1. Implementation of GEF Biodiversity Conservation Projects in Kazakhstan A.Braliyev Vice Minister of Environmental Protection Republic of Kazakhstan

2. Conservation of flora and fauna and natural ecosystems to avoid losses due to economic and other activities Biodiversity conservation is one of the priorities under the national sustainable development agenda

3. GEF Focal Area: Biodiversity Conservation Integrated Conservation of Priority Globally Significant Migratory Bird Wetland Habitat: A Demonstration on Three Sites; In-situ Conservation of Kazakhstan’s Mountain Agrobiodiversity; Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in the Kazakhstani Sector of the Altay-Sayan Mountain Ecoregion; Conservation and Sustainable Management of Steppe Ecosystems; Development of a Wetland Site and Flyway Network for Conservation of the Siberian Crane and Other Waterbirds in Asia; Dry Land Management in Central Kazakhstan; Forest Protection and Reforestation Project.

4. Project description: http://www.wetlands.kz Date of inclusion into the Working Programme 26 July 2000 Expected Project duration 84 months Date of signing Project Document 20 August 2003 Planned end date 31 August 2010 Date of first disbursement 28 October 2003 Revised end date 31 August 2011 Wetlands Conservation Project

5. Project description: http://www.wetlands.kz To protect globally significant wetland biodiversity in Kazakhstan GOAL Government agencies, non-governmental entities, and local communities are maintaining and improving the integrity and viability of Kazakhstan’s priority wetland ecosystems Objective Wetlands Conservation Project

7. Project description: http://www.wetlands.kz 5. Establishmen t of Biodiversity Conservation Fund in Kazakhstan 4. Stakeholders Empowered to Sustainably Utilize the Productive Landscape around Priority S 3. Increased stakeholder awareness and support 2. Strengthened Protected Area Operations 1. National wetland biodiversity conservation policy, regulatory and institutional framework approved Outcomes Wetlands Conservation Project

8. http://www.wetlands.kz Outcome 1. National wetland biodiversity conservation policy, regulatory and institutional framework approved Relevant international Conventions and agreements ratified by Kazakhstan Project Implementation Progress 7 Conventions +one agreement (AEWA) 7 Conventions Baseline + 2 (Ramsar + Bonn) 5 Conventions CBD UNESCO WHS CITES UNFCC UNCCD End of Project target 2010 Mid-term target 2007 Baseline 2004 Wetlands Conservation Project

9. http://www.wetlands.kz Outcome 1. National wetland biodiversity conservation policy, regulatory and institutional framework approved Indicator 5. New regulatory and normative acts relevant to wetlands conservation and sustainable use Project Implementation Progress Law on PA – amended to include wetland conservation Law on PAs – no provisions of wetland conservation End of Project target 2010 Mid-term target 2007 Baseline 2004 Wetlands Conservation Project

10. http://www.wetlands.kz Outcome 2. Strengthened Protected Area Management Indicator 8. The boundaries of protected areas increased to include valuable ecosystems Project Implementation Progress Korgalzhyn PA - 543979 га Alakol PA – 80,671 ha Ural River Delta – 111,500 ha Korgalzhyn PA - 259,771 ha Alakol PA – 19,773 ha Ural River Delta – 0 ha Korgalzhyn PA - 259,771 ha Alakol PA – 19,773 ha Ural river delta – 0 ha End of Project target 2010 Mid-term target 2007 Baseline 2004 Wetlands Conservation Project

11. http://www.wetlands.kz Outcome 3. Increased stakeholder awareness and support Indicator 13. Mechanisms and processes for disseminating lessons learnt in Kazakhstan and region-wide Project Implementation Progress  Publication of successful wetland conservation and management practices  Dissemination of lessons learnt in 5 PAs  Publication of successful wetland conservation and management practices  Regional wetland conservation workshop (2007)‏  Dissemination of lessons learnt in 3 PAs No lessons learnt and dissemination mechanisms End of Project target 2010 Mid-term target 2007 Baseline 2004 Wetlands Conservation Project

12. http://www.wetlands.kz Outcome 4. Stakeholders Empowered to Sustainably Utilize the Productive Landscape around Priority Sites Indicator 3. Water level required to maintain wetland ecosystems integrity and wetland productivity remains constant Project Implementation Progress 308,5-309,5 345,43-347,6 308,5-309,5 345,43-347,6 Tengiz Lake - 308,5- 309,5 Alakol Lake - 345,4- 347,6 End of Project target 2010 Mid-term target 2007 Baseline 2004 Wetlands Conservation Project

13. Installation of automated meteostation and restoration of hydrological stations  Automated meteostations produced by Viasala (Finland) – MAWS110 – procured and installed  Weather Metering software installed;  Automated meteostation presented; Sultankeldy Lake (TK)‏ Alakol Lake (AS);

