The Unique Caves and Canyons of Koytendag on the Path to the UNESCO World Natural Heritage List
27On July 23, 2026, the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan hosted a hybrid meeting. The event brought together representatives from the Michael Succow Foundation for Nature Conservation, Conservation X Labs, the Slovak Speleological Society, and the Humboldt University of Berlin. Participants also included the National Committee for Ecology and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan (RU), the Institute of Zoology of the Academy of Sciences of RU, the Secretariat of the National Commission of Turkmenistan for UNESCO, the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan, and the National Institute of Deserts, Flora, and Fauna.The meeting aimed to discuss the preparation of the nomination dossier for "Karsts, Canyons, and Caves of Koytendag" as a transboundary UNESCO World Heritage site. Attendees also reviewed the current progress of the nomination Roadmap and the results of recent field expeditions.International experts presented findings from field expeditions to the Koytendag (Turkmenistan) and Surkhan (Uzbekistan) nature reserves, which took place in the spring of 2026. They showcased photographs of dinosaur tracks from other World Heritage sites globally, comparing them to those found in Turkmenistan. Additionally, the experts shared photographs of caves in Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan that hold potential for international recognition.The participants discussed in detail the preparation process for the Preliminary Assessment request. This included defining the site boundaries, identifying key features and attributes, analyzing main threats, addressing management issues, and outlining the procedures for coordinating and submitting documents to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee.Both countries successfully submitted the site to the Tentative List of the World Heritage Committee in September 2025. Under the updated Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention, State Parties must undergo a Preliminary Assessment before submitting a full nomination dossier. Once they receive a positive evaluation from International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) experts, the countries can proceed with the final formatting and submission of the full dossier.National experts will continue their work alongside international consultants from the Michael Succow Foundation and Uzbek specialists, alignment with the new requirements of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention.
