Environment - The Times Of Central Asia

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Akim of Mangystau Calls for Calm after Mass Swan Die-out

On January 18th, the Akim of Mangystau (head of the regional government), Nurlan Nogaev met with environmental activists from Mangystau and ornithologists from Almaty. The main topic of discussion was the pressing issue of the mass die-out of swans on Lake Karakol, as reported by the press service of the Akimat. According to the latest data, as of January 18th the number of dead swans in Mangystau has reached 1,018 birds, 41 of which were found on the seashore in the Karakiyan district, and the rest on the lake itself. According to the biological scientist and ornithologist, Victoria Kovshar, despite the fact that the peak of bird flu has already passed, this figure will only continue to grow. "Bird flu is a phenomenon widespread all over the world. Instances of this disease are regularly recorded on the Caspian Sea, as was the case two years ago when black-footed boobies and Caspian terns died en masse. At the time, it was assumed that the cause was related to oil emissions, but a government commission found that bird flu was to blame. “The virus usually targets certain species of birds, for example, in 2015 there was a bird flu that affected the dalmatian pelican without affecting the pink pelican, which nests with it in the same colonies and is directly related. It follows that the death of swans on Lake Karakol is not a unique case. We can see that mostly young individuals which were unprepared for the winter have died here. This is a natural process that is not subject to manual intervention. Saving swans now is comparable to if you were to confront an avalanche with your bare hands. It is important to prevent the infection of poultry such as ducks and geese, and it should be noted that the virus can remain active in the carcasses of dead birds for a prolonged period of time. However, given the extremely low temperatures on the lake currently, this would not be the case.”[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image="13639" img_size="full" el_class="scond-image" parallax_scroll="no" woodmart_inline="no"][vc_column_text woodmart_inline="no" text_larger="no"]According to the head of the regional territorial inspection of the Committee for Veterinary Control and Supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture, Temirbek Nurtazin, veterinary services are regularly monitoring the epizootic situation among poultry, and as of now no cases have been found among poultry in private farms. Speaking after his briefing, the head of the region, Nurlan Nogaev said he is concerned about the significant number of swan deaths, but urged against an overly emotional reaction. "I thank the experts, Victoria Kovshar and Fedor Karpov, for their active participation in the search for the real cause of swan deaths on Lake Karakol,” Nogaev said. “The situation around this issue is of public interest, and I also express my gratitude to the eco-activists involved in solving the problem. A team of scientists is expected to arrive in the coming months to study the biodiversity of this unique body of water. It is important that experts, including ornithologists, are involved in gathering information.”...

Ministry Looks to Tackle Air Pollution in Tashkent Amid Flash Mob Protest

Uzbekistan’s capital, Tashkent, has long been ranked among the worst cities in the world with the highest levels of air pollution by the international service, IQAir. In 2022, the portal ranked Tashkent as the worst in the world in terms of air pollution based on data from Uzhydromet (State Hydrometeorological Service). Tashkent is particularly prone to fine particles of PM-2.5, which is the most dangerous indicator for health, according to the World Health Organization. On January 12th, the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of Uzbekistan stated that increasing levels of air pollution in Tashkent are caused by emissions from coal-burning heat and power plants, and from motor vehicles. The levels of air pollution are also due to the illegal felling of 49,000 trees and construction work being carried out without planning permission. Another contributing factor is an increase in the amount of pollutants being emitted by vehicles, the number of which is growing rapidly. In 2021, there were 3.14 million cars, but by 2023 there were 4.6 million, an increase of 32%. On average, 730,000 vehicles are on the move in Tashkent every day, with between 160,000 to 300,000 entering the capital from the regions. Cars using A-80 gasoline, which does not meet international standards, emit more harmful substances into the atmosphere. The burning of coal to generate electricity is also on the rise. In 2019, 3.9 million tons of coal were used; by 2022, this had increased to 5.3 million tons, and by the end of 2023 it was 6.7 million tons, the ministry stated. The levels of air pollution are also due to the fact that Tashkent is located is surrounded by mountains, meaning the wind cannot circulate, and the polluted air is not blown away. In order to reduce air pollution in Tashkent, the ministry proposed the following measures: – a ban on motor fuel below the Euro-4 standard (AI-80 gasoline); – a restriction on the movement of cargo vehicles in Tashkent weighing more than 3.5- and 12-tons during rush hour (from 07:00 to 10:00 and from 17:00 to 20:00); – a ban on vehicles manufactured before 2010; - providing preferential treatment and subsidies to owners of electric vehicles; – a scheme to reduce congestion wherein vehicles with odd number plates are allowed to drive on odd days, and those with even numbers on even days; – pedestrianized zones in the center of the city; – the transfer of public transport to the use of electric and gas-cylinder fuel; – a moratorium on construction except for facilities of social and state significance; – a ban in the Tashkent region on the use of coal for industrial purposes; – the creation of a “green belt” around the city. Meanwhile, on the same day, activists in Tashkent staged a flash mob to protest about the state of affairs. Among those fighting for the right to life and health were eco-blogger, Mutabar Khushvaktova (Urikguli), the singer, Konsta, stand-up comedian, Mirshakar Faizullaev, bloggers Umid Gafurov and Mirzayor Erkinov,...

