To tell a story, you must understand it first.

Communications workshop for journalists takes place in Kyrgyzstan for Vanishing Treasures Programme

By GRID-Arendal

October 28^th, 2022

Kyrgyzstan, located between the West and the East on the foothills of the Himalayas, has a striking landscape consisting of large, flat steps and valley floors, and impressive, rugged mountains covering over 80% of the country´s territory. Residing in the Kyrgyz mountains are an array of wildlife, including wolves, deer, the alpine ibex and, perhaps the most iconic of them all, the snow leopard.

This rare feline is one of the three flagship species that are the focus of the Vanishing Treasures (VT) programme. In this international project, lead by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and funded by the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg, we set out to highlight how climate and environmental change impacts the snow leopard, and what is needed for future conservation to preserve the species and its habitats. Conservation also means integrating social development of mountain communities and propose adaptation solutions for a more resilient mountain for those who need it most.

Mountain landscape in Chon Kemin region. Photo: Laurent Fouinat/GRID-Arendal.

Environmental reporting in Kyrgyzstan still struggles to hit the headlines in the news, despite increasing issues related to air quality or waste management, among others. Therefore, having competent and engaged journalists is essential to create widespread support for conservation, mitigation and adaptation measures.

As part of the VT programme, a communication workshop for journalists was conducted in Bishkek to address the need for strong environmental reporting. The workshop was held in the Kyrgyz language for the first time, aimed at Kyrgyz journalists so as to be introduced to environmental projects such as VT, and get a thorough overview of the activities and communities benefiting from international environmental projects.

Jointly organized by GRID-Arendal, Ilbirs foundation, Snow leopard Trust and UNEP, the workshop attracted a total of thirteen journalists and communicators from a variety of backgrounds. The goal of the workshop was to increase the climate and environmental knowledge among Kyrgyz journalists, to provide support in developing intriguing, compelling and scientifically sound environmental storytelling, and build a network of environmentally sensitive journalists in the country.

Baktygul Chynybaeva, a Kyrgyz national, experienced environmental journalist from Azattyk media and member of the Earth Journalism Network, was tasked with leading the workshop and guiding participants into effective environmental reporting.

Baktygul Chynybaeva speaking during the field trip. Photo: Chyngyz Uulu.

Day 1

The first day was spent covering the background of the project and conservation of the snow leopard, approaches to science communication and the difficulties faced when making science more accessible, and how to find interesting angles when conducting environmental reporting.

Day 2 and 3

The participants were taken on a two-day field trip to meet directly local beneficiaries and stakeholders of the VT programme. Four sites were visited: the plum tree plantation in Koshoi, beekeepers in Shamshy,, a Sea buckthorn plantation lead by women in Tar-Suu, and the wildlife observation platform in Chon Kemin, accessed from the Boo-Jetpes guest house.

A beekeeper opening a hive for the participants. Photo: Torjus Eckhoff/GRID-Arendal.

Participants of the workshop interviewing a herder. Photo: Torjus Eckhoff/GRID-Arendal.

A young plum tree plantation in Koshoi. Photo: Laurent Fouinat/GRID-Arendal.

A plaque presenting the VT Sea Buckthorn plantation lead by Women in Taa-Suu. Photo: Chyngyz Uulu.

Group photo of the participants with rangers at the wildlife observation platform. Photo: Chyngyz Uulu.

Journalists were given the opportunity to interview people directly involved in the development of those activities, which included beekeepers supported with hives; herders cooperating with the programme to improve pasture sustainability; an all-women farm group planting Sea buckthorn berries for local and international markets to get a sustainable economic supplement; and ex-poachers converted into rangers now dedicated to environmental protection.

The latter ones, based in the region of Chon Kemin, have built a wildlife observation platform located in the mountains at about 2500 m.a.s.l. As an eco-tourism oriented solution, the platform is reached by horseback riding. With an early start under a clear night sky, in the newly fallen snow, journalists could already on the ride up spot tracks of various animals and deer that were having breakfast in the hillsides slowly lighting up at sunrise. From the vantage point of the platform, the massive valley floor far below and the mountain sides rising on each side of it offered a chance to observe wild boars, numerous deer, and a pack of four wolves.

The wildlife observation platform. Photo: Laurent Fouinat/ GRID-Arendal.

After returning to Bishkek, the participants directly invited in to join the “Seventh Steering Committee Meeting of the Global Snow Leopard & Ecosystem Protection Program (GSLEP)”. This experience was the complete opposite of the visit to local communities, and was meant for the journalist to get a peek of the decision-making bodies at an international level. Conservation is a multilevel endeavour, and the journalists were introduced to people involved at local, national, and international levels. By listening to speeches delivered by officials and ministry representatives from different countries as well as international organisations and NGOs, the participants gained an understanding of the complexity and intricacies of how the social ecosystem of the conservation sector looks like. Some of the participants also took the opportunity to get interviews with conference attendees to spice up their story with more angles.

GSLEP streering committee meeting in Bishkek. Photo: Laurent Fouinat/ GRID-Arendal.

Day 4

The final day was spent visiting the Azattyk media outlet, with participants getting the chance to meet editors, cameramen, and established journalists to share their experience. The rest of the day was given to process all material acquired during the previous days and tie in all their stories. The journalists had an intense week with lots of new experiences and learning. New friendships were made, new areas of opportunity were opened, and hopefully engagement for inspiring environmental storytelling has been invigorated by the creation of this new network of Kyrgyz journalists.