LocationsThe UN Development Programme presented the outcomes of the large-scale initiative on biodiversity conservation and forest restoration in Kazakhstan
October 17, 2024
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kazakhstan summarized the results of a six-year project on biodiversity conservation and forest restoration in Kazakhstan. The event, which was attended by partners, experts, and representatives of environmental protection organisations, presented the project results and achievements as well as the prospects for the further development of the country's forestry sector.
From 2018 to 2024, the UNDP, in partnership with the Government of Kazakhstan and with financial support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), implemented a large-scale project to conserve and restore forest ecosystems and biodiversity. The project covered 14 specially protected nature areas (SPNAs), eight forest areas, 12 districts, four villages and seven districts in six regions of the country: Abay, Almaty, East-Kazakhstan, Zhambyl, Zhetysu, and Turkestan. Sustainable results have been achieved in forest restoration, sustainable landscape management, strengthening the human and technical capacities of nature reserves, biodiversity conservation, ecotourism development and support for local communities.
Sukhrob Khojimatov, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Kazakhstan, noted that the project reflects the key objectives of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and is part of UNDP’s broader work to protect and restore millions of hectares of ecosystems around the world.
“Forests are a catalyst for the economic, environmental, social, and cultural well-being of people around the world. Recognizing their high value and the threat of their loss, UNDP supports Kazakhstan in reducing anthropogenic factors, mitigating the effects of climate change, conserving biodiversity, restoring, and sustainably using the country's forest ecosystems to achieve sustainable development,”said Sukhrob Khojimatov.
As a result of the cooperation with the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan, significant progress has been made in the conservation and sustainable management of ecosystems covering an area of over 14.5 million hectares. This has been made possible by the increased efficiency of SPNAs pilot management, the expansion of the SPNAs network, the completion of functional zoning of land and the successful demonstration of sustainable pasture management projects. For the first time, more than 1.2 million hectares of high conservation value forests (HCVF) have been identified in Kazakhstan, making it possible to plan more effective and specific measures for the protection of particularly valuable forests and their sustainable management in the future.
The reforestation initiatives have also achieved remarkable results. In 2019, the Mezhdurechensk forest nursery was founded in the Almaty region, where valuable and rare species are bred for forestry. In 2021, the first and only gene bank for seeds of particularly valuable tree species was established in Kazakhstan, which enables long-term storage of seeds of eighteen species of forest-forming species.
Nurken Sharbiyev, Vice Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan, highlighted the project's contribution to the restoration of forests and the conservation of valuable animal and plant species and emphasised the important role of the project in the country's transition to a "green" economy and sustainable development.
"During the implementation of the joint project, new mechanisms were demonstrated, high standards were defined, and solutions were presented in the field of sustainable forest management, landscapes, and biodiversity conservation. Systematic work was carried out to strengthen the human and technical capacity of the pilot agencies, develop ecotourism, and support local communities. The partnership with UNDP and GEF is of great importance for Kazakhstan in terms of transitioning to the practice and policy of using new approaches and mechanisms for the conservation of valuable ecosystems and biodiversity,"noted Nurken Sharbiyev.
Efforts under this partnership initiative included a wide range of activities to develop the network of SPNAs and forestry institutions in Kazakhstan. Significant progress has been made in improving the management efficiency of pilot SPNAs and forestry enterprises by strengthening their material and technical potential, improving the knowledge and skills of their staff, using modern technologies, creating, and updating management plans and developing ecotourism. More than 2,300 employees in the environmental protection sector have been trained in the preparation of management plans and the use of new technologies. To support research and monitoring of ecosystems and biodiversity, 14 SPNAs and eight forestry institutions have introduced and are utilising modern means of monitoring biodiversity and ecosystems, including SMART patrolling systems, camera traps, thermal imaging cameras and drones. Twenty-eight wind-solar stations have been installed in 13 remote cordons of SPNAs and forest farms to improve the living conditions of state inspectors and their families. One of the most important results is the expansion of the SPNAs by 558,714 hectares. The experts have finalized the scientific, technical and economic justification for the creation of six new SPNAs with a total area of more than 1.6 million hectares and the expansion of three existing SPNAs by more than 214,000 hectares.
Particular attention should be paid to the progress made in developing ecotourism and supporting local communities. Ecological trails were built and established in three national parks Kolsay Kolderi, Katon Karagay and Sairam Ugam; virtual ecotours were introduced in five SPNAs. The Eco Damu loan programme was introduced to support rural entrepreneurs, with 39 green business projects financed with a total of 227 million tenge. In 2021, an additional environmental education programme was developed and implemented, covering more than 100 schools in the Almaty, East Kazakhstan and Turkestan regions.
Thanks to the joint efforts to research and conserve the snow leopard, its numbers have increased by 26 percent in the last five years. Today there are about 152-189 specimens of this rare species in Kazakhstan. For the first time, satellite telemetry of the snow leopard has been carried out in Kazakhstan, making it possible to obtain accurate data on the predator and its habitat. Eleven predators were tagged with satellite collars.
During the six-year project, UNDP also contributed to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women in Kazakhstan, especially women from rural areas neighbouring the SPNAs. With the help of the project, about 60 women received support for their business development, completed retraining courses for craftsmen and participated in educational events organised by the project.
Related
content
content
