From the Greetings of Prime-Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Masimov K.K to
participants of the 6th h Ministerial Conference on Environment and Development of Asia –
Pacific region
In the process of development Republic of Kazakhstan has to overcome a variety of important
ecological problems. We had been able to solve a significant part of the most pressing
environmental problems in the last years. We voluntarily closed the nuclear testing ground,
setting an example for a safer world. Together with neighboring countries, we were able to
collaborate on cross-border basin of the Aral and Caspian Seas. We have restored in the interests
of the population and ecology of the Northern Aral Sea. In a challenging period of the state, we
have rehabilitated and minimize the effects of many accumulated over decades of “historical”
pollution and depressed areas. The program of provision of population with clean drinking
water, adopted a new government program “Zhasyl Damu – Green Development successfully
had been implemented. We have approved the Concept of the country’s transition to sustainable
development for the period until 2024. It has set benchmarks and targets for sustainable
development. Kazakhstan has also adopted a package of commitments in the context of the
Millennium Development Goals and steadily carries them out. Moreover, Kazakhstan acceded to
the Copenhagen agreement and adopted voluntary commitments to reduce greenhouse emissions
up to 15% by 2020 and up to quarter – by 2050 with respect to 1992. Economic Development
Strategy to 2020 has also recently entered into force, based on the principles of “Green Growth”,
provides the creation of a system of resource saving, energy efficiency and renewable.
Kazakhstan is contributing to this process in finding solutions and integration efforts of all
parties – we have proposed initiative “Green Bridge” – “the Astana Initiative” as a further
development of the Seoul Initiative “Green Growth”.
All this is done, mainly due to budgetary funds. In order to attract private sector funds, we have
begun to introduce public-private partnership, and extend this scheme in the environmental
sector. For the purposes of pilot testing was elected the territory of Balkhash-Alakol basin where
the Government implemented a program of sustainable development in the region.
The loss of Caspian tiger is one of the examples of the negative heritage of Kazakstan, and it
happened not long ago from all Central Asia. The South Pribalkhash-Ily River floodplain were
prime habitats for the tiger until the middle 20th century. Tugai forests, different kind of
wetlands, extensive grasslands and reed beds provided an excellent habitat and a rich prey base.
The extinction of the tiger in this region happened about 40 years ago.
Main reasons for the extinction were:
• Commercial hunting and poaching; linked to agricultural developments, the military and
professional hunters were ordered to clear the area of “vermin” for the colonists.
• Decline of prey species.
Habitat destruction in South Pribalkhash-Ily River was not a serious reason, differently from
other parts of tigers range in Central Asia. Till now it holds an area of about 500.000 ha, the
largest fairly intact riparian forests, flood plains, reed beds and tall grass fields in the tiger’s
former range. This provides an excellent habitat for wild boar, in some parts for roe deer and the
Bukhara deer. The adjacent desert areas hold excellent habitats for Kulan, gazelle and Saiga. The
Kulan is extinct in the region, plans for reintroduction into Saryesik-Atyrau have been prepared
and are ready for implementation in 2011.The area has a very low population density and no
important industrial or other economically important projects.
Some parts of the delta are used for livestock grazing. There is no agriculture in the delta and
along the lake shore. All major irrigation projects are in the middle course of the river and closer
to the foothills of the mountains and in the Chinese part of the watershed.
Three large recently established nature reserves (sanctuaries) cover more than 1 million ha (1
061 100 ha) of the delta and the lake shore, including IBA which are under a special
conservation regime.
The Ily Balkhash region is under increasing pressure due to decreasing water supply, but
Kazakhstan Government had already realized this threat, and a set of important measures was
undertaken. The amount of water cumulated in Kaptchagai water reserve (middle reaches of Ily)
is seriously reduced, plans of agricultural irrigation were seriously revised so that Ily water from
Kazakhstan part of the river basin can arrive to Balhash lake. Still threats exist of reduced water
supply to the Ily system and Lake Balkash, which might reduce the available habitat significantly
and increase salinity along the coast line and in the delta, and replace prime habitats by desert
vegetation. There are concerns about another “Aral Sea Disaster”. In order to avoid it
Kazakhstan Governments intends to come to an agreement with the government of China and to
sign an agreement on the use of Ily water resources in Chinese part of river basin in a scale that
would ensure the necessary level of water supply for Balhash.
Fortunately, according to the recent genetic studies we have learned, that extinct Caspian tiger
doesn’t differ from Amur tiger, so that there sources of animals for tiger restoration in Central
Asia exist. Moreover, only Caspian and Amur tigers are the forms adapted to real winters, to
snow cover – so ecological adaptation shouldn’t be a problem.
The South Balkhash-Ily River System provides excellent habitat conditions for the tiger and its
prey (although recently their populations are not numerous enough), the main shortcomings are
livestock raising, illegal hunting and the human population which is low, but spread throughout
the region. However, the region provides, despite this, a great potential to establish one of
Central Asia’s main wildlife conservation areas. The following steps would be required to have
this realized and to make tiger restoration in the region realistic:
• Law enforcement in existing protected areas is being significantly upgraded; consideration
should be given to upgrade all potential habitats to national park status.
• A common management plan is being established for all protected areas and implemented
under the authority of one government agency.
• The remaining habitats are being conserved and restored (prevention of fire, distribution of
water).
• Existing ungulate populations are being restored (wild boar and roe deer).
• Extinct ungulates are being reintroduced (Bukhara deer, Kulan).
• Livestock numbers are not increasing and being decreased in key wildlife habitats.
• Comprehensive education and awareness programmes inform the population and mobilize their
support for the project.
• A compensation programme for loss of livestock to predators should be introduced
A first assessment of restoration and management measures could be undertaken after 3 to 4
years. If habitat and wildlife restoration measures are successful, or on a good way, consideration
could be given to identify a suitable site for a tiger reintroduction centre in the delta, and
construction of the necessary facilities. The first tigers might be brought to the centre while
activities for habitat and wildlife restoration are ongoing.
It would be very useful, if international community would support the efforts of Kazakhstan to
arrive to an Agreement with China Government on transboundary water management in the Ily
river basin. In this case “Second Aral-sea disaster” would be prevented and Caspian tiger would
have a real chance to be restored in Central Asia and to indicate sustainable development of
unique complex of ecosystems.