Implementation of GEF Biodiversity Conservation Projects in Kazakhstan

1. Implementation of GEF Biodiversity Conservation Projects in Kazakhstan A.Braliyev Vice Minister of Environmental Protection Republic of Kazakhstan

2. Conservation of flora and fauna and natural ecosystems to avoid losses due to economic and other activities Biodiversity conservation is one of the priorities under the national sustainable development agenda

3. GEF Focal Area: Biodiversity Conservation • Integrated Conservation of Priority Globally Significant Migratory Bird Wetland Habitat: A Demonstration on Three Sites; • In-situ Conservation of Kazakhstan’s Mountain Agrobiodiversity; • Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in the Kazakhstani Sector of the Altay-Sayan Mountain Ecoregion; • Conservation and Sustainable Management of Steppe Ecosystems; • Development of a Wetland Site and Flyway Network for Conservation of the Siberian Crane and Other Waterbirds in Asia; • Dry Land Management in Central Kazakhstan; • Forest Protection and Reforestation Project.

4. Date of inclusion into the Working Programme 26 July 2000 Expected Project duration 84 months Date of signing Project Document 20 August 2003 Planned end date 31 August 2010 Date of first disbursement 28 October 2003 Revised end date 31 August 2011 Wetlands Conservation Project Project description: http://www.wetlands.kz

5. GOAL To protect globally significant wetland biodiversity in Kazakhstan Objective Government agencies, non-governmental entities, and local communities are maintaining and improving the integrity and viability of Kazakhstan’s priority wetland ecosystems Wetlands Conservation Project Project description: http://www.wetlands.kz

7. Outcomes 1. National wetland biodiversity conservation policy, regulatory and institutional framework approved 2. Strengthened Protected Area Operations 3. Increased stakeholder awareness and support 4. Stakeholders Empowered to Sustainably Utilize the Productive Landscape around Priority S 5. Establishment of Biodiversity Conservation Fund in Kazakhstan Wetlands Conservation Project Project description: http://www.wetlands.kz

8. Outcome 1. National wetland biodiversity conservation policy, regulatory and institutional framework approved Relevant international Conventions and agreements ratified by Kazakhstan Baseline 2004 Mid-term target 2007 End of Project target 2010 5 Conventions CBD UNESCO WHS CITES UNFCC UNCCD 7 Conventions Baseline + 2 (Ramsar + Bonn) 7 Conventions +one agreement (AEWA) Wetlands Conservation Project Project Implementation Progress http://www.wetlands.kz

9. Outcome 1. National wetland biodiversity conservation policy, regulatory and institutional framework approved Indicator 5. New regulatory and normative acts relevant to wetlands conservation and sustainable use Baseline 2004 Mid-term target 2007 End of Project target 2010 Law on PAs – no provisions of wetland conservation Law on PA – amended to include wetland conservation Law on PA – amended to include wetland conservation Wetlands Conservation Project Project Implementation Progress http://www.wetlands.kz

10. Outcome 2. Strengthened Protected Area Management Indicator 8. The boundaries of protected areas increased to include valuable ecosystems Baseline 2004 Mid-term target 2007 End of Project target 2010 Korgalzhyn PA - 259,771 ha Alakol PA – 19,773 ha Ural river delta – 0 ha Korgalzhyn PA - 259,771 ha Alakol PA – 19,773 ha Ural River Delta – 0 ha Korgalzhyn PA - 543979 га Alakol PA – 80,671 ha Ural River Delta – 111,500 ha Wetlands Conservation Project Project Implementation Progress http://www.wetlands.kz

11. Outcome 3.Increased stakeholder awareness and support Indicator 13. Mechanisms and processes for disseminating lessons learnt in Kazakhstan and region-wide Baseline 2004 Mid-term target 2007 End of Project target 2010 No lessons learnt and dissemination mechanisms • Publication of successful wetland conservation and management practices • Regional wetland conservation workshop (2007)‏ • Dissemination of lessons learnt in 3 PAs • Publication of successful wetland conservation and management practices • Dissemination of lessons learnt in 5 PAs Wetlands Conservation Project Project Implementation Progress http://www.wetlands.kz

12. Outcome 4. Stakeholders Empowered to Sustainably Utilize the Productive Landscape around Priority Sites Indicator 3. Water level required to maintain wetland ecosystems integrity and wetland productivity remains constant Baseline 2004 Mid-term target 2007 End of Project target 2010 Tengiz Lake - 308,5-309,5 Alakol Lake - 345,4-347,6 308,5-309,5 345,43-347,6 308,5-309,5 345,43-347,6 Wetlands Conservation Project Project Implementation Progress http://www.wetlands.kz

13. Installation of automated meteostation and restoration of hydrological stations • Automated meteostations produced by Viasala (Finland) – MAWS110 –procured and installed • Weather Metering software installed; • Automated meteostation presented; Sultankeldy Lake (TK)‏ Alakol Lake (AS);

