contribute to the deterioration of sanitary conditions.

During the roundtable, young people showed interest in environmental issues. To foster environmental responsibility in the younger generation, it was suggested to expand environmental education in schools and kindergartens.

Examples were given of initiatives involving schoolchildren, such as cleaning up areas, planting trees, and collecting garbage, which help to form a correct attitude towards nature. It was also proposed to resume the tradition of regular community clean-ups at the village level with the support of local authorities and public organizations.

Deputies of the Ayil Kenesh noted that in summer, during the tourist season, the number of visitors in the area of the village, especially on the lake shore, sharply increases. While this contributes to tourism development, it also creates serious environmental and sanitary problems.

It was especially emphasized that a lack of proper toilets leads to tourists relieving themselves in unauthorized places, which damages nature and pollutes the lake water. According to the deputy, this situation is caused not only by the irresponsible behavior of tourists but also by a lack of proper control. Local residents have repeatedly expressed their dissatisfaction and demanded that the authorities solve this problem.

The roundtable was held in a dialogue and Q&A format. Participants expressed their readiness for joint action in environmental protection. Following the discussions, concrete proposals were developed and will be submitted to the relevant authorities.

To enhance the capacity of the tourist-environmental police officers, collections of regulatory legal acts of the Kyrgyz Republic in the field of environmental protection, prepared by the Aarhus Center with the financial support of the OSCE Program Office in Bishkek, were handed over.