Mass Die-Out of Swans in Mangystau: What are the Causes?

On December 27th, inspectors discovered a tragic picture on the shores of Lake Karakol in the Ustyurt State Nature Reserve, with the lifeless bodies of thirty swans lying on the ground. The Department of Ecology, which analyzed water from the lake, reported that at the time of sampling the maximum permissible concentration of harmful substances had been exceeded. However, the true extent of the situation has since become clearer, and according to updated information 826 dead swans have been recorded in Mangystau, with this figure continuing to rise daily. In the process of monitoring water sources associated with Lake Karakol, having found that permissible pollution levels had been exceeded, an unscheduled inspection of the Rixos Aktau hotel took place. This information was provided by Nurken Sharbiev, Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and Zhomart Aliyev, head of the Committee for Environmental Regulation and Control of the Ministry. Rixos currently operates 34 hotels and resorts, the majority of which are located in Turkey, Kazakhstan, the UAE and Egypt, and seven of which were developed in partnership with the infamous Bayrock Group.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image="13641" img_size="full" el_class="scond-image" parallax_scroll="no" woodmart_inline="no"][vc_column_text woodmart_inline="no" text_larger="no"]The Rixos Water World Aktau Hotel is located on the coast of the Caspian Sea, 20 kilometers from the city of Aktau, whilst the protected territory of Lake Karakol is located within the boundaries of the Karagi-Karakol Zoological Reserve, which has republican significance. More than 20 species of birds listed in the Red Book of Kazakhstan and the international list of protected species inhabit this land, including the dalmatian pelican, pink flamingos, and the Savka. At this juncture, the extent of the involvement of Rixos Aktau is yet to be revealed, though the Department of Ecology of Mangystau is probing the hotel’s discharge into the lake. Specialists are currently analyzing samples, and if the results show contaminants the hotel may be fined up to an amount which would depend on the volume and composition of the discharged wastewater.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image="13640" img_size="full" el_class="scond-image" parallax_scroll="no" woodmart_inline="no"][vc_column_text woodmart_inline="no" text_larger="no"]However, a representative of the public commission tasked with investigating the cause of the mass die-out, Adilbek Kozybakov, posted a different supposition about the reason for the death of the birds on Facebook. "The cause of death is avian influenza, as confirmed by laboratory tests. Viruses of some forms of bird flu can be dangerous to both humans and poultry, but for some reason they still have not declared a quarantine and closed Lake Karakol to visitors. Due to the wide resonance around this topic, different groups of journalists, bloggers, activists and ordinary citizens passing by the lake come to Karakol every day. They walk along the shore, stepping on bird droppings, and can then carry the bird flu virus home," Kozybakov wrote. Kozybakov has suggested that experts from various fields - veterinarians and ornithologists, virologists and bacteriologists, specialists in epizootiology and epidemiology, and local independent biologists and ecologists - should form a commission. "Only through such a body will it be possible to...

Karakalpakstan

Uzbekistan to Boost Development in Karakalpakstan

On January 10th, the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a government meeting on the socioeconomic development of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, an impoverished autonomous region in the northwest of the country. In recent years, Karakalpakstan has made headlines as a politically volatile area which saw deadly unrest break out in July 2022. The region has also suffered acutely from the consequences of the Aral Sea ecological disaster. At the meeting, it was stated that over the past seven years, Karakalpakstan has undergone unprecedented changes. Twelve of the autonomous republic’s fifteen districts were formerly subsidized by the central government, but now they have begun to bring in revenues to the state budget. More than 5,300 projects have been implemented through investment. Forest plantations covering 1.8 million hectares have been sown on the desiccated bed of the former Aral Sea, and living conditions for 51,000 families have been improved. In Karakalpakstan, there are incentives and opportunities for doing business which are not available in any other parts of Uzbekistan - taxes on profit, turnover, land and property have all been lowered twofold, and social tax has been set at 1%. Over the past two years, seven decrees and resolutions have been adopted on the development of industry, agriculture, entrepreneurship, and the improvement of the infrastructure in mahallas (local neighborhoods) in Karakalpakstan, with a total of $400 million and 250 billion Uzbek som have been allocated for these purposes. Today, the population of Karakalpakstan exceeds two million, and every year 50,000 citizens enter the region’s labor market. At the meeting, the President emphasized the need to train them in modern professions, and provide them with gainful employment and decent conditions. In 2024, the government plans to attract $2.1 billion in foreign investment to the region. This injection of funds will help implement 206 projects in industry, 240 in the services sector, and 34 in agriculture, creating 13,000 jobs. The head of state pointed out that tourism can become a driver of economic growth in Karakalpakstan, and set the task of developing a program to kick-start tourism in the region, with a focus on environmental, ethnographic, and pilgrimage destinations. The establishment of a tourism cluster and attracting foreign experts to the local tourist industry were also discussed.