14. Outcome 5. Sustainable Financing for Wetland Conservation Indicator 17. Biodiversity Conservation Fun established and operational Baseline 2004 Mid-term target 2007 End of Project target 2010 No Fund Registered Fund registered and capitalization completed Wetlands Conservation Project Project Implementation Progress http://www.wetlands.kz

15. IN-SITU CONSERVATION OF KAZAKHSTAN’S MOUNTAIN AGROBIODIVERSITY Implementation timing: March 2006 - 2011 Проектная территория: Wild fruit forests in Zailiysky and Zhetusu Alatau of Almaty Oblast. Forest management: Talgar and Turgen branches of Ile-Alatau PA; Lepsin and Sarkand forest farms. Total project area is about 400,000 ha (4,000 sq.m)‏ Total budget: USD 22,237,700 Including : Global Environmental Facility (Project implementation phase) – USD 2,770,000; Ministry of Agriculture, Akimat of Almaty Oblast (in-kind contribution) – USD 7,524,700; Profit-making organizations and NGOs (in-kind contribution) - USD 1,943,000.

16. IN-SITU CONSERVATION OF KAZAKHSTAN’S MOUNTAIN AGROBIODIVERSITY Overall Project Goal: Conservation of Globally Significant Agrobiodiversity in Kazakhstan Immediate Project Objective: Conservation of agrobiodiversity within the two priority sites of the North Tien-Shan Mountains by developing and applying the new conservation methods and instruments including partnership relationships among environmental agencies and regulation of the use of natural resources at the national and local levels, PAs, local communities and private sector.

17. IN-SITU CONSERVATION OF KAZAKHSTAN’S MOUNTAIN AGROBIODIVERSITY The most significant areas of agrobiodiversity are mountain systems of Zailiysky and Dzhungarsky Alatau

18. IN-SITU CONSERVATION OF KAZAKHSTAN’S MOUNTAIN AGROBIODIVERSITY Major Project Components 1. Ecosystem-based conservation and management of wild crop relatives at two project sites 2. Strengthened institutional, technical, and financial framework for ABD conservation 3. An effective legislative framework for the conservation and rational use of agrobiodiversity resources 4. Alternative livelihoods benefiting local communities in project sites, reducing natural resource use pressure on mountain agrobiodiversity 5. Awareness and support at all levels regarding the values and need to conserve Kazakhstan’s mountain agrobiodiversity increased

19. Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in the Kazakhstani Sector of the Altay-Sayan Mountain Ecoregion GEF Executive Agency :UNDP National Implementing Agency: CFH, MoA Duration: 5 years Budget : $ 21,152,487GEF $2,395,700 UNDP $40,000 Government $9,213,200 NGOs $12,000 Private sector $45,000 German Government $ 2,418,087

20. Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in the Kazakhstani Sector of the Altay-Sayan Mountain Ecoregion Goal to enhance the sustainability and conservation effectiveness of Kazakhstan’s national PA system by demonstrating sustainable and replicable approaches to conservation management in the protected areas in the Kazakhstani sector of Altai-Sayan ecoregion

21. Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in the Kazakhstani Sector of the Altay-Sayan Mountain Ecoregion Outcome 1: The protected area network is expanded and PA management effectiveness will be enhanced; Outcome 2: Awareness of and support for biodiversity conservation and PAs will be increased among all stakeholders. Outcome 3: The enabling environment for strengthening the national protected area system will be enhanced, Outcome 4: Community involvement in biodiversity conservation will be increased and opportunities for sustainable alternative livelihoods within PAs and buffer zones will be facilitated; Outcome 5: Project monitoring and evaluation are in place. The best practices and lessons learned are disseminated and replicated in other locations within the national protected area system.

22. Forest Protection and Reforestation Project • Objective: to conserve and recover unique ribbon-like pine forests in the Irtysh area, plant and forest reclamation in Kyzylorda region, national institutional development • Project territory: ribbon-like pine forests in the Irtysh area in East Kazakhstan and Pavlodar regions, saxaul plantsand dry Aral seabed in Kyzylorda region • Implementation period: 2007-2011 • Project cost: US$63.8 mln. US$28,8 mln. - republican budget US$30 mln. – IBRD loan US$5 mln. GEF grant

23. Main challenges in implementing projects • insufficient coordination among project executing agencies; • implementation of integrated management methods at productive landscapes (fishing, agriculture and hunting) surrounding protected areas; • low level of interest among local communities in the project sites to participate in the projects; • traditional livelihoods, particularly mainly cattle-breeding; • legislative regulation of the involvement in PA management.

24. Ways of addressing challenges • Working Group under the GEF National Focal Point • Inter-Agency Working Group has been set up from the representatives of respective government agencies in the area of integrated wetland management • Memorandum of Understanding in the area of education and training programs, creation of a single database and application of the GIS software

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