On September 20, 2023, the Bereketli Garagum State Nature Reserve was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the transnational property “Cold Winter Deserts of Turan.” The nomination was jointly prepared by Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. This was reported by Arzuw.news, citing the "Neutral Turkmenistan" newspaper.

The reserve was established on July 18, 2013, in the central Karakum Desert to protect sandy desert ecosystems. It is located in the northern part of Ahal Velayat and comprises two sections: the western Gamyşly site and the eastern Mürzeçyrla site.

The reserve’s fauna includes more than 1,000 animal species, including 20 mammal species, 150 bird species, 15 reptile species and one amphibian species. Animals found in the reserve that are listed in Turkmenistan’s Red Book include the golden eagle, Eurasian stone-curlew, goitered gazelle, honey badger, caracal, houbara bustard and Blanford’s jerboa.

The reserve’s flora comprises approximately 300 plant species, including white and black saxaul, kandym, ferula, ephedra and Connolly’s sand acacia. The Sogdian tulip, snail kandym, drooping eremosparton and Turkmen alhagi are among the plants under state protection.

More than 50 plant species found in the reserve are described in the book Medicinal Plants of Turkmenistan by Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, National Leader of the Turkmen People and Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan.

Residents of the nearby villages of Gamyşly and Bovurdeşik preserve their traditional way of life while living alongside desert ecosystems.