5. Water problems in Kazakhstan

The main reason of the Aral Sea catastrophe is: careless use of water for irrigation

Some data about the Aral sea changes (from 1960s to 1990s -2000s):

• The salt concentration of the Aral sea water increased to 3–5 times.

• The surface area of the Aral sea decreased to 50 -75%

• The water level of the Aral sea fell to 16-18 meters.

Four major hydrologic regions can be distinguished in Kazakhstan, depending on the final destination of water: the Arctic Ocean through the Ob River, the Caspian Sea, the Aral Sea and internal lakes, depressions, or deserts

During last years water problems connected basically with surface waters resources decrease were considerably aggravated in Kazakhstan.

The main reason – decrease of discharge from neighboring states of transboundary rivers of Irtysh, Ile, Syrdarya, Ishim, Tobol, Ural, Talas, Shu

International agreements have addressed the water allocation issues between Kazakhstan and its neighbors

For the Syr Darya River, the existing principles governing water sharing among the Central Asian countries will remain valid (Agreement of 18 February 1992) until the adoption of a new water strategy for the Aral Sea basin, endorsed by the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination. Under the 1992 Agreement, the part of the Syr Darya surface water resources allocated to Kazakhstan has to be no less than 10 km³/year downstream of the Chardara reservoir. Considering the 4.5 km³/year of internal surface water resources generated in the Kazakh part of the Syr Darya River basin, it can be considered that the actual surface water resources in the Kazakh part of the Syr Darya basin are about 14.5 km³/year.

For the Chu and Talas rivers, flowing in from the Kyrgyz Republic, an interstate agreement has been reached with the Kyrgyz Republic (May 1992). This agreement addresses the water allocation issues between both republics, considering the total resources generated in the basin (including surface water, groundwater, and return flow) and taking into account the water evaporated from the lakes and reservoirs. On average, it can be considered that the part of the surface water resources allocated to Kazakhstan is 1.24 km³/year for the Chu basin and 0.79 km³/year for the Talas and Assa river basins.

6. Biodiversity loss problems in Kazakhstan

The total area of the Particularly Protected Natural Territories (PPNT) in Kazakhstan is more than 14,5 mln ha, or about 5,3 % of the republic territory.

Country	Protected territories, %
Australia	15
Turkmenistan	10
J Norway	9.2
US	3.3
Russia	3
Canada	1.5
Kazakhstan	0.5

There is high level of diversity of flora (more than 6000 species of vascular plants) and fauna (835 species of vertebrates and more than 50 000 of species of invertebrates) in Kazakhstan.

More than 404 species of plants and 309 species of animals require protection (endangered species) and are included into the Red Data Book of Kazakhstan.

Zapovedniks (Reserve or Refuge) – unchanged or weakly changed by human natural complexes with the strict prohibition of any economic and recreation activity to protect and study their wildlife.

№	Name	Foundation	Area, thousand ha	Oblast	Protected landscapes	Natural zones
1	Aksu-Jabagly	1926	85,6	South Kazakhstan	Mountain forests	Mountain
2	Almaty	1960	71,7	Almaty	Mountain forests	Mountain
3	Barsa-kelmes	1960	71,7	Kyzylorda	Desert	Desert
4	West Altay	1922	56,1	East Kazakhstan	Mountain forests	Mountain
5	Korgalzhin	1968	252,3	Akmola	Wetland	Steppe
6	Markakol	1976	75,0	East Kazakhstan	Mountain forests	Mountain
7	Naurzum	1931	87,7	Kostanay	Lake, steppe, forest	Steppe
8	Ustyurt	1984	223,3	Mangistau	Desert	Desert
9	Alakol	1998	12,5	Almaty	Wetland	Semi-Desert
10	Karatau	2004	34,3	South Kazakhstan	Mountain forests	Mountain, Forests-steppe

National parks – large areas with restricted human economic and recreation activities to protect and study their wildlife.

№	Name	Foundation	Area, thousand ha	Oblast	Protected landscapes	Natural zones
1	Bayanaul	1985	50,7	Pavlodar	Melkosopochnik (hills) (lakes, pine forest)	Steppe
2	Ile-Alatau	1996	165,4	Almaty	Mountain (alpine coniferous forest)	Mountain
3	Kokshetau	1996	135,8	Akmola	Forest-steppe (pine forests, lakes, steppes)	Forest-steppe
4	Altyn-Emel	1996	209,6	Almaty	Desert (rocky, sandy)	Desert
5	Karkaraly	1998	90,3	Karaganda	Steppe (pine forests, lakes, steppes)	Steppe
6	Burubay	2000	84,1	Akmola	Forest-steppe (pine forests, lakes, steppes)	Mountain
7	Katon-Karagay	2001	643,5	Kostanay	Lake, steppe, forest	Forest-steppe
8	Kolsay Lakes	2004	10,3	Almaty	Lake, forest	Mountain
9	Sayram-Ugam	2004	12,5	South Kazakhstan	Forest-steppe	Semi-desert
10	Charyn	2004	149,8	Almaty	Steppe, semi-desert	Semi-desert
11	Zhongar-Alatau	2010	356.0	Almaty	Mountain, Forests	Mountain
12	Buyratau	2011	89.0	Akmola-Karaganda	Steppe, Forests	Steppe

Zakazniki

• The territories is created to protect the populations and landscapes without exception of the soils from the industrial process, but with the regulations of the economic activity.

• There are 57 zakazniks in Kazakhstan.

• They are divided into 4 types:

• Zoological — 63 %

• Botanical — 23 %

• Complex — 12 %

• Botanical-geological — 2%

Nature Heritage Sites

• In Kazakhstan there are 26 republican and 53 oblast Heritage Sites.

Botanical Gardens

• Main Botanical Garden (Almaty)

• Altay Botanical Garden (Ridder)

• Zhezkazgan Botanical Garden (Zhezkazgan)

• Ili Botanical Garden (Almaty oblast)

• Mangyshlak Botanical Garden (Aktau)

Zoos

• There are 3 zoos in Kazakhstan:

• Almaty

• Karaganda

• Shymkent

• According to the “Concept of the PPNT development and creating in Kazakhstan up to 2030 year”, approved by the Government of RK in 2000, it is proposed to increase the area of these territories up to 17,490 thousand ha (6,4 % of the republic territory).

• It is proposed to create 13 State National Parks and 25 State Reserves (zapovedniks).

• With the assistance of some International Organizations it is planned to create 6 Biosphere reserves with the total area of 670 thousand ha.