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1st
Workshop on National
Biodiversity Strategies & Action Plans in Northeast and East Central Asia Experiences and Lessons 26 -28 April, 2000, Beijing, China |
Developing and Implementing National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAP): Lessons from KAZAKHSTAN
Introduction
Since 1991 when the Republic of Kazakhstan declared its state independence, the social and political life in the country has been undergoing great changes. As at this moment the Republic faced the social, political and economic problems, so it starts determining the development priorities. Alongside with the reforms and measures on stabilisation of social and economic life the Republic pursued the course of sensible approach to the problems related with Environment Protection. The UN Conference on Environment and Development (Rio-de-Janeiro, 1992) has promoted this policy at a great extend as at this Summit Kazakhstan signed the Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Convention on Biological Diversity thus performing as an equal member of the world environment protection process.
For a long time the rich raw natural resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan have been a major factor of the economy. The result of this policy was that the most prominent economic sectors in Kazakhstan today are the mining industry, extensive cattle breeding and agriculture. They were developed without regard to environment protection measures or to environmental recreation possibilities. Military bases, the Baikonur cosmodrome and weapon testing sites, including nuclear weapons, occupied vast territories. All this has led to the degradation of natural ecosystems, accumulating of the industrial waste, pollution of nature with heavy metals, pesticides, radioactive materials, rocket fuel, and other toxins.
At the present time the mineral resources continue to dominate the country’s exports. A model though is required for the sustainable utilisation of the natural resources that currently cause great damage to the environment and similar problems are recognized throughout the world. The concept of a sustainable ecology from the viewpoint of development, under which a contradiction between the social and economic growth, nature use and conservation of the ecological system integrity is eliminated, is an alternative to this model. This is in accordance with the principles of the UN Declaration on Environment and Development (1992).
The political changes, which took place in Kazakhstan, the economic hardships of the transition from the command and management administrative system to the market one, have strongly affected the social sphere. The republic has adopted a model of reforms, which envisage macroeconomic stabilization given the social restrictions, but requires the identification of the final objectives of the transition period at minimum social loss. The difficulty in solving such a problem is due to the hard current position of all sectors of the economy.
The analysis of the human development index during the five years of independence allows one to note that a rate of decline of this indicator during the last years has been stabilized. However, the value of the index may worsen in the short term, if the reforms are insufficiently adjusted in terms of softening the social stress and orientation of the republic towards harmonization of the economic, social and ecological sectors. It brings up a need to implement the measures on all environmental problems, including that in accordance with the Convention on the Biological Diversity.
Kazakhstan ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity in 1994. Adding up socio economic and political conditions in the country and responsibilities of Kazakhstan as the Party of the Convention on biological diversity have constructed the preconditions of the development of National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP).
- What aspects of the institutional, administrative and legal system have special relevance to the NBSAP process?
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Protection is a central executive body of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the area of environmental protection and conduction of cross-sectorial state control. The Ministry is responsible for implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Convention to Combat Desertification, Convention on Climate Change, Montreal Protocol and Vienna Convention. There is the Forestry, Fishing and Hunting Committee within the Ministry structure that is directly responsible for biodiversity protection and sustainable use. The Ministry was an implementing agency of the GEF/UNDP project on NBSAP development.
Research institutes: Institute of Botany and Phytointroduction, Institute of Zoology and Genetic fund of Animals, Institute of Soil Science, Institute of Physiology, Genetics and Bioengineering of Plants, Institute of Microbiology pay special attention to environmental problems both participating in implementation of activities by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Protection through elaboration of its own environmental projects. The scientists of these institutes took part in the NBSAP development process.
The non-governmental organizations of the Republic of Kazakhstan though they are numerous and their activity is directed on environment protection, pay little attention to the practical aspect of biological diversity conservation. Mainly their activity is limited by preparation of projects or substantiation of the development of network of specially protected natural territories or endangered species protection. More numerous part of such organizations is engaged in the development of ecological education and enlightening. Representatives of the following NGOs, namely, ENVIRS, association of the reserve workers of national parks "Koryk", Public Center on Biological Diversity, and four IUCN members - Kazakhstan-Central Asia Zoological Society, "Green Salvation", “Tethys”, the Center on Support of Ecological Education, were involved in the NBSAP development process from the start.
