MEMORY OF THE WORLD REGISTER
Aral Sea Archival Fonds
(Kazakhstan)
Ref N° 2008-03
PART A – ESSENTIAL INFORMATION
1
SUMMARY
Part A-the main information
1. Resume
The Documents for the rescue of the Aral Sea
The ecological catastrophe concerning the Aral Sea and the vast region adjacent to Central Asia
and Kazakhstan is one of the biggest man-made disasters in the world.
The falling of the sea level and its gradual disappearance due to the intensive use of the AmuDarya and Syr-Darya rivers that lead to the Aral Sea, for irrigation of cotton and rice growing areas,
led to sudden climatic changes in the region and the appearance of salt wind storms. As a result, the
ecological catastrophe caused the disappearance of local flora and fauna; it ended the fishing
industry; worsened health conditions as well as the social-economic condition of people of the
region.
At the present time it is proven that climatic changes in the Aral region and the appearance of
salt storms produce a negative influence upon the ecology of the world.
Since it is not a problem of the one region or one country but is an international problem,
scientists from different spheres and public figures of global communities are drawn to find solution
for this problem and ways to revive the sea. This has resulted in the creation of an international fund
for the rescue of the Aral Sea.
The available documents are a unique source for applied research and also for carrying out of
activities dedicated to the revival of the ecological and social economic development of the region.
2
DETAILS OF THE NOMINATOR
2.1
Name (person or organisation)
The Central State Archives (CSA) of the Committee of Information and Archives of the Ministry
of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan
2.2
2.3
Relationship to the documentary heritage nominated: Custodian
Contact person (s)
 Director of CSA Baymaganbetova V.A.
 Deputy director of CSA Kropivnitskii N.P.
 Head of the department of scientific-informational and reference work Karatayeva G.M.
2.4
Contact details (include address, phone, fax, email)
The Central State Archives (CSA) of the Committee of Information and Archives of the Ministry
of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Abai av., 39, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 050000, tel.: 7-727-2671462, fax : 7-727-2671447,
Cga_rk@mail.ru
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IDENTITY AND DESCRIPTION OF THE DOCUMENTARY HERITAGE
3.1
Name and identification details of the items being nominated :
Aral Sea Archival Fonds
The Central State Archives (CSA) of the Committee of Information and Archives of the Ministry of
Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan
1
Abai av., 39, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 050000, tel.: 7-727-2671462, fax : 7-727-2671447,
3.2
Description
1. Fond 1137. The Council of Ministers of the Kazakh SSR. Description 25,26,27,28. 22 unites.
Depositary: #15, shelving #6,7,8,10,13, number of shelves: 14.
2. Fond 1130. Ministry of fishing culture of the Kazakh SSR. Description 1. Depositary: #4, 5, 9
units. Shelving # 14, 15, number of shelves: 5.
3. Fond 1626. Ministry of melioration and water economy of the Kazakh SSR. Description 3. 11
units. Depositary: #10a, shelving # 8, 9, number of shelves: 2.
4. Fond 2108. Forestry Ministry of the Kazakh SSR. Description 4 pr., 7 units. Depositary: # 12,
shelving # 17, number of shelves: 1.
5. Fond 2199. The State agro-industrial committee of the Kazakh SSR. Description 1, 7 units.
Depositary: # 4, shelving # 1, number of shelves: 11.
History:
The fonds is comprised of documents containing information describing the reasons for the Aral
tragedy, attempts to rescue the Aral Sea and activities for the improvement of the ecological and health
situation in the region.
The documents from the archival fonds came to the Central State Archives in different years in
accordance with existing rules and criteria for the selection of documents for the state conservation.
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JUSTIFICATION FOR INCLUSION/ ASSESSMENT AGAINST CRITERIA
4.1
Is authenticity established?
This is a complex fonds of documents created during the course of work of different departments
that, by fulfilling their functions, caused “the Aral tragedy”. It also comprises documents from
organizations that participated in the attempt to end the consequences and the return to a normal
ecological and sanitary situation in the region.
The mass of documents from different fonds (see 3.2.) present the decrees, circular letters and
letters between departments and organizations, plans and reports, references, different information,
tables with figures, conclusions of different commissions, feasibility studies and different conceptions
for the rescue of the Aral sea. Not all of them are originals. There are also certified copies that still
have their scientific and practical value. Thus the problem of the Aral sea is highlighted from every
angle taking into account its worldwide significance.
