Implementation of GEF Biodiversity Conservation Projects in Kazakhstan

Implementation of GEF Implementation of GEF Biodiversity Conservation Projects Biodiversity Conservation Projects

in Kazakhstanin Kazakhstan

A.BraliyevA.BraliyevVice Minister of Environmental ProtectionVice Minister of Environmental Protection

Republic of Kazakhstan Republic of Kazakhstan

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

GEF Focal Area: GEF Focal Area: Biodiversity ConservationBiodiversity 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.

Project description:

http://www.wetlands.kz

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



To protect globally significant wetland biodiversity in Kazakhstan

GOAL

Government agencies, non-governmental entities, and local communities are maintaining and improving the integrity and

viability of Kazakhstan’s priority wetland ecosystems

Objective




5. Establishment of Biodiversity Conservation Fund in Kazakhstan

4. Stakeholders Empowered to Sustainably Utilize the Productive Landscape around Priority S

3. Increased stakeholder awareness and support

2. Strengthened Protected Area Operations

1. National wetland biodiversity conservation policy, regulatory and institutional framework approved

Outcomes



Outcome 1. National wetland biodiversity conservation policy, regulatory and institutional framework approved Relevant international Conventions and agreements ratified by Kazakhstan

Project Implementation Progress

7 Conventions +one agreement (AEWA)

7 Conventions

Baseline + 2 (Ramsar + Bonn)

5 Conventions

CBD

UNESCO WHS

CITES

UNFCC

UNCCD

End of Project target

2010

Mid-term target

2007

Baseline

2004



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


Law on PA – amended to include wetland conservation

Law on PA – amended to include wetland conservation

Law on PAs – no provisions of wetland conservation


2010

Mid-term target

2007

Baseline

2004



Outcome 2. Strengthened Protected Area ManagementIndicator 8. The boundaries of protected areas increased to include valuable

ecosystems


Korgalzhyn PA - 543979 га

Alakol PA – 80,671 ha

Ural River Delta – 111,500 ha

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


2010

Mid-term target

2007

Baseline

2004



Outcome 3. Increased stakeholder awareness and support

Indicator 13. Mechanisms and processes for disseminating lessons learnt in Kazakhstan and region-wide


Publication of successful wetland conservation and management practices Dissemination of lessons learnt in 5 PAs

Publication of successful wetland conservation and management practices Regional wetland conservation workshop (2007) Dissemination of lessons learnt in 3 PAs

No lessons learnt and dissemination mechanisms


2010

Mid-term target

2007

Baseline

2004



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


308,5-309,5

345,43-347,6

308,5-309,5

345,43-347,6

Tengiz Lake - 308,5-309,5

Alakol Lake - 345,4-347,6


2010

Mid-term target

2007

Baseline

2004


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);


Outcome 5. Sustainable Financing for Wetland Conservation

Indicator 17. Biodiversity Conservation Fun established and operational


Fund registered and capitalization completed

RegisteredNo Fund


2010

Mid-term target

2007

Baseline

2004


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 22,237,700Including : 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.

Overall Project Goal:

Conservation of Globally Significant Agrobiodiversity in Kazakhstan


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.

Immediate Project Objective:

The most significant areas of agrobiodiversity are mountain systems of Zailiysky and Dzhungarsky Alatau


1. Ecosystem-based conservation and management ofwild crop relatives at two project sites

2. Strengthened institutional, technical, and financial framework for ABD conservation

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

3. An effective legislative framework for the conservation and rationaluse of agrobiodiversity resources

Major Project ComponentsIN-SITU CONSERVATION OF KAZAKHSTAN’S MOUNTAIN AGROBIODIVERSITY

GEF Executive Agency :GEF Executive Agency : UNDPUNDP

National Implementing Agency:National Implementing Agency: CFH, MoACFH, MoA

Duration: Duration: 5 years5 years

Budget :Budget : $ 21,152,487$ 21,152,487 GEF GEF $2,395,700 $2,395,700

UNDPUNDP $40,000$40,000

Government Government $9,213,200$9,213,200

NGOsNGOs $12,000$12,000

Private sectorPrivate sector $45,000$45,000

German GovernmentGerman Government $ 2,418,087$ 2,418,087

Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in the Kazakhstani Sector of the Altay-Sayan Mountain EcoregionKazakhstani 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


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.

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 plants and 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

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.

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

THANK YOU FOR ATTENTION!

Documents

Implementation of GEF Biodiversity Conservation Projects in Kazakhstan