Legal system. The law “On Environment Protection” was adopted on 15 July 1997. The law determined legal, economic and social framework for environment protection for the benefit of the present and future generations; it is intended to prevent negative technological impact on the environment, to preserve environmental balance and organize rational nature use in the country. The Water Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan was adopted on 31 March 1993 and the Forest Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan was adopted on 23 January 1993. The law “On Protection, Reproduction and Use of Animals” was adopted on 21 October 1993.
Decrees of the President “On Oil” and “On Land” were signed on 28 June 1995 and on 22 December 1995, respectively. The decree of the President “On underground and underground mineral utilization” was issued on 26 January 1996; the law “On emergency situations of technogenic and natural genesis” was adopted on the 5 July 1996. The law “On environmental expertise”, the law “On protected natural territories” and the law “On nuclear power utilization” were adopted on the 18 March 1997, on the 15 July 1997 and on the 14 April 1997, respectively. In December 1997 the law “On energy savings” was adopted. Drafts another laws on environment preservation are in process of elaboration.
In September 1995 the President of Kazakhstan signed the Nukus Declaration of Central Asian states and international organizations on sustainable development in the Aral Sea Region. In April 1996 - the Conception of Environmental Security of Kazakhstan formulated by the Security Council was approved by the President’s Decree. The Conception includes basic principles, strategic objectives and priorities of environmental security as the basis for sustainable development of Kazakhstan and the NEAP formulation.
In December 1995 the UNDP and the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan started Preparatory Assistance for formulation of the National Environmental Action Plan for Sustainable Development (NEAP/SD) in Kazakhstan as the first step towards National Agenda 21.
In December 1997 “Kazakhstan’s development long-term strategy up to year 2030” (so called Strategy 2030) was declared. A component of it is long-term strategy “Environment and natural resources”, which has four main priorities.
The first Priority of this Strategy is creation of ecologically safe environment. Among the tasks put forward for achieving this priority the following are distinguished:
- Stable improvement of the Environment for it become favorable to live in and for the health of people;
- Restoration of the violated natural ecological systems;
- Creation of the system of adequate stable financing of nature protection programs by the subsurface users and social funds including international ones.
Achievement of the sustainable use of natural resources is determined as the second Priority. In order to achieve this goal the following should be realised:
- Control for status of environment and monitoring of it, control for nature managers;
- Sustainable use, reproduction and protection of natural resources;
- Transition to the resources saving technologies.
The third Priority is Conservation of Biological Diversity of Flora and Fauna that should be provided by:
- Monitoring, rational use, reproduction and protection of flora and fauna;
- Development of the network of specially protected territories.
The fourth priority - Ecological Education is paid special attention and it is called fulfil the following tasks:
- Public awareness and education of the society in the field of environment protection and rational use of natural resources, and
- Social cultivation of conscious priority of environment protection problems.
- What are the two or three most important features of the NBSAP process in your country, which will determine its future effectiveness?
- The development of NBSAP was conducted at involvement of a plenty of the people: the representatives of state authorities, non-governmental organizations, researchers, and workers of reserves, UNDP and so on.
- The strong scientific potential promotes receiving of an authentic situation of a state of biodiversity and reasons threatening to it.
- The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection together with entrusted to it by Committee on Forestry, Fishing and Hunting and Committee of Water Resources realizes economic and monitoring functions simultaneously. It will not allow valuably realising the right of check above usage of natural resources both supply of conservation and recovery of biological variety.
NBSAP origin and background
- When was the CBD ratified in your country? What are the institutional arrangements for CBD implementation? What have been the main actions taken in its implementation?
Kazakhstan ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity in 1994.
The central executive organ of the Republic of Kazakhstan that is called for environment protection is the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Protection. In the activity of the Ministry there are distinguished four priorities: creation of ecologically safe environment; sustainable use of natural resources; conservation of fauna and flora biological diversity; and ecological education. The Ministry includes the Committee on Forestry, Fishing and Hunting; Committee on Water Resources; Committee on Geology and Mineral Protection; Department of Protection and Rational Use of Fauna and Flora, and their territorial branches. Under the management of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Protection there is National Ecological Center that is responsible for practical implementation of the National Environment Action Plan.
In accordance with Resolution № 918 of Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated August 19, 1994 "On Approval of the Convention on Biological Diversity by the Republic Kazakhstan and Ensuring the Discharge of the Stipulated Obligations" the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Protection is entrusted with the functions of coordination and control for execution of obligations by the Republic Kazakhstan, stipulated by the Convention on Biological Diversity.
