Implementation of Ecosystem Approach for Improving Wetlands Management in Kazakhstan

Talgat KERTESHEV

Demonstration on Three Sites:Ural river delta with adjacent Caspian coast, Teniz-Korgalzhyn

and Alakol-Sassykkol Lakes

Key Threats to the Wetlands

Uncontrolled visits/tourism in the wetlands

Unsustainable use of water resources

Unsustainable use of biological resources

Assessment of the current biodiversity status in three wetlands based on the ecosystem approach

In 2004-2006 the Project conducted comprehensive field surveys to assess the current status of the biodiversity, terrestrial and aquatic habitats as well as social and economic conditions in three wetlands.

For the first time in Kazakhstan, research methodologies based on the specification of aquatic and terrestrial types of ecosystems were endorsed. Key and monitoring higher plant and animal species were identified with a reference to the identified types of ecosystems.

The research findings became the basis for expanding the Alakol and Korgalzhyn Reserves as well as for establishing a new nature reservat, Akzhaiyk, in the Ural river delta with adjacent Caspian coast (based on key species) and for arranging monitoring of biodiversity and habitats (based on monitoring species).

Cartographic MethodCartographic Method

The map of ecosystems is a linchpin The map of ecosystems is a linchpin which structures the natural which structures the natural information as the basis for future information as the basis for future PAs system planning, ecological PAs system planning, ecological networks and conservation networks and conservation activities. activities.

ecosystemsecosystems

sample points

overlay analysis

ecosystem valuation

Ecosystems in Three WetlandsProject SitesProject Sites

Alakol-Sassykkol LakesAlakol-Sassykkol Lakes Tengiz-Korgalzhyn LakesTengiz-Korgalzhyn Lakes Ural river delta and Ural river delta and adjacent Caspian coastadjacent Caspian coast

Ecosystems Ecosystems identified:identified:

5959

Ecosystems Ecosystems identified:identified:

116116

Ecosystems Ecosystems identified:identified:

2323

Functional ZoningFunctional Zoning

The basis for land-use planning by the Project is the identification of functional zones in the entire project site (URL, TK and AS).

A functional zone is based on the key principle of wetland protection which is implemented at two levels: 1) through targeted protection of protected areas; and 2) creation of an effective system for nature use regulation throughout a wetland site.

Biodiversity and PAsBiodiversity and PAs

Indicators Ural river delta Tengiz-Korgalzhyn

Alakol-Sassykkol

Higher plantsFishBirds

20476

103

16617

112

24917107

PA status Akzhaiyk Reservat

Korgalzhyn Reserve

Alakol Reserve

Area of globally significant wetlands, 000 ha

280.0 1,602.6 914.7

PA area, 000 ha 111.5 543.2 65.2

% PA coverage 39.8 (0% - 2004)

33.9 (16.2% - 2004)

7.1(1.4% - 2004)

Ecotourism: Ecosystem Cultural ServicesEcotourism: Ecosystem Cultural Services

The National Programme of Accelerated Industrial and Innovative Development identifies The National Programme of Accelerated Industrial and Innovative Development identifies the following targets the following targets : : ‘taking 2008 as the baseline level, to increase, by ‘taking 2008 as the baseline level, to increase, by 20152015, the aggregate , the aggregate income of tourist service providers by, at least, income of tourist service providers by, at least, 12%, 12%, increasing, in parallel, revenues from increasing, in parallel, revenues from inbound tourism’inbound tourism’. . In this context, most revenues should stay in a local economy which will have a positive In this context, most revenues should stay in a local economy which will have a positive effect on local community wellbeingeffect on local community wellbeing. . In 2011, there are plans to provide 550,000 jobs in the In 2011, there are plans to provide 550,000 jobs in the inbound tourism sectorinbound tourism sector, , and this will facilitate reducing income poverty in the country. and this will facilitate reducing income poverty in the country.

Tourist Routes

Community-Based Ecotourism

Ecological tourism should be based on local community to bring maximum benefits to local Ecological tourism should be based on local community to bring maximum benefits to local people. Ecotourism sustainability is based on the principle of equitable distribution of people. Ecotourism sustainability is based on the principle of equitable distribution of benefits from the biodiversity use and conservation by social and economic mechanismsbenefits from the biodiversity use and conservation by social and economic mechanisms. . In In this case local people will be directly involved in tourism development and management in this case local people will be directly involved in tourism development and management in their regiontheir region. . This will result in an increased local community ownership and readiness to This will result in an increased local community ownership and readiness to invest into tourism development. invest into tourism development.

