Month: April 2018

DEVELOPMENT OF THE ARAL REGION WILD ANIMALS ADAPTATION

Project objectives: To preserve and restore populations of rare wild hoofed animals and those listed in the Red Data Book of Kazakhstan (saiga, gazelle, kulan, Przewalski horse) by breeding under semi-free conditions followed by reintroduction into the wild.

Objectives of the project:

• Develop a concept for managing the population of wild hoofed animals in the Northern Aral Region;
• To substantiate the functional and ecological habitats of animals in conditions close to natural;
• Develop an infrastructure for the maintenance and reproduction of a population of wild hoofed animals (saiga, gazelle, kulan, Przhivalsky horse);
• To develop and substantiate the spatial and social structure of aviary upkeep of wild hoofed animals;
• Give a comprehensive assessment of the feeding and watering base of the nursery;
• To develop recommendations on bringing the size of the saiga population in the nursery to the production level

Expected results of the project:

• Technologies will be developed for keeping and breeding saiga and other endangered hoofed animals in semi-free conditions.
• A reserve saiga livestock will be created for:
  • preservation of the gene pool of the species in a critical situation;
  • reintroduction to other areas to restore dying populations;
  • transfer to other nurseries, zoos, etc.
• The feed capacity of pastures and the optimal level of animal number for the Northern Aral region will be determined;
• Biotechnical measures will be carried out to improve the habitats of animals (creation of watering places, sowing of forage grasses, planting shrubs, etc.);
• An assessment will be made of the possibility of coexistence of other rare animals with saiga (kulan, gazelle, Przewalski horse), taking into account the forage capacity of the land;
• The possibility of restoring the historic range of endangered species and subspecies of hoofed animals will be tested;
• Schools will be held on awareness of the population and involvement of local residents in the activities of the “Center”;
• The use of the “Aral region center …” as a basis for scientific research, monitoring, experiments, environmental education, student practice, etc.

The cost of the project: 945 million tenge ($ 3 million)

Terms of the project implementation: the first stage 2017-2020. the second stage 2021 – 2025

DEVELOPMENT OF THE “GREEN BELT” ALONG THE EASTERN COAST OF THE ARAL SEA AND HUMAN SETTLEMENTS

Project Objectives:

Preservation of the natural and resource potential of the zonal and delta ecosystems of the Kazakhstani Aral Sea region, improvement of living conditions of the local population by creating a green belt, introduction of phytomeliorative methods for reducing salt-dust removals from the dried bottom of the Aral Sea

Objectives of the project:

Landscape and ecological zoning of the eastern part of the dried bottom of the Aral Sea as a potential source of wind salt and dust transfer;

Designing and construction of a collector-drainage network for oasis irrigation of the “green belt”;

Conducting multi-stage and multi-tier phytomeliorative works along the eastern coast of the Aral Sea with the introduction of local and introduced species of psammophyte flora;

Creation of “green belts” around settlements;

Creation of saxaul plantations and introduction of economically viable vegetation species in order to attract local people.

Expected results of the project:

A cartographic model of existing and potential sources of salt-dust removals will be created;

Improvement of the collector-drainage network of the Left-bank of Kazalinsk irrigation array;

A “green belt of the Aral Sea” will be created with phytomeliorative works along the eastern coast of the Aral Sea and irrigation technologies will be defined;

Carrying out, if necessary, mechanical protection (reed mats, rubble) of the most deflation-hazardous areas;

“Green belts” have been created around the settlements of Kaukey, Bozgol, Karateren, Zhanakurylys, Karasholan, Bugun, Karatyup, Aralsk;

Saxaul plantations have been created and the rules for their exploitation have been developed;

Workplaces for the population of the region have been created and experience in phytomelioration and rational use of the region’s biological diversity has been transferred.

Estimated project cost: 1.8 billion tenge ($ 5.7 million);

Terms of the project implementation: the first stage 2017-2020.