Ministry of Natural Resources and Protection of Environment of the Republic of Kazakhstan
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MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN NATIONAL STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN ON CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE USE OF BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY IN THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN KOKSHETAU, 1999 2 “Kazakhstan should become a clean and green country with fresh air and transparent water…” The Strategy “Kazakhstan-2030” The Republic of Kazakhstan plays an important role in the case of biodiversity conserva- tion. It is the most vast Central Asian state located at the centre of Eurasia on the crossroad of an- cient historic caravan ways which linked Europe and Asia. The state has a huge potential of natu- ral resources that cased the great diversity of landscapes, ecological systems and species. Accu- mulated knowledge and rich experience of Kazakhstani researches let to develop the effective policy in this field. Biological diversity, as the rest of the natural components was mostly threatened due to such problems as drying up of the Aral Sea, nuclear tests during the forty years at the Soviet test- ing areas, and the practice of industrial and agricultural use. Despite the social and economic dif- ficulties of the transition period the way to ecologically safe and sustainable development is be- coming one of the priority directions of the development Strategy of the Republic of Kazakhstan at present time. Development of the National Strategy for implementation of the Convention goals is based on the “Strategy of the Republic of Kazakhstan Development until the Year 2030”, where priority goals and respective objectives have been clearly identified. We believe that the diversity of the animal and vegetable world that Kazakhstan possesses shall not be lost. Thus the Republic of Kazakhstan is facing the issue of adopting decisive measures on conservation of the biological diversity and, first of all, of the rare plant and animal species, and unique landscapes; it should use biological diversity without damage to its self-reproductive ca- pability; and as the economy develops, to take measures on renewal of degraded ecosystems, first of all, forest, pasture, and hay harvest ones. Paying exclusively important significance to this problem, Kazakhstan has become a Party of the Convention on Biological Diversity. With the financial support of the GEF and UNDP and with the participation of domestic scientists and consultants it has developed the National Strat- egy and Action Plan on conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity of the country in line with the requirements of the Convention regulations, the national specifics and the social- economic situation of the Republic. It has given an analysis and assessment of the biological diversity status, and convincingly shown that the considerable part of the species diversity of the Kazakhstan biota located in the center of the Euro-Asian continent has a trans-boundary character. Therefore, conservation of bio- logical diversity has a global significance and shall render a considerable impact on the neighbor- ing countries. The National Strategy and Action Plan propose measures on improving the management structure the legislative and standard legal basis of conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. Specific measures on establishing specially protected territories, environmental education and training systems, ecological tourism and others have been identified. Fulfillment of the prior- ity strategic objectives being planned shall considerably improve conservation of biological di- versity as a basis for sustainable social-economic development of Kazakhstan. I would like to express gratitude to all the participants of the preparation of the National Strategy and Action Plan and all those who have promoted it, first of all to the Global Environ- 3 mental Facility and the UN Development Program. I hope that our joint efforts in development of the Strategy shall be successfully continued while implementation of the action plans on conser- vation of the biological diversity of Kazakhstan. S.Zh. Daukeev Minister of Natural Resources and Protection of Environment of the Republic of Kazakhstan 4 Kazakhstan occupies a special place in the global context to conserve biodiversity. The vast size of its territory, ninth biggest in the world, surpasses the territories of the other four neighbor states of Central Asia and is almost as large as Western Europe. In addition, Kazakhstan has a great diversity of natural conditions, ecosystems, species and also a great scientific potential and experience devoted to biodiversity and many specialists working in this sphere. Biological diversity and also the prospects for sustainable development have been threat- ened and disrupted as in other countries of the CIS, but also due to such special problems as water diverted from the Aral Sea basin, changing water level in the Caspian Sea basin, Soviet nuclear testing for 40 years in Semipalatinsk and other regions, as well as agriculture, urbanization, min- ing and industry practices. In spite of the social and economic difficulties of the transition period, protection of envi- ronment and, in particular, conservation of biological diversity are the priorities of state policy in Kazakhstan since independence in 1991. The Republic of Kazakhstan signed in 1992 and ratified in 1994 the UN Convention on Biological Diversity and in 1998 completed the development of an excellent National Environ- mental Action Plan (NEAP) in which biodiversity is an important component. For almost 3 years, starting from 1996, a large group of specialists worked on the develop- ment of a National Strategy for conservation and the sustainable use of biological diversity. The first part of this work was completed in the summer of 1998 by publishing the National Report of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biological Diversity. This document is a part of laborious and dedicated work of the authors, consultants and the Secretariat of this project. It contains not only a large volume of information on the status of bio- logical diversity, but also the Strategy and Action Plans for conservation and sustainable use of natural resources in the near and long term. UNDP and the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) are pleased to have been sponsors. We sincerely look forward to full endorsement of the Report, Strategy and Plans. We shall continue our support and actions to collaborate with Government, NGOs, investors and donors in the fol- low-up. Herbert Behrstock, UNDP Resident Representative 5 CONCEPTUAL APPROACH TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NATIONAL STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN ON CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE USE OF BIODIVERSITY Mankind depends upon the conservation of biological diversity, and its maintenance is one of the most important problems being faced today. However, the biota is the most vulnerable to all stress factors, in particular anthropogenic activities. The world community is currently worried about the implications of scientific and technical progress, which often exerts destructive affects on mans environment. Our biota is a source of food, oxygen, clean air and a natural resource and a major regulator of the biological sphere and a connecting link between the Earth and the Sun. The well based provision in the implication of the requirements of the Convention is to under- stand the important role of biota. Biological diversity is comprised of species, forms within the species and populations of all types of plants, micro-organisms and animals. The ecological systems also spread over into natural environment and sports, breeds, lines and strains being cultivated, grown or engineered by human beings. A problem of conservation and balanced use of such an important source of life support can not be compared with any other problem that mankind has in terms of its topicality. Therefore an urgent requirement has been met to develop a scientific, but reasonable strategic approach and action plans for the conservation and balanced use of biological diversity. The Strategy is a management skill to achieve the main goals at the least costs by thorough analysis and identification of the common situations and to identify the current priority problems and key issues for their solution. The strategy determines the general governing of the actions and is aimed at the achievement of the wide scope goals. The performance of the strategic objectives is carried out by developomg firm action plans, which envisage the terms of performance, alloca- tion and ratio of major means - executives, material, technical and financial resources. The action plan has to contain a set of clear measures aimed at the conservation of the bio- logical diversity, reduction of negative factor affect on biological diversity, identification of the potential resource and the legal framework for carrying out their balanced use. The strategy has to be flexible, easily convertible into a complex of mutually linked actions and be regularly updated in relation to the new social, economic and political reality. The plans have to prioritise in terms of social and economic importance, ecological significance, urgency, and financial and technical opportunities. They have to be divided into short-, medium and long term plans, and also those, for the performance of which their own resources are available, and those requiring donor support for fulfillment. The implementation of the Strategy and action plans on conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity and their implementation all