The Western Tien Shan plays a key role in stabilizing the ecological situation in the most difficult part of Central Asia in terms of natural and socio-economic situation. The nearby foothills are among the most densely populated in the world.

The Corporate Fund "Biodiversity Conservation Fund of Kazakhstan" received a grant from the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) (USA) for the implementation of the project "Improving the efficiency of management of specially protected natural areas of the Western Tien Shan".

The project implementation period is 18 months from January 15, 2020.

The pilot areas are: Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve, Karatau Nature Reserve and Sairam-Ugam Nature Park.

The aim of the project is to promote effective cooperation between public state associations (CSOs), the local population and the administrations of protected areas in order to strengthen systems of protected natural areas.

The project includes 5 components.

Component 1: Regional Committee of the Serial Transboundary Site of the Western Tien Shan World Natural Site.

Component 2: National legislation

Component 3: Coordinating Councils

Component 4: Public awareness

Component 5: Capacity building for CSOs and local communities

 

Project executors:

1. Ustemirov Kairat - project manager;
2. Sabitov Rauf - expert on working with the local community;
3. Balzhanov Zhainar - project assistant;
4. Baibakisheva Azhar - PR specialist.

Information REPORT About the project activities for the second half of 2021

As part of the project implementation, in accordance with the Project Implementation Plan for 2021.

Work for July-December 2021 by components:

Component 1: Regional Committee for the Management of the Serial Transboundary World Natural Heritage Site “Western Tien Shan”.

On July 2, 2021, the first meeting of the Regional Committee was held in Shymkent online and offline.

The delegations of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, as well as representatives of UNESCO in Kazakhstan and IUCN, due to the epidemiological situation in the region, participated online, via video conference, representatives of international organizations and the delegation of Kazakhstan participated off-line.

Within the framework of the meeting, the composition of the Regional Committee from three countries was formed and the Action Plan was approved.

From July 2 to 3, 2021 in Shymkent (Kazakhstan) the First meeting of the Regional Committee of the Western Tien Shan Serial Transboundary UNESCO World Heritage Site (hereinafter referred to as the Regional Committee) was held in person and online. The meeting was attended by members of the Regional Committee, as well as invited experts from the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic and the Republic of Uzbekistan, representatives of international organizations. The list of participants is given in Annex 1.

The meeting was held in an atmosphere of openness, friendship and cooperation. The parties noted the importance of the creation and work of the Regional Committee, both for the activities of the transboundary facility "Western Tien Shan", and for the development of transboundary cooperation in the Western Tien Shan region.

Meeting participants:

1. discussed and approved the composition of the Regional Committee and the Regulations on the Regional Committee;
2. approved the Action Plan of the Regional Committee for 2021-2025;
3. agreed to hold the Second Meeting of the Regional Committee in May 2022 in Bishkek (Kyrgyz Republic); dates, venue and agenda of the meeting will be agreed additionally, but no later than 1 month before the meeting;
4. noted the important role of the Regional Committee in the development of transboundary cooperation in the Western Tien Shan region and agreed that the existing difficulties in the implementation of the Action Plan within the framework of the previously signed Memorandum on the management and protection of the “Western Tien Shan” Serial Transboundary World Natural Heritage Site, are largely related to insufficiently effective coordination of the efforts of all interested parties;
5. taking into account the importance of developing a Regional Management Plan for the Western Tien Shan Serial Transboundary UNESCO World Heritage Site and the need to seek additional funding for this work, considered it necessary to apply to IUCN with a proposal to include an item on the development of such a Management Plan in the list of the main tasks of the proposed new project for the Western Tien Shan;
6. supported the proposal of the Kazakhstan National Committee of the UNESCO "Man and the Biosphere" (MAB) Program on the establishment of the Transboundary Biosphere Reserve "Western Tien Shan";
7. expressed their deep gratitude to CEPF for their support in holding the First Meeting of the Regional Committee of the Western Tien Shan Serial Transboundary UNESCO World Heritage Site on the basis of the grant project "Improving the efficiency of management of specially protected natural areas of the Western Tien Shan".

