On August 10, 2019, a solemn opening ceremony of the stele at the entrance to the reserve was held in the Korgalzhyn state nature reserve Of the Committee of forestry and wildlife of the Ministry of ecology, Geology and natural resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The purpose of this event is to mark the territory of the entrance to the reserve and attract people's attention to the preservation of unique biodiversity.
This event is held by the Corporative Fund "Biodiversity conservation Fund of Kazakhstan" (hereinafter-the Fund) And Korgalzhyn state nature reserve with the financial support of the Eurasian Resources Group (ERG).
The Eurasian Resources Group (ERG) is one of the world's leading and most diversified companies in the extraction and enrichment of natural resources, with fully integrated mining, processing, energy, transportation and marketing operations. The group is represented by enterprises and business development projects in 14 countries on four continents and is one of the largest employers in the industry. This year Eurasian Resources Group celebrated its 25th anniversary. The head office of the management company is located in Luxembourg.
ERG is a third of the mining and metallurgical complex of the Republic of Kazakhstan. ERG is also one of the key electricity suppliers and a major railway operator in Central Asia. The most important enterprises of the Group and the country are located in Kazakhstan – TNK "Kazchrom", " Sokolov-Sarbay mining and processing production Association "(SSGPO)," Aluminum of Kazakhstan"," Kazakhstan electrolysis plant "(KAZ)," Eurasian energy Corporation "(EEC)," Shubarkol Komir " and transport group "Transcom". More than 61 thousand people work at ERG enterprises in Kazakhstan.
The Eurasian Group is committed to the efficient use of resources and to reducing any adverse impact of the Group's production activities on the environment, and is actively involved in the conservation of Kazakhstan's valuable biodiversity. Thus, within the framework of cooperation with the Eurasian group, the Fund for biodiversity conservation of Kazakhstan, the Republican creative contest "Flamingo" is held annually in The Korgalzhyn reserve, which contributes to the formation of environmental culture among schoolchildren and increases the level of environmental awareness.
The Biodiversity Conservation Fund of Kazakhstan is a non-governmental non-profit organization established by non-governmental environmental organizations of Kazakhstan on 04.10.2007. The Fund was established as a result of careful study and analysis of the best international practices in accordance with generally recognized international norms and standards. The sponsorship of UNDP and the Global Environment Facility, the largest sponsor of environmental funds, enables the Fund to draw on the knowledge, skills and experience of international experts. The Fund works closely with the forestry and wildlife Committee of the Ministry of ecology, Geology and natural resources. The aim of the Fund is to contribute to the sustainable development of the regions and the country by raising funds and financing environmental projects with an emphasis on ensuring the sustainability of the project results. The main objectives of the Fund are to search for projects aimed at fostering respect for nature, promoting effective protection measures, analyzing the situation of biodiversity, advertising companies that have invested in nature conservation. From 2009 to 2014, the Fund was the financial operator of the World Bank project "Conservation of forests and increase of forest cover of the territory of Kazakhstan". As a result of this work, the Fund has awarded 44 grants for sub-projects on sustainable forest management, alternative income generation , water resource management, infrastructure and local capacity development, totalling $ 2,236,000. USA. The Foundation annually conducts various environmental activities. Special attention is paid to projects aimed at educating children and young people in the spirit of respect for the world and strengthening the conservation of biodiversity in specially protected natural areas of our country.
Korgalzhyn state nature resrve is a unique place because of the rich fauna, rare species of birds, animals and plants. In 1976, the Teniz-Korgalzhyn lakes were included in the Ramsar list of wetlands of international importance. Lake Teniz in 2000 included in the list of the international organization "Living lakes", which includes the most unique lakes in the world. In 2007, the reserve became part of the worldwide network of sites recognized as exceptionally valuable for bird conservation (IBA). In 2008 zapovenik included in Spdoc world population UNESCO and in 2012 For the second time recognized by UNESCO as the first biosphere reserve in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
These lakes are among the most important wetlands for migratory birds throughout Asia. The reserve is located 130 km from Astana in the South-West direction, has the status of an environmental institution with a protected regime of protection and is designed to preserve and study in the natural state and development of natural processes, typical and unique ecological systems, biological diversity and genetic Fund of flora and fauna.
Also, thanks to the support of the Eurasian group in The Korgalzhyn reserve, places for watering, rest and feeding of birds have been restored, the material and technical base of the reserve has been improved. This allowed to preserve rare and endangered species of flora and fauna.
In addition to the discovery of the stele at the entrance to reserve, Korgalzhyn reserve was held an info tour for media representatives at the Korgalzhyn reserve. This large-scale event will be attended not only by representatives of the Fund, the ERG group and the reserve, but also by representatives of the forestry and wildlife Committee.
Thanks to the measures of the ERG, the material and technical base of the reserve has been improved for scientific research and monitoring of protected species in the reserve. So, in 2019 the funds of the sponsor was purchased 2 motorcycles for inspectors, 3 fire pumps with accessories, 3 fire tank, camera lens Canon EF 100-400 1 PCs., telescope Bresser Pirasch 25-75x100 – 1 piece, tripod Levenhuk TR150 - 1 PC, a camera trap Photo-Yunter JET – 3 EA. Thanks to the purchased equipment, the system of control and monitoring of protected rare species of birds and animals in the reserve will be improved.
Biodiversity conservation is one of the global environmental problems and is becoming more acute every year as new species disappear. Nevertheless, thanks to close cooperation and interaction, strengthening of common efforts, the cause of biodiversity conservation in Kazakhstan attracts more and more attention from year to year, which means that the chances of its success increase. After all, as the saying goes: "Disappeared not return, but can be preserve remaining." Thus, by joining our common efforts, we still have the opportunity to preserve the natural wealth that we have left, and even to restore what has been lost.