14. http://www.wetlands.kz Outcome 5. Sustainable Financing for Wetland Conservation Indicator 17. Biodiversity Conservation Fun established and operational Project Implementation Progress Fund registered and capitalization completed RegisteredNo Fund End of Project target 2010 Mid-term target 2007 Baseline 2004 Wetlands Conservation Project

15. IN-SITU CONSERVATION OF KAZAKHSTAN’S MOUNTAIN AGROBIODIVERSITY Implementation timing: March 2006 - 2011 Проектная территория: Wild fruit forests in Zailiysky and Zhetusu Alatau of Almaty Oblast. Forest management: Talgar and Turgen branches of Ile-Alatau PA; Lepsin and Sarkand forest farms. Total project area is about 400,000 ha (4,000 sq.m)‏ Total budget: USD 22,237,700 Including : Global Environmental Facility (Project implementation phase) – USD 2,770,000; Ministry of Agriculture, Akimat of Almaty Oblast (in-kind contribution) – USD 7,524,700; Profit-making organizations and NGOs (in-kind contribution) - USD 1,943,000.

16. Overall Project Goal: Conservation of Globally Significant Agrobiodiversity in Kazakhstan IN-SITU CONSERVATION OF KAZAKHSTAN’S MOUNTAIN AGROBIODIVERSITY Conservation of agrobiodiversity within the two priority sites of the North Tien- Shan Mountains by developing and applying the new conservation methods and instruments including partnership relationships among environmental agencies and regulation of the use of natural resources at the national and local levels, PAs, local communities and private sector. Immediate Project Objective :

17. The most significant areas of agrobiodiversity are mountain systems of Zailiysky and Dzhungarsky Alatau IN-SITU CONSERVATION OF KAZAKHSTAN’S MOUNTAIN AGROBIODIVERSITY

18. 1. Ecosystem-based conservation and management of wild crop relatives at two project sites 2. Strengthened institutional, technical, and financial framework for ABD conservation 4. Alternative livelihoods benefiting local communities in project sites, reducing natural resource use pressure on mountain agrobiodiversity 5. Awareness and support at all levels regarding the values and need to conserve Kazakhstan’s mountain agrobiodiversity increased 3. An effective legislative framework for the conservation and rational use of agrobiodiversity resources Major Project Components IN-SITU CONSERVATION OF KAZAKHSTAN’S MOUNTAIN AGROBIODIVERSITY

19. GEF Executive Agency :UNDP National Implementing Agency:CFH, MoA Duration: 5 years Budget :$ 21,152,487 GEF $2,395,700 UNDP$40,000 Government $9,213,200 NGOs$12,000 Private sector $45,000 German Government $ 2,418,087 German Government $ 2,418,087 Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in the Kazakhstani Sector of the Altay-Sayan Mountain Ecoregion

20. Goal to enhance the sustainability and conservation effectiveness of Kazakhstan’s national PA system by demonstrating sustainable and replicable approaches to conservation management in the protected areas in the Kazakhstani sector of Altai-Sayan ecoregion

21. Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in the Kazakhstani Sector of the Altay-Sayan Mountain Ecoregion Outcome 1: The protected area network is expanded and PA management effectiveness will be enhanced; Outcome 2: Awareness of and support for biodiversity conservation and PAs will be increased among all stakeholders. Outcome 3: The enabling environment for strengthening the national protected area system will be enhanced, Outcome 4: Community involvement in biodiversity conservation will be increased and opportunities for sustainable alternative livelihoods within PAs and buffer zones will be facilitated; Outcome 5: Project monitoring and evaluation are in place. The best practices and lessons learned are disseminated and replicated in other locations within the national protected area system.

22. Forest Protection and Reforestation Project Objective: to conserve and recover unique ribbon-like pine forests in the Irtysh area, plant and forest reclamation in Kyzylorda region, national institutional development Project territory: ribbon-like pine forests in the Irtysh area in East Kazakhstan and Pavlodar regions, saxaul plants and dry Aral seabed in Kyzylorda region Implementation period: 2007-2011 Project cost: US$63.8 mln. US$28,8 mln. - republican budget US$30 mln. – IBRD loan US$5 mln. GEF grant

23. Main challenges in implementing projects insufficient coordination among project executing agencies; implementation of integrated management methods at productive landscapes (fishing, agriculture and hunting) surrounding protected areas; low level of interest among local communities in the project sites to participate in the projects; traditional livelihoods, particularly mainly cattle-breeding; legislative regulation of the involvement in PA management.

24. Ways of addressing challenges Working Group under the GEF National Focal Point Inter-Agency Working Group has been set up from the representatives of respective government agencies in the area of integrated wetland management Memorandum of Understanding in the area of education and training programs, creation of a single database and application of the GIS software

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