Kazakhstan
Full name	Position
Nurgazin R.	Head of the Department of Protected Areas of the Committee for Forestry and Wildlife of the MEGNR RK - Co-Chairman of the Regional Committee from the Republic of Kazakhstan
Sarsenbayeva S.	Chief Expert of the Department of Protected Areas of the Committee for Forestry and Wildlife of the Republic of Kazakhstan MEGNR RK - Secretary of the Regional Committee from Kazakhstan
Pilalov K.	General Director of Sairam-Ugam Natural Park
Kyntaev S.	Director of "Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve"
Niyazov A.	Director of Karatau Nature Reserve

 

Kyrgyzstan
Full name	Position
Turdumatov T.	Head of the Department for Monitoring and Coordination of Scientific Activities of the Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Specially Protected Natural Areas of the State Agency for Environmental Protection and Forestry under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic - Co-Chair of the Regional Committee from Kyrgyzstan
Osmonov A.	Chief Specialist of the Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Specially Protected Natural Territories of the Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Specially Protected Natural Territories of the State Agency for Environmental Protection and Forestry under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic - Secretary of the Regional Committee from Kyrgyzstan
Shabdanov K.	Deputy Director of the Sary-Chelek Biosphere Reserve
Amankulov R.	Director of the Besh-Aral State Natural Reserve
Artykbaev M.	Director of the Padyshatinsky State Natural Reserve

 

Uzbekistan
Full name	Position
Sherimbetov H.	Head of the Department of Protected Areas of the Main Directorate of Biodiversity and Protected Areas of the State Committee for Ecology of the Republic of Uzbekistan - co-chairman of the Regional Committee from Uzbekistan
Shagiakhmetova G.	Head of the Department for Coordinating Scientific, Environmental Education and Recreational Activities in Protected Natural Areas of the State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Ecology and Environmental Protection - Secretary of the Regional Committee from Uzbekistan
Dustov Zh.	Director of the Chatkal State Biosphere Reserve
Kadirov Sh.	Ugam-Chatkal Biosphere Reserve

 

UNESCO National Bodies
Full name	Position
Yaschenko R.	Member of the National Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan for UNESCO and ISESCO
Maltseva E.	Member of the Kazakhstan National Committee for UNESCO World Heritage
Askarova Naita	Science Program Specialist of the National Commission of the Kyrgyz Republic for UNESCO
Azimova Said	National Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan for UNESCO

 

International organizations
Full name	Position
Tovmasyan K.	Program Specialist in Natural Sciences, UNESCO Cluster Office in Almaty
Ilyina V.	Vice-President of the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Program for Asia and the Pacific
Erg B.	Head of the IUCN Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (ECARO)
Protas E.	WWF-Russia, CEPF project coordinator in Central Asia

Component 2: National legislation

As part of this component, on January 27, 2021, an agreement was concluded with Muzhubaev M.M., a former employee of the Committee, who has extensive experience in standard-setting work on analyzing legal acts and developing proposals for improving legislation.

The expert analyzed the legislative and regulatory legal acts regulating the activities of protected areas:

1) identification of gaps in legislative acts;

2) identification of conflicts and gaps in by-laws.

And a List of legal acts proposed for development in order to improve legislation in the field of protected areas was prepared.

Based on the results of the analysis, proposals were developed to amend the draft Law “On Amendments and Additions to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Flora Issues” to eliminate gaps and conflicts. 3 draft resolutions of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and 7 draft orders of the Minister of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan have been developed.

Draft orders are submitted for consideration by the Committee for Forestry and Wildlife of the MEGNR RK.

According to the Committee's information, these draft orders of the Minister of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan are posted for discussion in the Open Regulations and on the website of the MEGNR, sent for approval to the Public Council of the MEGNR, NCE Atameken and other accredited public organizations, anti-corruption expertise.

All developed draft NLAs were previously discussed at working meetings in the Committee for Forestry, with the participation of the FSBK, UNDP and other NGOs.

Component 3: Coordinating Councils

In the second half of the year, the established Coordinating Councils under the pilot PAs continued their work in accordance with the approved Plan.

According to the information of the protected areas, the second meetings of the Coordinating Councils on current issues were held in the second half of the year.

Component 4: Public awareness

Within the framework of the concluded agreement between SP Galeev, the websites of 3 environmental institutions were modernized.

In addition, the project developed the Regulations on the Volunteer Club and sent it to the pilot protected areas for further work.

During the second half of the year, local work was carried out to form members of the Club. A Volunteer Club was created at the Aksu-Zhabagly Reserve. In the rest of the protected areas, Clubs are planned to be created during 2022.

