Projects

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.

DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF A UNIFIED SYSTEM OF REGIONAL MONITORING OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES OF THE ARAL REGION

Project Objectives: The main objective of the project is to provide information support for the managerial and economic decision-making to ensure environmental security, preserve reproduction and rational use of natural resources, ensure sanitary and epidemiological welfare of the population of the Aral Sea area.

Objectives of the project:

• systematization, processing and distribution of objective information on the state of the environment and natural resources, anthropogenic sources of pollution and factors affecting it;
• assessment, identification of dynamics and forecasting of changes in environment state, natural resources and public health;
• development of recommendations (management decision options) aimed at improving or maintaining the state of the environment and reducing the negative consequences of anthropogenic activities;
• the definition of cause-effect relationships between the state of health of the population and the impact of environmental factors;
• formation of a monitoring data bank;
• providing data for the analysis of the effectiveness of management decisions taken and ongoing measures to ensure environmental safety, conservation, reproduction and rational use of natural resources, ensuring sanitary and epidemiological welfare of the population;
• information and methodical support of the monitoring participants and the public for their effective interaction.

The cost of the project: 35 million tenge (110 thousand dollars)

Terms of the project implementation: 2018-2019.