The state regional executive organs of the Ministry participate in the process of conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. They determine the rates of payments for the use of natural resources, including those of biological; restrict the activities of nature manager provided he breached nature protection legislation; take decisions on establishment of protected natural territories of local importance and etc.
During the time after ratification of the Convention on Biological Diversity by our country the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Protection has formed the Joint Committee on called for ensuring execution of the Convention statutes by the Republic Kazakhstan. Heads and experts of government and non-governmental agencies, involved in the activity on environment protection entered this Committee. For prevention and minimization of unfavorable impact to biological diversity sequencing from carrying into effect the projects capable to cause such impact there has been developed and introduced the procedure of realization of ecological expertise on the supposed projects. Also they started to develop the system of privileges and material incentives of legal entities and individuals conducting friendly in terms of ecology economic activity in the regions adjoining to protected territories and objects, as well as ensuring the safety of plant and animal genetic fund in the collections and protected territories.
The text of the Convention has been translated into the state language of the Republic of Kazakhstan and published according to the documents form of the Convention on Biological Diversity Secretary.
In cooperation with the Ministry of Science and Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan there has been developed the National Program on Sustainable Development and Rational Use of Biological Diversity and this program embrace monitoring of the components of biological diversity within the structure of global ecological nature-resource environmental monitoring. This Program is called for intensifying the fundamental and applied scientific studies of biological diversity of Kazakhstan nature complexes. Under cooperation of these agencies with the participation of Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs there was also developed the Program of International Science-Technical Cooperation in the Field of Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biological Diversity. Herewith the main accent was made on renewal and reinforcement of joint research works with the states contiguous to Kazakhstan.
Ministry of Agriculture together with the Ministry of Science, Academy of Sciences and Kazakhstan Customs Service have proceeded to the development and realization of measures on preventing introduction of unusual and alien to the natural fauna and flora of Kazakhstan species whose entering and acclimatization can call forth damage to water and overland ecological systems. At present the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Science and Academy of Sciences are developing also a complex of measures for conservation of genetic fund and reconstruction the indigenous species of domestic animals and relict species of agricultural plants on the territory of the country, as well as scientific bases of rational use of biological resources of agriculture ecosystems by rural commodity producers, ensuring the safety of biological diversity.
Ministry of Science and Academy of Sciences jointly with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Protection have developed a Program on conservation and balanced use of biological diversity of Kazakhstan forests with the emphasis of conservation of interspecies and form diversity of wild-fruit and nut-fruit forests of South and Southeast of Kazakhstan.
Rich scientific and technical potential of the Republic of Kazakhstan widely advanced network of scientific entities, high level of studies of biological diversity components have allowed to construct good base for analysis of a state of the biological diversity in the country and further operation on planning the process of conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity.
Since July 1996 the Interim Creative Group including the scientists and the specialists from various agencies related to biodiversity starts to develop NBSAP. In The project of UNDP and Global Environment Facility (GEF) on the development of NBSAP was signed in August 1997. The project was started in September 1997 and was completed in January 1999. Thus, the active phase of the NBSAP development took 16 months in total.
After ratification of the Convention on biological diversity the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection (MNREP) has addressed to GEF Secretariat with the request for grant of the help for developing NBSAP. GEF has granted 136 thousand dollars for this purpose.
The NBSAP is designed in the performance of the Convention on biological diversity, and also Long-term Strategy of Kazakhstan development till 2030 is (see above).
By the beginning of 1998 the Strategic plan of the development for 1998-2000 years was designed and affirmed by Government. The purpose of this period except for other is the decrease of deterioration paces of environment state.
For this purpose the implementation of following priority operating is stipulated:
- Creation of an effective system of nature management and environmental protection (optimization of administrative structure of government, perfecting of the nature protection legislation);
- Creation of bases for sustainable use of natural resources (including ecological zoning, development of cadastres of natural resources, environmental impact assessment, introduction resource saving know-how, development of the network of the natural protected areas, development of ecological tourism, analysis and reproduction of natural resources);
- Ecological education (development the conception and the program of ecological education and propaganda);
- Activating of public activity on environmental protection and reproduction of natural resources.
NBSAP is a tool of implementation of these Strategic plan adopted by the Government.
The development of National Environmental Action Plan (NEAP) started in 1996 has coincided with the development of the NBSAP. These documents are interdependent as it is impossible to carve out conservation of biological diversity from environmental protection as a whole, and the NBSAP is the constituent of NEAP.
The main task of NEAP is integration of environment protection issues into sectoral plans, necessity of the taking consideration environment issues at planning and implementation of any economical activity.
