The Tugay Forests of the Tigrovaya Balka Nature Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Tajikistan inscribed in September 2023, span 50,000 hectares near the Afghan border along the Vakhsh River. As Tajikistan’s fourth UNESCO listing and first natural site, these rare floodplain ecosystems feature Asia’s largest tugay forests—riverine woodlands of poplar, tamarisk, and oleaster—supporting endangered species like the Bukhara deer and goitered gazelle. Protected since 1938, this biodiversity hotspot preserves Central Asia’s vanishing natural heritage amidst a semi-arid landscape, highlighting ecological resilience and conservation efforts.

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