World Heritage thematic study for Central Asia

The World Heritage thematic study for Central Asia has been produced as a contribution to supporting the implementation of the World Heritage Convention in Central Asia. It provides a response to a Decision of the World Heritage Committee in order to identify outstanding areas with potential for future nomination to the World Heritage List with primary focus on criteria (ix) and (x) at the regional scale. The approach applied in this study, focusing on criteria (ix) and (x), follows that from the 2013 study on terrestrial biodiversity and the World Heritage List. Criteria (ix) and (x) are clearly the primary ones for recognition of extant biodiversity values, and they have been applied to a wide range of biodiversity features, including ecosystems, species, and ecological and/or biological processes. Although this study is an initial assessment, most areas and sites recommended here have appeared repeatedly as being of particular interest for biodiversity conservation during the work process, whether through literature analysis or in discussions with experts and specialists. The recommendations reflect the current level of knowledge that should be strengthened in the future, to ensure that the identified areas and sites are well supported with the necessary data and empirical evidence to address the requirements of the Operational Guidelines.