4.2
Is world significance, uniqueness and irreplaceability established?
Consultation by this nomination was given by:
1. the chief expert of the National Council on the Aral problems, academician of the
“Ecology” National academy Salykov K. (Tel.: 8 7172 - 32 33 50).
2. Yeleusizov M., chief of ecological union association and enterprises “Tabigat”of
Kazakhstan, Almaty, Zheltoksan st, 115, office 223, tel:272 89 22
3.
Prof. Guy Petherbridge Chairman Heritage Central Asia, 1 Amir Temur
Street,Tashkent 70000, Uzbekistan, Tel. + 998 71 132 1870/71, Fax + 998 71 132
1872, office@heritagecentralasia.org
4. Aslitdinova Alla A., director of the Central Scientific library of the Academy of sciences of
Tadjikistan, 734025,
Tadjikistan, Dushanbe, 33 av.Rudaki,
Tel.: (+992372)
214302, (+992372) 214270, allaasl@lenta.ru
4.3
Is one or more of the criteria of (a) time (b) place (c) people (d) subject and theme (e)
form and style (f) social, spiritual and community significance satisfied?
Criteria b- place
2
The Aral ecological catastrophe is a global ecological-social-economic crisis not only of the Aral
basin and the territories adjacent to it but one that also led to ecological problems in territories beyond
the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Up to 1960 the level of the Aral Sea remained the same. The stable mark of 53 metres was
preserved. In the subsequent years, the sea became catastrophically shallow, started to dry and
gradually receded. The main reason for the desiccation was the project for the cultivation of the desert
which did not take into account the natural complexities of the region.
All projects, schemes and feasibility studies were elaborated from the point of view of the river
influx and water consumption, aiming at the possible accrual of the irrigable areas of the Aral Sea
basin. The Aral Sea was not treated as part of the ecological complex or as a geographical object.
The scale of irrigation was determined by the availability of land, the technical possibility to
deliver water, the economic efficacy of the irrigated land and the production capacity of the
organizations engaged in water supply.
As result of the irrigation the water balance of Aral Sea changed which led to the lowering of the
sea level and reduced its area.
The specialists who planned the projects saw only the irrigational and water aspects; they did not
economize water or understand the needs of the fishing industry, the subsequent ecological changes of
nature, the threat to the Aral Sea, to the fauna and flora of the region.
The imperfection of the collector-drainage networks, the irrigation objects led to the deluge of the
fields, the silting and salting of vast areas and their dropping from the agricultural circulation. The rice
and cotton growers had to cultivate new areas to implement the plan given from above.
Up to 1960 annual consumption for irrigation purposes was 63,9 cubic kilometres of water; in 1985, it
was117,4, i.e. 2 as much. During this time, the use of mineral fertilizers and chemicals was sharply
increased. From 1967 to 1987, over 20 years, the norm of mineral fertilizers grew from 315 to 435 kg
per hectare, i.e. 120 kg, the use of chemicals also grew sharply, i.e. 52 kg per hectare. The growth of
the mineral fertilizers led to the higher consumption of water. This water contained mineral salts,
fertilizers, herbicides and chemicals washed out from the irrigated lands. The climate in the region
changed: winters became colder; summers became dry and hot. An ecological catastrophe was
approaching, as a result of which fishing in the sea ceased in the traditional branch of the part of the
Kzyl-Orda region adjoining the Aral Sea, because the loss of the water worsened the biological regime
of the Aral, water salinity increased and the fodder base was ruined.
If prior to 1970 the catch of fish in the basin was 440 thousand metric centners, including the
catch in the Northern part of 220 thousand metric centners, then by 1977 the catch in the Northern part
went down to 11,3 thousand metric centners. The complete blockage of the Syr-Darya by the dam and
the lowering of the sea level led to the disappearance of all the spawning grounds in the Northern part
of the sea, their natural spawning ceased since 1974.
According to the data of the Ministry of fisheries of the Kazakh SSR, by the end of the 1970s
the delta of the river Syr-Darya and most of the lake systems were totally depleted. The fish stocks
were halved. In particular, the numbers of bream and barbell whose reproduction depends upon the
state of the rivers were reduced. The lower water levels in the rivers led to the reduction and
desertification of the flood-lands which led to the extinction of the musk-rat.