Besides NBSAP (1999) and mentioned above NEAP (1998) Kazakhstan has developed National Action Plan on Combat Desertification (1998), prepared the First National Report on the Framework Convention on Climate Change (1998), Conception of the forestry development (1999). Relationships between these “environmental” documents are suffered by lack of synergism in view of absence of conformity between 'players' and funding agencies.
NBSAP development
- What were the main obstacles and constraints faced in developing the NBSAP?
A number of difficulties have been met during development of NBSAP, for example:
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Limitation of time. As a rule no more than one year is given for NBSAP development, that obviously not enough for biodiversity assessment, a definition of priorities and discovering of most important actions for implementation of the scheduled plans;
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Not complete understanding of a problem by representatives from others sectors of economy (agriculture, forestry, public health services, education, economic planning, industry, transport, power etc.), that has caused lack of intersectorial interaction and coordination during preparation of Strategy;
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There is a prevalence of the scientific facts to the detriment of the political and economic recommendations;
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Weak development of criteria of an estimation of influence on a condition of biodiversity;
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An absence of an economic estimation of components of a biodiversity;
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Weak involving of a community, NGOs, local authorities in development and realization of the Strategy;
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Lack of wide discussion during Strategy draft preparation and weak cross lighting of process by mass media.
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The traditional ways of economy management which are not contradicting to interests of conservation of biodiversity are taken into account insufficiently;
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The executors of the projects of the action plan are already nominated without any tenders;
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Development of the action plan was carried out without the account of real money provided by the budget and involved from outside of country;
- Difficulties with search of the partners and potential donors.
- What was the methodology or process used to develop the NBSAP at national and local levels?
The process of NBSAP development foresees the following stages at the national level:
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Development of the conceptual approach
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Analysis of a state of biological diversity
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Discovering of main reasons of extinction of biological diversity
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Definition of priorities of biodiversity conservation
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Identification of the strategic actions
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Action plan development
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Organization of wide discussion by caring out of seminars, conferences, cross lighting by mass media
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The coordination with other projects and programs
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Preparation of the final document
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Expert estimation
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Approval of Government.
Within the framework of development of the National Biodiversity Strategy the following seminars and conferences were carried out:
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Preliminary view on development of the National Strategy and Action Plan on Conservation and Sustainable Use Biological Diversity - Almaty, March 1996.
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A role of botanical gardens in plant conservation - Almaty, May 1997.
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A role of especially protected natural territories in conservation of biodiversity in Kazakhstan - Kokshetau, October 1997.
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Strengthening of a community role in conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity; development of ecological tourism - Almaty, December 1997.
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Problems of conservation of biological diversity of Kazakhstan and development of the Biodiversity National Strategy and Action Plan - Almaty, January 1998.
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Presentation of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan - Kokshetau, January 1999.
- How were the relevant sectors and different levels of government involved in the development of NBSAP?
Various sectors of economy were involved in development of NBSAP weakly and the issues of intersectorial cooperation are reflected in Strategy insufficiently. Therefore we consider the sectorial biodiversity plans should be developed taking into account influence of various sectors of economy such as an agriculture, transport, communications, petroleum and gas industry etc. on biodiversity condition in Kazakhstan.
The integration cross-cutting issues in biodiversity conservation practice at a national level is necessary:
- The national biodiversity strategy should include measures on integration in various sectors
- Practice of land use as agriculture, forestry, land planning, transportation, mining industry, oil and gas industry, the military taste areas and tourism should be considered
- It is necessary to pay attention to summing influence of various sectors on biodiversity
- Attraction of the socially active elements including NGOs in development and implementation of the National Strategy is required
- Other sectors should be more responsible and should have more accountability
- Public should have an access to the process of development, monitoring and the reporting of the Strategy
- What has been the nature and extent of involvement of the business sector, local communities and other stakeholders?
Unfortunately, the private sector as well as representatives of local communities was not involved in a process of development of the Strategy.
- Has the national NBSAP gone through more than one planning and implementation cycle?
No.
- Has NBSAP been prepared and implemented at regional and local levels of government, in addition to the national level?
Biodiversity strategies at regional and local levels in addition to NBSAP were not developed yet.
Relationship with development planning
- What were the sources of financing for the development and implementation of the NBSAP? To what extent has the process been internalised in the government’s budgets and development planning?