In the Zhambyl region, where part of the Aksu-Zhabagly nature reserve is located, on the initiative and support of an expert on working with local communities, two volunteer organizations were registered in November: the Oxygen SOS public association and the Volonter group-08 public association. One of the main goals of the organizations is the protection of the environment, the protection of animals and plants and the conservation of biodiversity.

The PR specialist, within the framework of the implementation of Component 4, to increase public awareness, continued work to enhance the activities of eco-education specialists. Additional information publications were posted on the Facebook and Instagram pages of the three pilot PAs.

Also, within the framework of this component, 3 info tours were conducted to the pilot territories.

 

On July 31, 2021, an info-tour to the Karatau Reserve took place.

The program of the info-tour included a visit to the demonstration ecological site in the village of Khantagy and the cordon of the Karatau State Nature Reserve on the Khantagy River.

The information tour was attended by representatives of the media, an expert on working with the local population, the head of the tourism department of the Karatau Reserve, representatives of the Ulu Korgan farm and the local NGO Eco Atameken.

The media representatives were presented with memorable gifts.

Lunch was organized for all participants.

Based on the results of the info-tour, the following were published::

1. Article in the newspaper “Kentau shұgylasy” No. 33/8269 dated August 14, 2021 entitled “Being friends with nature: simple, convenient and profitable”;
2. Video report on TV "Khantagyda mediatour ottі" dated July 31, 2021
3. Link to YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/L3wBrcBl0J8

On September 8, 2021, an info tour was held for journalists in the Sairam-Ugam Natural Park with a visit to the demonstration ecological site in the “Kulager” farm at the “Sairam su” site, with an interview with the chief specialists of the tourism and environmental education department Usenov G. and Baisariyeva R., and also with the head of the farm "Kulager" Akhimbekov S.

On October 1, 2021, an info tour was held to the Aksu-Zhabagly Reserve, which was attended by media representatives, an expert on working with the local population, the head of the Kenzhebek farm K. Turmahambetova.

Based on the results of the info tour, the following were published:

Article in the regional newspaper "Znamya Truda" dated 10/8/21 "Connect to the sun";

Article in the regional newspaper "Ontustik Kazakhstan" dated October 2, 2021 "Green energy has reached the villages";

 

Component 5: Capacity building for CSOs and local communities

As part of this component, the project developed terms of reference and, based on the results of the selection, concluded an agreement with trainer Elena Efimova to conduct three four-hour trainings with subsequent online support for two months.

2 workshops were held in June 2021.

Online support (assistance in the development of projects) for the participants of the seminar was held during July-August 2021.

The third seminar was held at the resource center of non-governmental organizations in the city of Lenger, Turkestan region of the Republic of Kazakhstan on July 8, 2021.

 

 The workshop was conducted by trainer Elena Efimova with the participation of Rauf Sabitov, an expert on working with local communities. The seminar program included the presentation of the FSBK project “Improving the efficiency of management of specially protected natural areas of the Western Tien Shan”; presentation of the "Live Handbook", informing participants about rare species, priority CEPF, about their status and threats; information on sources of funding for biodiversity conservation projects, on the role of the local community in the management of protected areas. The participants were informed in more detail about the conditions of the CEPF grant program, requirements for applications for grants and financial reporting, online learning opportunities, as well as online support for the seminar participants over the next two months.

The seminar was attended by 20 people, including 9 women, 11 men. Among the participants were 6 representatives of 2 NGOs, as well as representatives of the guest business and farms.

The local NGO “Ugam” was involved in the organization of the seminar.

The participants of the seminar were provided with drinking water, pens, notepads, a printed version of the "Live Handbook" and desk calendars (printed by the FSBK), as well as pocket calendars with rare species of animals and plants, priority CEPF (16 options were printed within the framework of the project "I Know!" NGO "Mountain club" Zhabagly-Manas").

Meals were organized for the participants of the seminar in the restaurant.

Since a lot of paper was used for the first survey in Zhabagly village, it was decided to conduct knowledge assessment in a more environmentally friendly way. The workshop began with an open survey of participants about rare and endangered species of animals and plants that are a priority for CEPF. This part of the seminar was recorded on video.