Ecosystem Management Status

Recently it has become evident that ecosystems are managed as driven by a priority of Recently it has become evident that ecosystems are managed as driven by a priority of obtaining only one dominant product obtaining only one dominant product ((e.g., oil, gas, wood, etc.) or service e.g., oil, gas, wood, etc.) or service ((traffic artery, etc.traffic artery, etc.). ).

Such product or service is obtained without full understanding of all advantages and Such product or service is obtained without full understanding of all advantages and disadvantages of such approach not just for natural ecosystems but for all products and disadvantages of such approach not just for natural ecosystems but for all products and services associated with ecosystem functioning services associated with ecosystem functioning ((clean airclean air, , soil carbon sequestrationsoil carbon sequestration, , water, water, plant and other resourcesplant and other resources)) as well as well. .

Hence, there are conflict situations between local community and executive and legislative Hence, there are conflict situations between local community and executive and legislative authoritiesauthorities, , mainly as related to the natural environment quality and damage compensation. mainly as related to the natural environment quality and damage compensation.

From the ecosystem approach perspective this can be considered as valuation of From the ecosystem approach perspective this can be considered as valuation of ecosystem products and services ecosystem products and services ((various natural resourcesvarious natural resources), ), as well as resource levels as well as resource levels withdrawn or transformed by people from the perspective of thresholds for normal withdrawn or transformed by people from the perspective of thresholds for normal functioning of natural ecosystems and societyfunctioning of natural ecosystems and society. .

Ecosystem Management Status

The implementation of practices to reduce pressure on the natural ecosystems andThe implementation of practices to reduce pressure on the natural ecosystems and to to ensure optimal water regime ensure optimal water regime ((construction and reconstruction of dams and coffer damsconstruction and reconstruction of dams and coffer dams), ), reproduction and biotechnical activities to improve habitat and reproduction conditions of reproduction and biotechnical activities to improve habitat and reproduction conditions of lake wildlifelake wildlife, , development of regulated hunting and fishing tourismdevelopment of regulated hunting and fishing tourism, , sustainable fishery sustainable fishery management – all these activities create an inducing environment for developing the management – all these activities create an inducing environment for developing the biodiversity and facilitate maintaining the ecosystem balance and sustainable development biodiversity and facilitate maintaining the ecosystem balance and sustainable development of an areaof an area. .

In addition, these activities help to improve social and economic status of local community In addition, these activities help to improve social and economic status of local community as they can derive income from the ecosystem services. as they can derive income from the ecosystem services.

Water Resources as Resource ServicesWater Resources as Resource Services

Reduction of water consumption from the Tentek river through Reduction of water consumption from the Tentek river through rehabilitation of the irrigation network and use of water efficient rehabilitation of the irrigation network and use of water efficient processes in the Alakol-Sassykkol project siteprocesses in the Alakol-Sassykkol project site

Eight rural water users’ cooperatives have been established in AS project site Eight rural water users’ cooperatives have been established in AS project site ((there are plans to bring them together into water users’ associationsthere are plans to bring them together into water users’ associations););

1.1. A digger and a welding machine were purchased and handed over to Zhagatal A digger and a welding machine were purchased and handed over to Zhagatal cooperativecooperative;;

2.2. Bushes and small forest were extracted at the area of 5 haBushes and small forest were extracted at the area of 5 ha, , 4.5 km of channel 4.5 km of channel was cleanedwas cleaned, , 3.3 km collector was cleaned3.3 km collector was cleaned, , 18 km of channel was cut and 18 km of channel was cut and levelledlevelled, , and 4 dam beans were repairedand 4 dam beans were repaired..

3.3. Water overflows from the supply channel were reducedWater overflows from the supply channel were reduced, , irrigation schedules irrigation schedules were normalized and the irrigating draft was reduced from the Tentek river were normalized and the irrigating draft was reduced from the Tentek river according to the project’s recommendations according to the project’s recommendations ((by a factor of by a factor of 11..5).5).