Funds allocated by GEF through its executive agency UNDP (136 000 of US $) and funds allocated by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Protection
(36 000 US $), were by sources of financing of development NBSAP. On an extent of one and a half year since 1996 the work of the Strategy team was carried out on a voluntary basis.
- Does the NBSAP address biodiversity as a crosscutting theme across different sectors such as agriculture, forestry, fisheries, tourism, and water resources management?
The problems of biodiversity conservation in Kazakhstan are reflected in NBSAP as intersecorial problems. They, undoubtedly, concern set forth above sectors, as well as oil and gas sector. The Action Plan plans projects directed inter alia on:
Development of tourism, restoration of pastures, creation of germoplasm bank of agricultural plants and animals, strengthening of water resources management, combat erosion and land salinity, management of especially protected territories, ecological monitoring of forests, protection of sturgeons and the Caspian seal etc.
- To what extent has the NBSAP been picked up and expressed in the annual and long term development plans of the different government sectors?
All carried out and planned economic activity in Kazakhstan should is an object of Environment Impact Assessment procedure.
- Did the NBSAP receive high level political backing? How has this been expressed in terms of economic and development policy?
NBSAP is one of tools of implementation of the Long-term strategy of Kazakhstan development up to year 2000 and reflects its priorities as a whole. However we cannot tell with confidence that all NBSAP provisions will be carried out completely. It is connected first of all to lack of financial resources and misunderstanding of Kazakhstan high-level decisions makers of the importance of nature conservation during transition (crisis) period.
NBSAP scope and objectives
- Have the main biodiversity hotspots been clearly identified and have the country’s biodiversity regions been defined and priorities for action set between them? (If available, include a map of the hot spots and biodiversity regions in your case study)
The priorities for conserving biological diversity determined in the process of NBSAP development.
Kazakhstan’s national strategy with respect to biological diversity is to fully conserve the total biological diversity of the country. However the approach to conservation objectives for sustaining biological diversity in flora, fauna, and agricultural systems depends on a number of indicators: their vulnerability, current status, economic value and adaptability trends. In determining the strategy for achieving objectives for biological diversity a number of criteria have been considered. More than 100 experts have participated in this work.
23 groups of ecological systems (landscapes) within five large areas have been defined: the forests, steppes, deserts, and mountains, water-cavities and rivers. The following vulnerability criteria were used: capacity for biological diversity (very low, moderate, medium, high); economic value (lacking, weak, medium, high); vulnerability to external impacts (lacking, weak, moderate, strong); degree of damage - desert evolution, degradation, loss of fauna and others (lacking, weak, moderate, strong); reduction of biological diversity (with the same grades); protection rating (good, moderate, weak, lacking); recreational potential (lacking, weak, moderate, strong), ecological importance (lacking, weak, medium, high). When average grades for ecological systems were calculated, sufficiently reliable results were found (Table). The results defined the following grade distribution: requires urgent actions - 14 - 15 grades; medium-term actions - 12 13 grades; long-term actions - 7 -11 grades.
Table: Priority Identification Results
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Ecological systems |
Express – analysis |
Sequence of actions (basing refined data) |
|
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Evaluation grades |
Action Sequence |
||
|
Forests |
|||
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Forest steppe birch tree quanted (point distributed) forests (Betula + Populus) |
13 |
2 |
2 |
|
Band and insular millets |
14 |
1 |
1 |
|
Conifer mountain forests |
13 |
2 |
1 |
|
Wild fruit forests (Malus and others) |
14 |
1 |
1 |
|
Haloxylon desert forests (of Haloxylon aphyllum, H. persicum, Hammodendron) |
13 |
2 |
1 |
|
Tugai flood land forests |
15 |
1 |
1 |
|
Upland sparse forest |
11 |
3 |
1 |
|
Steppes |
14 |
1 |
1 |
|
Dry steppes on dark chestnut and light chestnut soils |
12 |
2 |
2 |
|
Desert steppes on the light chestnut soils |
13 |
2 |
2 |
|
Steppe shrub thickets on the plains and small hills |
11 |
3 |
3 |
|
Deserts |
7 |
3 |
3 |
|
Loamy |
9 |
3 |
3 |
|
Sandy deserts |
11 |
3 |
3 |
|
Alkali soil deserts |
9 |
3 |
2 |
|
Foot hill deserts |
12 |
2 |
1 |
|
Mountains |
11 |
3 |
3 |
|
Middle land |
12 |
2 |
2 |
|
Low hills and small hills |
13 |
2 |
2 |
|
Water cavities |
|
|
|
|
Rivers |
15 |
1 |
1 |
|
Artificial water basins |
13 |
2 |
2 |
|
Water and marsh lands |
14 |
1 |
1 |
Note: Sequence of actions: priority – 1; medium-term – 2; long-term – 3
On the base of results from the analysis, forest and water basins emerged to be of the highest priority. Among the forests a priority has been identified for the band and insular millets, mountain wild fruit forest and tugai flood-land forest in the deserts. All remaining forests have been classified in the medium-term protection category. In the steppes, the drought motley and feather grass ecological systems located on black earth have been identified for primary protection.
