“I want to leave a legacy after I pass away”

At 73 years old, Tynyshbay Dossymbekov is not a typical retiree. Instead of spending his days in quiet solitude, he made a choice to volunteer with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Tynyshbay joined a team of experts working on the development of the Ile-Balkhash State Nature Reserve, a project under the UN’s environmental protection initiative. To him, age is no barrier, and what truly matters is compassion and commitment. That's precisely what he's doing as a UN Volunteer.

Intergenerational volunteering is a unique opportunity for people of different ages and experiences to come together and lift their communities. Despite his age, what Tynyshbay brings to the table is unique—a wealth of experience and a deep passion for conserving nature.

Tynyshbay was born in the village of Bakbakty, located in Almaty’s Balkhash District, which is named after Lake Balkhash, one of the largest lakes in Asia. His professional journey began as a driver, but soon he enrolled at the Veterinary University and specialized in zoo-engineering. 

After graduation, Tynyshbay was assigned to the Bakanas Sheep Breeding State Farm in the Balkhash District. His innovative approach quickly led to his appointment as team leader of a youth livestock brigade.

"At that time, livestock farming was considered a core industry. We formed youth teams and raised a young generation under new conditions."

At 34, he became the director of the local State Farm, transforming it into a profitable operation within three years by introducing efficient leasing and subcontracting systems. In 1991, he was appointed Head of the District Department of Agriculture and Food, and a year later, he became Akim (Governor) of Balkhash District. Over the next 16 years, he held various senior management positions, including Akim of Kerbulak and Koksu Districts in the Almaty Region.

On his birthday in 2015, Tynyshbay decided to retire. "People asked me to stay, but I knew it was time to make space for the younger generation," he recalls. However, retirement didn't mean stepping away from the public sphere. Former residents of the districts he once governed often came to his home seeking guidance and support, something he never turned away from. His innate sense of duty, combined with Kazakh values, made volunteering but a natural choice.

Tynyshbay became involved in various initiatives to restore the natural ecosystems in Kazakhstan, especially in Balkhash—the region where he was born and spent most of his life. By the 2010s, Tynyshbay observed a sharp decline in livestock farming and environmental degradation in the region.

“My colleagues and I realized we could not just stand by. Kazakhstan once ranked third in the former Soviet Union in livestock production, an achievement built on a century of hard work by scientists. That legacy could not be lost.” 

Once driving through the Balkhash District, he noticed something rather drastic. During the 200-kilometre journey to the village of Kuygan, he encountered just one pheasant. He was surprised beyond comprehension, “There were no deer, no rabbits, no fish—nothing.”  

The growing concern shared by Tynyshbay and others was the starting point of the Ile-Balkhash State Nature Reserve, part of the UNDP’s project to improve the sustainability of protected areas in desert ecosystems. This vital ecological complex, encompassing the Ili River delta and the shores of Lake Balkhash, is the only remaining intact river delta ecosystem in Central Asia. However, scientists warn of an impending ecological crisis similar to the Aral Sea disaster, as Lake Balkhash is shrinking due to unsustainable irrigation and the construction of the Kapshagay Reservoir. Once a biodiversity haven, including the now-extinct Turan tiger last seen in the 1950s, the lake's ecosystem is increasingly under threat.

In a conversation with Kazakhstan's youngest UN Volunteer, Mariya Romanova, Tynyshbay reminisces about the early days when UN experts brainstormed a project to ensure a stable food supply for the Turan tiger. "The initial plan was to kickstart this project in Kyzylorda, the former habitat of the now-extinct Amur tiger." After thorough evaluation, Balkhash district emerged as the top choice for the project, boasting 35 percent of Almaty region's agricultural land. Recognizing Tynyshbay's foresight, he was brought onboard as a UN Volunteer Project Coordinator.

"When we started, our first step was to raise awareness. It became one of the first challenges and obstacles we encountered at the very beginning. People were afraid, they thought that when we release tigers into the Reserve, they would eat everyone in the area, including livestock and people. Some believed we were going to bring in 200 tigers, which is simply impossible—how would you even capture that many?

Tynyshbay shared the challenges at the onset of the project. Lack of awareness being the top challenge, and this is where a real effort was needed. How did he manage to overcome this? "I personally spoke to concerned people, and explained that the tiger is not a threat, but a symbol of ecological restoration. We agreed to start with four animals to gradually rebuild the population. I believe that by explaining things clearly and thoughtfully, we gain more trust. People will never be opposed to what they understand.”

Alongside fellow UN Volunteers with UNDP, Tynyshbay spoke to local communities and authorities, emphasizing the tiger's crucial ecological role. He also pointed out the eight species now listed in the Red Book—biodiversity loss affects all.

“If we do not do something now, we risk losing everything. People now rely on livestock for their livelihoods, but that is not sustainable either. Without water and biodiversity, the land itself begins to die. The Reserve can provide stable employment for locals and help boost eco-tourism in the region.”

Financial gain does not hold importance for Tynyshbay—on the contrary, it's the environment. He works on water-related initiatives to help restore the ecosystem. “We drilled wells and conducted water surveys," he shares.

"We want to build a dam to preserve up to 30,000 hectares of irrigated land. Previously, 16,000 hectares of rice were sown, but today the number has lowered to only six. It is a catastrophe. If this continues, in three to four years there will be nothing left."

Volunteering is deeply rooted in Central Asian culture with traditions like Asar and Zhylu zhinau compelling Kazakhs to support anyone in distress, whether they had lost their livestock, homes, or breadwinners. This sense of community and care has been passed down through generations and is evident in modern volunteering organizations throughout the region.

“Volunteering made me realize that I want to leave a legacy after I pass away. I want my grandchildren and great-grandchildren to say: ‘My grandfather did this.’ You cannot take the material things of this world with you, but you can work for the benefit of society so that people remember you with kind words."

Tynyshbay Dossymbekov is 73. He wants to make a difference in biodiversity and for the betterment of his region, and for that he volunteers. His message to all, especially the ones aspiring to be volunteers, is—look at the bigger picture and contribute through actions, not only words.

“Respect for others, spiritual values, and contributions to society—that is what truly matters. I always said to myself, if you can do something, do it. And I did.”