On 14 August 2018, the government of Atyrau region (Kazakhstan) finally decided to establish a new desert protected area. The decision was preceded by intensive scientific preliminary studies by the ACBK within the framework of CADI. The protected area shall have the status as a regional nature park and will be located in Zhyloi district.

The ACBK has been requested to elaborate a scientific-technical justification for the protected area which will be implemented within CADI.

Within the CADI project, the ACBK is developing scientific justifications for the enlargement of the existing protected area Ustyurt (Zapovednik) and for the designation of a new cluster in South Ustjurt. The work will be based on the results of the CADI biodiversity expeditions to the region 2017-2019.

The detection of the Persian leopard in Ustyurt has significantly increased the chances for the new designation or enlargement of the existing protected area. The proof was achieved with the help of camera traps set up as part of the CADI project. Based on the expedition data, the ACBK developed a scientific justification for the inclusion of the Persian leopard in the Red Book of Kazakhstan and an action plan for the protection of the leopard and submitted it to the responsible authorities.