Among the trees growing in the mountains, the participants of the meeting know juniper, birch, etc. There is an understanding of the value of biotopes, the dependence of the preservation of ecosystems on the preservation of certain species of flora and fauna, which determine the existence of each other.

Among the birds of prey living in the local ecosystem, they named golden eagle, falcon, vultures. Predators could no longer be named, but among the birds, kekliks, partridges, ducks, and bustards are known. We didn't see wild geese. Which birds are listed in the Red Book, the audience found it difficult to answer, but reported that the golden shur (a bird that eats bees) has recently disappeared. One of those present claimed that he had not seen the once common golden schur in his region for about 10 years. 

The steppe eagle, imperial eagle, brown dove, vulture and white-fronted goose were not named among the Red Book birds, so the information provided during the seminar broadened the horizons of those present and aroused genuine interest in the content of the “Live Handbook”

People are not informed about the plans of the Institute of Zoology to restore the snow leopard population in the Karatau Reserve …

Thus, the local community had a very weak superficial understanding of the rare and endangered species of animals and plants in the region, including the priority CEPF.

The participants of the seminar voiced the problems associated with the conservation of biodiversity, with informing the population about the threats to the reduction of rare species of animals and plants, and talked about the difficulties of their identification. In addition, the problems of drought and lack of fodder for the increased number of livestock were raised. The problems of developing alternative types of income in the context of a pandemic and climate change were raised.

Based on the results of the seminar, a WhatsApp group “Ugam NPO KH” was created. It offers advice for participating in local biodiversity grant programs and provides all the information about the CEPF grant program in the region.

After the seminar, additional meetings were held with members of the NGOs in the villages of Tonkeris and Karatobe of the Tolebi district of the Turkestan region (Talgat Zhienbaev, Bakyt and Lyazzat Isaevs of the NGO "Tabigat Tau Clubs", Zhangeldy and Baglan Kerimbekovs of the NGO "Zhalyn zhastar uyymy", as well as with the head teacher of the village school Tonkeris Rano.... All of them received information about 16 species of rare animals and plants, priority CEPF, printed versions of the “Live Handbook” (in Kazakh and Russian), pocket calendars, as well as information about grant programs for the conservation of biodiversity in the Western Tien Shan. Thus, six more people were covered by training and information.

  The head teacher of the Tonkeris village school showed particular interest in the "Live Handbook" because it contains completely new information that can be used for scientific work. This is not the first such review of teachers of primary, secondary and higher schools in the Turkestan and Zhambyl regions, who received manuals in electronic and printed versions. 

The local community sees the improvement of the situation with the conservation of biodiversity in educational work.

During the seminar, the participants showed interest and readiness to take part in the preparation and implementation of projects for the conservation of biodiversity in the Western Tien Shan.

In Lenger, positive feedback about the seminar was received, recorded on video, published on Instagram. 

The participants of the seminar in Lenger and the meetings of trainers in the villages of Tonkeris and Karatobe of the Tolebi district of the Turkestan region also joined the community on Instagram @jabagly_manas_club, where information publications are regularly posted not only on the conservation of biodiversity (including species priority for CEPF), but also posts about construction of demonstration sites where solar dryers, stoves and barrels are assembled, as well as dry toilets are being built according to the FSBK project. Instagram has 572 real followers who are interested in green technologies, local history, local biodiversity.

Online support (assistance in the development of projects) for the participants of the seminar continued during July-August 2021.

In August, repeated meetings were held with participants in seminars and trainings in the Turkestan and Zhambyl regions, during which the topics of the projects were discussed.

As a result of the seminars, three groups were created on the WhatsApp social network: Zhabagly Projects (12 participants), Khantagi-CEPF (11), Ugam NPO KH (9), in addition, individual communication was established with 14 interested parties , who do not have the ability to communicate through WhatsApp, either due to lack of Internet or unstable connection.

In July and August, these networks and participants were informed, they were provided with consulting support on the preparation of project applications, the participants received an up-to-date full electronic version of the «Live Handbook» and a printed version in two languages, as well as pocket calendar sets with photographs of rare species of animals and plants, priority CEPF.

