An international meeting was held in Ashgabat at the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan, dedicated to preparing a transboundary nomination of two unique natural sites — the Koytendag Nature Reserve (Turkmenistan) and the Surkhan Nature Reserve (Uzbekistan) — as a single UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The event was held in a hybrid format with participation from the Michael Succow Foundation (Germany), Conservation X Labs (USA), the Slovak Speleological Society, as well as relevant agencies from Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The meeting resulted in the adoption of a Declaration of Intent, approval of a Roadmap, and the definition of UNESCO criteria for preparing the nomination dossier.

The site was added to the UNESCO Tentative List under the joint title "Karsts, Caves and Canyons of the Kugitang Range," highlighting the region's unique geological and biological heritage. Work on the project began back in 2015, and the move toward a joint nomination followed recommendations from international experts.

The Kugitang Range is renowned for its rich biodiversity, including dinosaur footprints, rare karst formations, deep caves, and canyons. Particular attention is given to the conservation of the western population of markhor, Bukhara urial, birds of prey, and a unique blind loach fish found only in this region.