Burabay welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors every year while remaining a protected natural area. How the park is coping with the growing pressure is reported by El.kz.
The Burabay State National Nature Park covers an area of about 129,299 hectares. It is not merely a resort zone, but a complex ecosystem with its own protection regime. Forests, rocks, lakes, and steppe areas coexist here within a single natural system that is sensitive to any interference.
Since the beginning of this year alone, over 578,000 people have visited the park, clearly illustrating the scale of public interest. Tourist numbers continue to grow, and with them the pressure on infrastructure, roads, and coastal zones.
In just seven months, over 175,347 vehicles passed through the national park’s territory. This has a direct impact on soil, forest areas, and shorelines.
The volume of waste removed last year amounted to about 840 tons. The park is forced not only to protect nature, but also to constantly deal with the consequences of human presence.
Nature responds to care
Despite the pressure, wildlife trends offer cautious optimism. Over recent years, the lynx population has increased fourfold, and specialists now record the stable presence of this predator within the park.
The moose population has grown by approximately 2.5 times, exceeding one hundred individuals. This indicates a recovery of the forage base and a reduction in poaching pressure. Such changes do not happen on their own.
Over the past 25 years, forested areas have expanded by about 6 percent as a result of systematic reforestation efforts. In 2025 alone, around 320,000 pine seedlings were planted across 40 hectares.
“Our mission is not just to preserve Burabay in its current form, but to ensure its sustainability for hundreds of years ahead,” emphasizes Sergey Bykov, Director of the Burabay State National Natural Park. He stresses that ecology here is measured not in seasons, but in decades.
Ecology is not about fines
“Ecology is not only about inspectors and fines. First, it is about prevention and education,” says Sergey Bykov.
The administration prioritizes informational work and the development of environmental awareness, believing that one conscious visitor causes less harm to nature than dozens of formal bans. According to experts, a significant share of violations stems from simple ignorance of the rules.
Work through the media and social networks has become a separate area of focus. The park seeks to explain not only “what is prohibited,” but also “why it is prohibited.” This is a slow process, but it reduces conflict and resistance to regulations.
Managed tourism instead of closed gates
Completely abandoning tourism is impossible, and the park administration openly acknowledges this. Peak visitation occurs during the warm season, when visitor numbers increase severalfold.
The key tool is the development of eco-trails and organized routes that redistribute visitor flows and reduce pressure on the most vulnerable areas. This is not about bans, but about routing.
“We don’t tell tourists, ‘Don’t come.’ We say, ‘Come the right way,’” Sergey Bykov emphasizes. This requires clear rules and infrastructure that guides movement rather than destroying nature.
What the National Park’s economy is built on
The operation of a national park is impossible without funding, and a mixed model is used here. The comprehensive development plan for the Burabay resort area for 2024–2029 provided for the investments totaling 164.8 bln tenge, influencing regional infrastructure and engineering networks.
A separate portion of revenue comes from fees for the use of specially protected natural areas. These fees are tied to the monthly calculation index (MCI) and are indexed in accordance with legislation. This is not commerce in the conventional sense, but a state-established mechanism for regulating visitor numbers.
In addition, tourist and recreational activities are permitted on the territory under long-term land-use agreements of up to 25 years. These arrangements are regulated by legal norms and do not imply unrestricted development.
The economic model directly affects environmental policy, as the park must simultaneously ensure nature protection and serve visitor flows. Every decision here involves balancing conservation requirements with the reality of mass tourism.
Law as a framework
The core legal document remains the Law “On Specially Protected Natural Areas,” which defines land-use regimes and restrictions on economic activity. The park cannot act arbitrarily; every measure must comply with legal standards.
Visitation rules for specially protected natural areas establish the obligation to follow the prescribed procedures and confirm payment for services. This forms the legal basis for barriers, routes, and checkpoints.
“Any restriction or conservation measure must have a scientific justification,” the park director emphasizes. This is why decisions on access to certain zones are made based on monitoring and research.
A territory of responsibility
Today, Burabay is not only a tourist brand, but a living ecosystem with its own internal logic. It includes 14 large lakes and hundreds of plant and animal species that cannot adapt to uncontrolled pressure.
“When a careful attitude toward nature becomes a social norm, the number of violations decreases on its own,” Sergey Bykov convinced. According to him, this is the most difficult, but also the most effective path.
Burabay remains open to people, but it has long ceased to be just a place for recreation. How wisely this balance is maintained will determine how future generations will see it.