About us
The Merke State Regional Natural Park is located in the Zhambyl region of the Republic of Kazakhstan. It has been granted the status of a specially protected natural area to conserve biodiversity and is focused on preserving the unique ecosystems of the foothill and mountain zones of the Western Tien Shan. The park covers 86,632 hectares. Rare animal species listed in the Red Book of Kazakhstan live here, including the snow leopard, argali, Indian crested porcupine, and the Turkestan lynx. Rare birds include the falcon, golden eagle, griffon vulture, and others.
History
The Merke Natural Park was established on August 18, 2025 as a new specially protected area of Kazakhstan. The park was created jointly by government agencies, scientific organizations, and international partners, in particular UNDP. Before the park was created, scientists conducted research and discovered unique populations of rare species in this area, including the snow leopard. These data became one of the grounds for official protection of the territory.
Goals and objectives
The main goal of the natural park is to preserve the integrity of ecosystems, reference and unique natural complexes, create conditions for regulated tourism and recreation, and restore damaged natural and historical-cultural complexes and sites.
Regional overview
The Merke State Regional Natural Park is located within the Merke District. The park territory covers the foothills and mountain areas of the Western Tien Shan. Within the park there are mountain slopes, passes, high-mountain and foothill ecosystems, which create diverse natural conditions for flora and fauna.
Management structure
1. Management;
2. Department for protection and reproduction of forests and natural complexes;
3. Department of science, information, and monitoring;
4. Department of tourism, recreation, and environmental education;
5. Department of finance and organization;
6. Forest fire station of type 1 and type 2.
The director of the Merke State Regional Park is Yklas Nursultan Zhorabekuly, who provides overall leadership of the institution, coordinates the work of all structural divisions, and is responsible for fulfilling environmental, scientific, and administrative tasks.
Biodiversity
The regional park is known for its rich flora and genetic diversity. On its territory grow white poplar, pine, birch, ephedra, sea buckthorn, Dzungarian aconite, and many other plants. Botanical surveys have recorded about 835 plant species.
Most of them are flowering plants that form the basis of the flora. The main animal species found in the park include argali, roe deer, wolf, fox, wild boar, wild cat, corsac fox, and others. Birds include the snowcock, black grouse, pheasant, chukar, and short-toed snake eagle.
Most of them are flowering plants that form the basis of the flora. The main animal species found in the park include argali, roe deer, wolf, fox, wild boar, wild cat, corsac fox, and others. Birds include the snowcock, black grouse, pheasant, chukar, and short-toed snake eagle.
Rare species
The combination of alpine meadows and steppe with a rich species composition of grass-forb meadow vegetation provides a good food base, while rock outcrops serve as shelters for animals.
Here you can find distinctive forms of Regel pear and Caucasian black berries; rare and endemic species include rhubarb and others.
Rare and endangered species listed in the Red Book also occur here: Greig's tulip, Albert's tulip, Alatau snowdrop, and others.
Located almost in the center and at the southernmost point of the natural park and covering a wide range of altitudinal landscape belts, these areas meet all requirements of a strictly protected zone. Habitats of rare and endemic animal species are found here, including the Tien Shan argali, Central Asian lynx, snow leopard, and stone marten; migration routes of argali and the snow leopard also pass here. Rare birds include the Egyptian vulture, golden eagle, saker falcon, and Eurasian eagle-owl.
Here you can find distinctive forms of Regel pear and Caucasian black berries; rare and endemic species include rhubarb and others.
Rare and endangered species listed in the Red Book also occur here: Greig's tulip, Albert's tulip, Alatau snowdrop, and others.
Located almost in the center and at the southernmost point of the natural park and covering a wide range of altitudinal landscape belts, these areas meet all requirements of a strictly protected zone. Habitats of rare and endemic animal species are found here, including the Tien Shan argali, Central Asian lynx, snow leopard, and stone marten; migration routes of argali and the snow leopard also pass here. Rare birds include the Egyptian vulture, golden eagle, saker falcon, and Eurasian eagle-owl.