In addition, all participants were informed about the grant programs of CEPF and the regional project management team of WWF Russia, the Eurasia Foundation, the Finnish Embassy, ​​the Ereket grant program for NGOs, they were provided with information about the opportunity to study and receive certificates from the online school on the topic “Personal and auxiliary farms” and in other areas; about the opportunity to study at the regional public organization "Association for the Development of Civil Society" (ARGO) (basic courses: Project Development and Financial Reporting of NGOs), at a school for farmers in beekeeping, mushroom cultivation, greenhouse farming, soap production, strawberry cultivation, etc. , as well as in the educational center "Eco-Farmer" of Denis Ten.  

In addition, the WhatsApp group “NPO-Zhualy” (39 members), previously created within the framework of the “I Know!” project implemented by the partner organization NGO “Mountain Club “Zhabagly-Manas”, also receives similar information.

Informing participants and interested groups of the population is also carried out through publications on Instagram @jabagly_manas_club. The page was created by the partner organization NGO "Mountain Club" Zhabagly-Manas "(592 real subscribers, 632 publications and more than 100 thousand views on the problems of preserving the biodiversity of the region, on the construction of demonstration ecological sites and environmentally friendly technologies).

During the seminars, online support and personal meetings, the most pressing threats to the conservation of the biodiversity of the region were jointly identified.

Among them: degradation of pastures as a result of overgrazing, acute shortage and rise in price of fodder, insufficiency of alternative sources of income, shortage of water resources, poaching, fires, insufficiency of government measures to adapt to climate change against the backdrop of an increase in the average long-term temperature by 1.5 degrees and abnormal heat . A significant reduction in biodiversity has been noted, in particular, the virtual disappearance over 30 years of about 400 plant species on the territory of the Karatau Range, as well as a 40% reduction in Kazakhstan over the past 40 years of the snow leopard population. Of particular importance is the significant reduction of invertebrates, which play an important role in the conservation of biodiversity. All this is happening as a result of increased anthropogenic impact on natural resources, including those in protected areas (water protection zones, border zones of specially protected areas, etc.). Water, mountain and steppe ecosystems are degrading.

In connection with the rapid growth of the population and the construction boom in the new regional center of the Turkestan region, the anthropogenic impact around the Karatau Reserve has noticeably increased. In particular, in the floodplain of the Khantagy River, along which the road has been paved and major construction of tourism infrastructure is planned, threatening the complete destruction of the fragile ecological system. The situation is similar in the gorge of the Koksay River, which originates in the Aksu-Zhabagly nature reserve in the Zhambyl region, where roads and infrastructure are being built that have destroyed local biotopes. 

As a result of anthropogenic impact and water shortage in the village of Khantagy, most of the green spaces have been destroyed, and new seedlings are almost not accepted, the issue of separation and disposal of solid household waste is also acute in the region.

Seminar effectiveness

All workshops began with a survey of participants about rare and endangered species of animals and plants that are a priority for CEPF. At the first seminar, the survey was conducted by questioning the participants at the beginning and at the end of the seminar. At the seminars in the village of Khantagy and in the city of Lenger, the survey was conducted in the form of a conversation with participants recorded on video.

At the seminar in the village of Khantagy, it turned out that many people know about the Karatau argali, Greig's tulip, Indian porcupine, at the same time, the participants of the seminar have a very vague idea of other animals and plants in the Red Book. For example, they include saxaul in the Red Book, while this plant is not listed in the Red Book, although in Kazakhstan there is a ban on its felling and collection. Of the fruit trees, they remembered the pear and apple tree, without specifying their types. None of the respondents knows that in the territory of the reserve (according to the results of the inventory) there is only one common apricot tree. They also did not remember that it is in the Karatau Range that the narrowly endemic Berkarinsky poplar grows. People are not informed about the plans of the Institute of Zoology to introduce the snow leopard and mountain goats into the reserve ... Among the Red Book birds, the steppe eagle, imperial eagle, brown dove, vulture and white-fronted goose were not named.

At the seminar in Lenger, it turned out that among the trees growing in the mountains, the participants know juniper, birch, etc.

There is an understanding of the value of biotopes, the dependence of the preservation of ecosystems on the preservation of certain species of flora and fauna, which determine the existence of each other.

Among the birds of prey living in the local ecosystem, they named golden eagle, falcon, vultures. Predators could no longer be named, but among the birds, kekliks, partridges, ducks, and bustards are known. We didn't see wild geese. Which birds are listed in the Red Book, the audience found it difficult to answer, but reported that the golden shur (a bird that eats bees) has recently disappeared. One of those present claimed that he had not seen the once common golden schur in his region for about 10 years. 