Water Resources as Resource ServicesWater Resources as Resource Services

Reduction of water consumption from the Tentek river through rehabilitation of the Reduction of water consumption from the Tentek river through rehabilitation of the irrigation network and use of water efficient processes in the Alakol-Sassykkol irrigation network and use of water efficient processes in the Alakol-Sassykkol project siteproject site

Production of vegetables and cucurbit crops at the area of 3 ha using Production of vegetables and cucurbit crops at the area of 3 ha using plastic mulch filmplastic mulch film. . Implemented by DAN FarmImplemented by DAN Farm

ResultsResults: : 1) 1) with slow water absorption and lasting water conservation in the ribs the with slow water absorption and lasting water conservation in the ribs the

water consumption was proven to reduce by water consumption was proven to reduce by 30-35%; 30-35%; 2) 2) due to longer vegetation period by due to longer vegetation period by 25-45 25-45 days the maturation was days the maturation was

accelerated and the productivity doubledaccelerated and the productivity doubled; ; 3) 3) the crops were irrigated 8-9 times rather than the crops were irrigated 8-9 times rather than 21-23 21-23 timestimes;; 4) 4) the productivity increased by 2.5 times and the maturation reduced the productivity increased by 2.5 times and the maturation reduced

by by 20-25 20-25 daysdays;; 5) 5) the profit from 3 ha is equal to the profit of soy cultivation at 40 hathe profit from 3 ha is equal to the profit of soy cultivation at 40 ha

PasturesPastures

Fire threatFire threat

Carbon sequestration Carbon sequestration 00..1-01-0..3 3 tt//hahaСОСО2 2 absorption – absorption – 00..3-03-0..9 9 tt//haha

Carbon sequestration Carbon sequestration - 0,6 - 0,6 tt//hahaСОСО2 2 absorption - 1.absorption - 1.8 8 tt//haha

Natural pasturesNatural pastures 0.2-0.3 0.2-0.3 tt//haha

Lucerne Lucerne 4.0-7.0 4.0-7.0 tt//haha

Payments for Ecosystem ServicesPayments for Ecosystem Services

In Kazakhstan, the system of payments for ecosystem services In Kazakhstan, the system of payments for ecosystem services ((PESPES) ) is represented by is represented by several paymentsseveral payments: : subsoil use paymentssubsoil use payments, , duties for wildlife use and for water bioresources duties for wildlife use and for water bioresources useuse, , water taxwater tax, , payments for forest resources usepayments for forest resources use, , land taxland tax, , pollution chargespollution charges. . In 2009, KZT In 2009, KZT 97 billion was collected as environmental payments97 billion was collected as environmental payments, , and nature users implemented and nature users implemented environmental management activities worth of KZT environmental management activities worth of KZT 124 124 billionbillion. .

Kazakhstan has quite reasonable policies for environmental paymentsKazakhstan has quite reasonable policies for environmental payments, , however, a however, a mechanism for using funds for conservation activities is still missingmechanism for using funds for conservation activities is still missing. .

Payments for environmental emissions are not earmarked in the local budgets and, as a Payments for environmental emissions are not earmarked in the local budgets and, as a rule, most of the funds are used at the discretion of local governments to address current life rule, most of the funds are used at the discretion of local governments to address current life support issuessupport issues, , to support social sphereto support social sphere, , to address infrastructure issues, etc. to address infrastructure issues, etc.

Therefore ecological projects are often financed far inferior to the needTherefore ecological projects are often financed far inferior to the need. . Thus, for example, Thus, for example, in in 20092009, the allocations for conservation activities were KZT , the allocations for conservation activities were KZT 23.8 23.8 billion, or billion, or 27.9% 27.9% of total of total environmental payments and finesenvironmental payments and fines..

Payments for Ecosystem ServicesPayments for Ecosystem Services

To be compliant with the principles of sustainable development of resources the current system of payments for biodiversity conservation should be specified and fine-tuned on the basis of international recommendations and best practice, and should also consider the valuation of biodiversity and ecosystem services by more or less accurate valuation methods, depending on a particular situation.

At the moment, some regulations are prepared in pursuance of the key provisions of the Ecological Code, including as related to the system of environmental load rationing.

In addition to a legal framework, successful implementation of payments for environmental services requires the availability of users who recognize the value of service provided and ready to pay for; users should have confidence in the newly implemented mechanism of payments and could be sure that their monies are indeed used for the ‘production’ of this service and help to improve its quality.

In addition, provisions should be made to make sure that payments adequately compensate users’ efforts for service delivery and cover opportunity costs. The mechanism of payments should fit well into the overall environmental strategy.

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