Lecture 15

Topic: Environmental issues of Kazakhstan. Desertification

NB! The main idea: Show the international cooperation of Kazakhstan on environment protection.

Lecture outline:

1. Kazakhstan - trivia

2. The main biomes in Kazakhstan.

3. The major ecological problems in Kazakhstan.

4. The main factors of desertification in Kazakhstan

5. Water problems in Kazakhstan.

6. Biodiversity loss problems in Kazakhstan.

7. Ecological legislation in Kazakhstan.

8. International cooperation

1. Kazakhstan – Trivia

Kazakhstan – the 9th largest country in the world, 2nd largest among the former USSR states.

Area - 2,724,900 sq km. ~1/3 of the territory of the USA; ~4 times the size of Texas

Bordering Countries: China 1,533 km, Kyrgyzstan 1,051 km, Russia 6,846 km, Turkmenistan 379 km, Uzbekistan 2,203 km. Kazakhstan also borders 1183 miles (1894 km) of the Caspian Sea. Kazakhstan population is about 16433000 (01.01.2011), the population density - 6.03 inhabitants

Regions in Kazakhstan: 14 provinces (oblasts)

Ethnic groups: Kazakh 45%, Russian 35%, Ukrainian, Uzbek, Tatar, Uyghur, Korean, German & others.

Province	Capital	Area (km²)	Population
Akmola	Kokshetau	121,400	0,829,000
Aktobe	Aktobe	300,600	0,661,000
Almaty	Almaty	000,324.8	1,226,300
Almaty Province	Taldykorgan	224,000	0,860,000
Astana	Astana	000,710.2	0,692,000
Atyrau	Atyrau	118,600	0,380,000
Baikonur	Baikonur	000,057	0,070,000
East Kazakhstan	Oskemen	283,300	0,897,000
Karagandy	Karagandy	428,000	1,287,000
Kostanay	Kostanay	196,000	0,975,000
Kyzylorda	Kyzylorda	226,000	0,590,000
Mangystau	Aktau	165,600	0,316,847
North Kazakhstan	Petropavl	123,200	0,586,000
Pavlodar	Pavlodar	124,800	0,851,000
South Kazakhstan	Shymkent	118,600	1,644,000
West Kazakhstan	Oral	151,300	0,599,000
Zhambyl	Taraz	144,000	0,962,000

Astana - the new capital of Kazakhstan since 1998, located in the geographic center of the country.

Population ~ 692,000 (in 2010).

Astana - center of agricultural machine-building. Main areas: cattle-, sheep-, horse-breeding, poultry farming. Special economic zone in Astana (till 2007) attracted investors to Kazakhstan.

Economic potential

Kazakhstan is rich in mineral resources.

Current oil reserves: 35 billion barrels (twice as much as the North Sea).

Projected oil reserves: 100-110 billion barrels by 2015 (would be in top 3 of the world).

Current natural gas reserves: 2 trillion cubic meters.

Projected natural gas reserves: 5 trillion cubic metres by 2015.

The world’s largest reserves of barite, lead, tungsten, and uranium; second largest reserves of chromite, silver, and zinc; third largest of manganese, significant deposits of copper, gold, and iron ore.

Kazakhstan major trade partners: Russia, EU, USA, China