UNDP Supports Kyrgyzstan in Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Ecosystem Management

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has helped Kyrgyzstan to conclude the biodiversity conservation project in Western Tian Shan, and is now launching a new initiative for the integrated management of valuable mountain ecosystems of Pamir-Alai. Speaking at an event marking the conclusion of the Western Tian Shan project, Alexandra Solovieva, UNDP Resident Representative in the Kyrgyz Republic, highlighted the achievements of the project, which supported the adoption of a landscape approach, advocating for a holistic ecosystem strategy in biodiversity and natural resource planning, management, and monitoring. The project’s key achievements included strengthening protected area management, implementing high conservation value forest concepts, flagship species monitoring, revising sector legislation, expanding local community rights and opportunities, and promoting environmental education initiatives, UNDP Kyrgyzstan reported on January 9th.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image="13449" img_size="full" el_class="scond-image" parallax_scroll="no" woodmart_inline="no"][vc_column_text woodmart_inline="no" text_larger="no"]The Western Tian Shan project focused on preserving globally significant biodiversity and the sustainable management of land and forest resources. A major achievement was the establishment of the Chatkal ecological corridor and the Kabak buffer zone, spanning 89,000 hectares, linking three protected areas - Alatai, Sary-Chelek, and Padysha-Ata - and facilitating natural wildlife migration. Recently adopted as the national symbol of the Kyrgyz Republic, the snow leopard, an ecosystem indicator species, plays a vital role in the health of entire ecosystems and in determining the well-being of its prey species. UNDP's conservation initiatives focus on preserving and increasing the snow leopard population, with recent data showing a population of 15 to 28 individuals in the Western Tian Shan mountains. Efforts to enhance conservation effectiveness include reducing ecosystem pressure through alternative income sources, local development, and expanding socioeconomic opportunities for residents near protected areas. The project supported income-generating initiatives in pilot villages of the Toktogul and Toguz-Toro districts, with a focus on expanding socio-economic opportunities for women and youth. "Our current country program aligns closely with national priorities, focusing on low-carbon sustainable development and reliable ecosystem preservation. UNDP will continue to support Kyrgyzstan in sustainable ecosystem management and biodiversity conservation,” stated Solovieva, adding that in January 2024, “we will launch the Pamir-Alai project, funded by the Global Environment Facility, reaffirming our dedication and partnership in preserving natural heritage and invaluable ecosystems."

Kazakhstan to Plant Forests on a Million Hectares of Former Aral Seabed

On January 8th, the Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan, Erlan Nysanbayev chaired a meeting on the implementation of instructions from the Head of State to plant saxaul shrub plantations on dried up sections of the Aral Sea. It was stated at the meeting that 500,000 hectares of the former seabed have been included in the lands of the state forest fund, and in 2023 afforestation work began on that area. It was also emphasized that as climatic conditions are changing and the frequency and severity of storms increase, wind-borne salt and dust cause significant damage to areas adjacent to the Aral Sea and their inhabitants. Every year, more than 100 million tons of salt, dust and sand are blown from the bottom of the former Aral Sea and mix into the air. Kazakhstan’s part of the Aral is more saline than its Uzbek counterpart. In order to improve the situation, President Tokayev has set the task of planting saxaul shrubs on 1.1 million hectares by 2025. This project has now been provided with the necessary infrastructure for preparing seeds for sowing and cultivation, and the necessary equipment has been purchased, the meeting heard.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image="13571" img_size="full" el_class="scond-image" parallax_scroll="no" woodmart_inline="no"][vc_column_text woodmart_inline="no" text_larger="no"]Through joint efforts oy the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources and the administration of the Kyzylorda region, 544,500 hectares of saxaul have been sown over the past three years. This year, it is planned to plant on another 275,000 hectares. As the decimation of the Aral Sea is a global problem, the Ministry cooperates with international organizations, including the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS), the World Bank, the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Korean Forest Service. In the summer and autumn of 2021, specialists from Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan exchanged their experiences in planting saxaul and other trees on the former Aral Sea, and a memorandum was signed for closer cooperation in afforestation of the region.