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Aral Sea Ecological Crisis: global and regional initiatives to save Aral Sea

Aral Sea Ecological Crisis: global and regional initiatives to save Aral Sea Regional Media Workshop: Sustainable Development – A Viable Goal? 27 October 2008 The Amari Watergate, Bangkok, Thailand. Central Asia. Aral Sea Catastrophe in figures. Aral Sea Basin – 690 000 sq.km

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Aral Sea Ecological Crisis: global and regional initiatives to save Aral Sea

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  1. Aral Sea Ecological Crisis: global and regional initiatives to save Aral Sea Regional Media Workshop: Sustainable Development – A Viable Goal? 27 October 2008 The Amari Watergate, Bangkok, Thailand

  2. Central Asia

  3. Aral Sea Catastrophe in figures Aral Sea Basin – 690 000 sq.km Fourth largest lakes in the world - 64 490  sq. km Depth – 71 meter (53 in 1960) Salinity – 10 g/l "The Aral crisis is the result of a shortsighted policy towards environment and natural resources. The main cause is the excessive use of water from the Amudarya and the Syrdarya for irrigation needs. This led to a drying up of the Aral Sea and is unprecedented in its scale of impact on the ecology of the Central Asian region and neighboring republics ". -- Nukus Declaration - 1995 3

  4. Aral sea catastrophe Sources of the problem Consequences Current status of the Aral sea SD initiatives 4

  5. Aralsk KAZAKHSTAN Muinak UZBEKISTAN Nukus The scale of the problem

  6. What was achieved economically? • 1,200 km artificial canal in Turkmenistan deserts consuming 1/3 of Amudarya water flow • 7 million ha of irrigated land • 80 water reservoirs for energy production and agriculture • 45 hydro power plants – 34 GW

  7. Sacrificed for Cotton • The length of irrigation canals – 316 000 km • The number of wells for vertical drainage – 865 • The total length of drainage network – 192 000 km • Only 21% of canals had beds insulation cover preventing infiltration 7

  8. 20 years project’s outcomes • Annual decrease of water level – 0.6-1.0 m • Combined water flow of Amudarya and Syrdarya diminished from 60 km3 in 1959 to 4.2 km3 in 1981 • In 1990 sea level dropped by 15 m, water volume decreased 4 times, surface – 2 times • By 2003 the volume was 10% of the 1960 baseline level and surface – 25% • Salinity increased 4 times and reached the level of an open sea

  9. Ecological consequences • Increased water salinity – loss of biodiversity • Changing of regional climate • Desertification – 56 000 km2 • Salt sands storms – hazardous salts were found in Norway forests and in penguins blood!

  10. Social and economic losses • 180,000 people living at the sea directly affected • Mother and child mortality rates – 120/10,000 and 75/1000 • Increased disease rate of local population • Migration of local population • Insufficient access to drinking water • Loss of employment

  11. Regional Initiatives • 4 regional declarations: • 1995 - Nukus Declaration • 1997 – Almaty Declaration • 1999 – Ashgabat Declaration • 2002 – Dushanbe Declaration • Aral Sea Basin Programs (1-2):1995-2008 • Regional Environmental Action Plan • Sub-regional SD Strategy for Central Asia • National SD Strategies

  12. Goal 1. Sustainable Economic Development Goal 2: Sound Ecosystem Management Goal 3: Ensure Social Security Goal 4: Promote good governance Goal 5: Protection of natural and cultural heritage Goal 6: Peace and security Goal 7: Water and security Goal 8: Energy security Mechanism of financing Conclusion Sub-regional Sustainable Development Strategy for Central Asia

  13. Projects and programs Aral Sea Basin Programme - 1: US$ 600 million (1994-2001) • Stabilization of environment situation in the Aral Sea Basin • Rehabilitation of disturbed ecosystems of the Aral Sea region • Improvement of methods of water and land resources control in the basin • Establishment of administrative structures of all levels for planning and implementation of actions of the Programme. Aral Sea Basin Programme – 2 (2002-2005) • KAZAKHSTAN – US$ 330 million • KYRGYZSTAN – US$ 140 million • TAJIKISTAN – US$ 423 million • TURKMENISTAN – US$ 72 million • UZBEKISTAN – US$ 30 million • TOTAL: US$995 million

  14. Concept on Transition for SD in Kazakhstan 2007-2024 GOAL: to achieve integration of economic, social, environmental and political development factors as a process aimed on improvement of quality of life. • Preparatory: 2007-2009 set up conditions for SD principles • First stage: 2010-2012 qualitative competition, rating • Second stage: 2013-2018 increased life quality, env. sustainability • Third stage: 2019-2024 achievement of international standards • Objectives: Increase efficiency of use of resources, life duration , and Environmental Sustainability Index. • Components and mechanisms: political, social, economic and environmental; SD of the Ecosystems (8 river basin systems); Institutional support

  15. Territorial approach: 8 zones of Sustainable Ecosystem Development( Local Agenda 21 in Kazakhstan)

  16. National programs: Kazakhstan • Complex solution of Aral region problems for 2004-2006 • Republican budget -- $ 255 million. • Objectives: • improvement of ecological situation • improvement of population health • development of social infrastructure • provision the access to drinking water • creation of conditions for development of economic activities

  17. Thank you for attention!

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