A group of livestock producers and pasture specialists from the Kyrgyzstan will not arrive in time for an event previously schedule for Sunday in Enterprise.

Michael Hale, rangeland specialist for The Nature Conservancy, told the Chieftain Monday the delegation’s visas had been canceled.

“Unfortunately, the U.S. Consul General in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, informed the exchange participants late Friday evening (their time) that their visas were revoked,” said Hale, who had been coordinating the visit. “I contacted Oregon’s U.S. Senators and Representatives along with assistance from The Nature conservancy staff in Portland to help with finding more information.”

All of the participants will need to reapply for visas, he said, which could take some time.

“The exchange is canceled, but I am hopeful that it will happen sometime in the future,” Hale said.

The delegation of 20 Kyrgyz pastoralists was to be in Wallowa County as part of a community-based conservation learning exchange with ranchers, rangeland specialists and government representatives

The learning exchange is organized by the International Center for Advancement of Pastoral Systems and The Nature Conservancy with support from Wallowa Resources.