(L to R): Taylor Barlow, Levi Gephart, representatives of Mondo Fly Fishing company during the meeting with Matthew Rands, President, UIMF and Dr. Rusty Butler, main representative of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences at the United Nations

 Matthew Rands, President of Utah International Mountain Forum (UIMF), a coalition of student clubs at Utah Valley University (UVU), Dr. Rusty Butler, main representative of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences at the United Nations and Dr. Baktybek Abdrisaev, advisor for UIMF met with Taylor Barlow, and Levi Gephart, representatives of Mondo Fly Fishing company from Idaho on Monday, May 14, 2018 at UVU.

Taylor have been talking to his mother, Marcia Barlow about a possible development project for Kyrgyzstan and other mountain communities in Central Asia, taking into account established partnership between the UVU and different institutions in Kyrgyzstan since 1999 through efforts of Dr. Baktybek Abdrisaev and Dr. Rusty Butler. Marcia Barlow works with UIMF during last three years as representative of United Families International, a non-governmental organization in special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. Taylor is a professional fly fishing guide and has a fly rod brand (Mondo Fly Fishing), as well.  In addition to his expertise in fly fishing, he is connected to the broader fishing community and specifically to a humanitarian/non-profit group that goes into countries and communities to help them develop an in-country industry built around fly fishing and tourism.  As Taylor looked at Kyrgyzstan and other Central Asian nations, he saw it as a prime area for this type of environmentally-sensitive development.  He found out that the similarities between the terrain and rivers of Kyrgyzstan and Inter-mountain West are striking.  Marcia Barlow and Taylor saw this kind of a project as something that might also work, more broadly, to help with development in other mountain countries worldwide.

(L to R): Taylor Barlow, Dr. Baktybek Abdrisaev and Levi Gephart after the meeting

Taylor lives in Teton Valley, Idaho. He together with partner Levi Gephart used the visit to Utah as an opportunity to meet with UIMF representatives to discuss what the possibilities and opportunities might be for students at UVU, the people of Kyrgyzstan and most importantly, get input regarding the region, the culture, the rivers and fisheries, and the needs of the local people.

As a result of the meeting both sides agreed to pursue the project proposed by Taylor Barlow and assist him with his trip to Kyrgyzstan during the fall 2018 as a starting point with possible further expansion it in other countries of Central Asia.

                     Yanko Dzhukev, FAO-UN Outreach Coordinator, UIMF