Criteria 2 - subject and theme
The consequences of the scale of the Aral Sea catastrophe on the ecology and climate are hard to
predict (see 4.3).
4.4.Are there issues of rarity, integrity, threat and management that relate to this nomination?
Rarity. As was mentioned above (4.2.) there is no comparable collection elsewhere either in the
Republic of Kazakhstan, or in the world.
Threat. The current process of self-destruction of documents on different information carriers .
Almaty is located in dangerous seismic region.
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LEGAL INFORMATION
5.1.
Owner of the documentary heritage (name and contact details)
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The Central State Archives (CSA) of the Committee of Information and Archives of the Ministry
of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Abai av., 39, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 050000, tel.: 7-727-2671462, fax : 7-727-2671447,
Cga_rk@mail.ru
5.2
Custodian of the documentary heritage (name and contact details, if different to owner)
The Central State Archives (CSA) of the Committee of Information and Archives of the Ministry
of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan
5.3
Legal status:
(a) Category of ownership - state
(b) Accessibility: Access is granted only to those people who have a permit for the
perusal of the documents.
(c) Copyright status:
Copyright status: Based on the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On the national archive fond
and archives” Astana, December 22, 1998, N 326-1 RK (with changes and additions on 8.05.2007),
The governmental order of the RK from 7.10.1999 “About statement of National archive fund
regulation “The Instruction in the order of selection and transfer on the state storage of cine-documents
and videogrammes” ordered by Ministry of culture, information and public concordance of RK № 22
from 23.4.2001, and “The instruction on the centralized state registration of documents of the
National archive fond of the Republic of Kazakhstan” the Committee on the management of archives
and documentation of the Ministry of culture, information and public concord of the Republic of
Kazakhstan. Almaty, 2000 (the registration N1240 dated 10.09.2000)
(d) Responsible administration:
Committee of Information and Archives, Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of
Kazakhstan. Astana, Left Banc, House of Ministries, Tel. 7-717-2-274-05-36
(e) Other factors - --6
MANAGEMENT PLAN
6.1
Is there a management plan in existence for this documentary heritage? YES/NO
The Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan declared the establishment of a Government
insurance fund for documents (2002), which prioritizes the sphere of preservation and access to
information. After a long break in the Central State Archive of the Republic of Kazakhstan the work of
establishing an insurance fund for archival documents was re-initiated to preserve and assure the
access initiatives for the precious Aral documents.
7
CONSULTATION
7.1
Provide details of consultation about this nomination with (a) the owner of the heritage (b) the
custodian (c) your national or regional Memory of the World committee


The consultation on this nomination was with the chief expert of the National Council on the
Aral problems, academician of the “Ecology” National academy Salykov K. (Tel.: (8 7172)
323350)
Yeleusizov M., chief
PART B – SUBSIDIARY INFORMATION
The following information will not be taken into account in deciding whether or not to inscribe
documentary heritage on the Register but will be included in the database as additional information.
Some of this information may be drawn from the management plan (item 6 above).
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ASSESSMENT OF RISK
4
8.1
Detail the nature and scope of threats to this documentary heritage (see 5.5)
The building of the archives is situated in the district ecologically not good, where the admixtures
in the air of sulphuric gas, nitric oxides, silicon dust exceed the allowable concentration. The
documents are kept in simple cardboard boxes which after a long period of storage exude hydrogen
peroxide that accelerates the process of aging of the documents. The sharply continental climate of the
region, the higher irradiation level in the city, the seismic and avalanche danger pose a certain threat.
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ASSESSMENT OF PRESERVATION
9.1
Detail the preservation context of the documentary heritage (see 3.3)
See please 8.1
PART C - LODGEMENT
This nomination is lodged by:
The Kazakhstani National Committee of the UNESCO Programme « Memory of the World » adopted
by Director of the CSA Baymaganbetova V.A.
The evaluation of the physical state
1. The complex of documents on the paper carriers are the machine-print texts and also printed
editions (newspaper articles, monographs, books). Some machine-printed texts are characterized by
the fading of the texts, the superimposition of color and lines which makes it hard to read them.
Shaimardanova Z., the Kazakhstani National Committee of the UNESCO Programme « Memory of
the World »
Baymaganbetova V.A., director of the CSA
Date : 07.03.2008
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