The steppe eagle, imperial eagle, brown dove, vulture, and white-fronted goose were not named among the Red Book birds. Thus, the local community had a superficial understanding of the rare and endangered species of animals and plants prioritized by CEPF.

So the information provided during the seminar broadened the horizons of those present and aroused great interest in the content of the «Live Handbook».

The expert on work with the local community, together with the pilot PAs, selected pilot farms where demonstration ecological sites (DEPs) were installed.

From May 31 to June 6, 2021, in the buffer zone of the Karatau State Nature Reserve in the Turkestan region of the Republic of Kazakhstan, on the basis of the Ulu Kozhan farm, a Master class was held in the village of Khantagy.

From 23 to 27 June 2021 in the village Karasaz of the Zhualynsky district near the Aksu-Zhabagly state natural reserve in the Zhambyl region of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the basis of the Kenzhebek farm took place a master class.

A report on them was presented in the first report for the first half of the year

From July 4 to July 9, 2021, a master class was held at the Kulager farm on the Sairam-su site of Kaskasu village, 5 km from the Sairam-Ugam State National Natural Park in the Turkestan region of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The training was conducted by an expert on working with local communities, Rauf Sabitov.

The training program included theoretical and practical components.

Theoretical consisted of a brief presentation of the FSBK project “Improving the efficiency of management of specially protected natural areas of the Western Tien Shan”; informing participants about rare species prioritized by CEPF, their status and threats; informing about the role of the local community in the management of protected areas, the problem of global climate change, adaptation measures, the design of a solar dryer, a solar heater, a solar stove, the design and principle of operation of a hydroram.

The practical part - from participation in the manufacture, construction and installation of the above installations.

The seminar was attended by 16 people, including 6 women, 10 men. Among the participants there were 5 representatives of NGOs, 3 representatives of business, 4 representatives of peasants and farms, 1 - a schoolboy, 1 - a college student, 2 representatives of the local population.

A local NGO, Public Association "Ugam" was involved in the organization of the training.

The participants of the training were provided with pens, notepads, meals and delivery to the training venue were organized for them during the day. Participants received booklets from the «Live Handbook» with a description of rare and endangered species of animals and plants.

A preliminary assessment of the awareness of the training participants showed that only 2 out of 16 participants have an idea about rare and endangered species of animals and plants, priority CEPF, 4 - about ways to prevent global warming and adaptation measures, 5 - about water-saving technologies.

Every day during the seminar, the participants took part in the manufacture of a solar dryer and a solar barrel. In addition, the training participants completed earthworks and concreted a platform for a dry toilet, as well as concreted a platform next to a spring to install a tank and install a pump to supply water to a farm. The spring (Auliye-Bastau), which supplies water to the farm, is located 180 meters from the house, about 30 meters lower.

These works were carried out during five days of training.

After the end of the training, work on the construction of a toilet and the arrangement of water supply continued with online support.

Online support of participants through consultations, informing via WhatsApp will be carried out until the end of the project.

For all three Ecological Demonstration Sites, drip irrigation was installed in November 2021.

In addition, 300 seedlings were purchased and planted for the Ecological Demonstration Sites.

Conducting excursions at the Ecological Demonstration Sites for schoolchildren, students and the local population has been postponed to the spring of 2022, due to the epidemiological situation in the region at that time.

 

Summing up the results of the project’s activities for the second half of 2021, it should be noted that, in general, the project’s performance for the reporting period is positive.

During the reporting period, basically all the planned activities were completed, with a slight delay due to the epidemiological situation in the region.

Main events of the second half of the year:

1. Holding the first Meeting of the Regional Committee of the Western Tien Shan Serial Transboundary UNESCO World Heritage Site (formation of the composition, approval of the draft Regulations and Action Plan for 2021-2022)
2. Conducting three seminars for representatives of NGOs and Farms, followed by online support.
3. Conducting three five-day master classes for representatives of the local population, during which three demonstration ecological sites were equipped.
4. Purchase and planting of 300 seedlings of apple trees of various varieties in two peasant farms.
5. Acquisition of drip irrigation systems for three targeted farms.
6. Carrying out info tours to three target protected areas with visits to demonstration ecological sites.