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

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.