Vulnerable ecological systems and their associated species have been linked to their protection status, which served as main criteria of the selection: (e.g. the endemic and relict species, rare and vanishing species, communities with diminishing or limited habitats, and those experiencing strong anthropogenic impacts).
The essential advantage of using this approach was in compiling a series of distribution maps. More than 800 biological entities were classified within three categories of protection: Critically endangered (priority) - short term; endangered - medium term actions; vulnerable - long-term actions. Of these, 390 objects were of short-term priority, and 280 requiring medium-term actions.
- Did the NBSAP process include identifying a clear set of priorities for action (ie in situations of scarce resources, the selection of the most important things to do in the short term among the many urgent challenges)? How were these priorities defined?
The strategic directions of activity on conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity in Kazakhstan include:
- In-situ and ex-situ biodiversity conservation
- Sustainable use of biological resources
- Development of normative bases for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use
- Determination of ecological districts
- Organization of a system of biological monitoring
- Strengthening of state structure of biodiversity management
- Strengthening of legislative base
- Strengthening of economic system of stimulation
- Scientific maintenance and training of personnel
- Public and NGOs participation
- Use of traditional knowledge
- International cooperation.
The biodiversity action plan was made of those priority strategic tasks, which included:
- Rare, endangered, valuable and ecologically significant species and ecosystems, necessity of finalization of inventory of the poorly investigated parts of biological diversity;
- A high degree of biodiversity, vulnerability of its components to external influences and degradation, resource-economic importance;
- Richness of genetic fund of potential resources for creation of steady grades of cultural plants and breeds of home animals;
- Necessity of perfection of the legal and economic preconditions of biodiversity conservation
As criteria of selection also ecological importance, genetic importance, influence on health of the population, economic value and opportunity of implementation in nearest 2-3 years were used.
The projects directed on strengthening of weak parts the biodiversity management (institutional, legislative, economic, normative etc.), have other criteria, among which are most essential:
- Strengthening of managerial and control structures;
- Observance of economic benefits and ecological stability balance;
- Conformity of legislative base to the requirements of the Convention;
- Financial support of development and realization of the projects.
Without strengthening this base the successful execution of the basic tasks on conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity is impossible. This task cannot be solved without complete inventory and estimation of biodiversity condition, as it demands, in particular, the seventh and the eighth articles of the Convention on biological diversity. In Kazakhstan the work on moss, algae, insects, plants communities are not completed. The reassessment of modern condition of ecosystems, rare and endangered species of plants and animals is required. The projects concerning these to problems are referred to priority actions.
- What are the main features of your country’s NBSAP?
The analysis of a condition of a biological variety is in detail given
Crosscutting issues are reflected insufficiently
The plan of actions is not aimed strictly at priorities
- Did the NBSAP address specific ecological, economic or social concerns relevant to your country?
Under condition of implementation of the biodiversity action plan the process habitats degradation would be suspended, the situation with rare and endangered species would be improved, the new job opportunities would be created, the local population would accept participation in creation and functioning of new protected territories etc.
- Did the NBSAP address how it would be implemented including various institutional responsibilities and budgeting?
The budget of the projects and their executors are designated. The financing is divided on internal and donor.
Implementation
Now there is a preparation and implementation of the following projects, which could be resulted as practical examples of NBSAP implementation:
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GEF/WB Central Asian Transboundary Project on Conservation of Biodiversity of Western Tien-Shan with participation of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic and Uzbekistan should be implementing since 2000. Total cost about US$ 15 ml.
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GEF/UNDP Project (PDF B) on Creation of a Network of Particular Protected Wetlands of International Significance (completed). Total cost US$ about 150 000.
- GEF/UNDP Project (PDF A) on In-situ Conservation of Mountain Agrobiodiversity in Kazakhstan (completed). Total cost US$ 22 000
- GEF/UNDP Caspian Sea Program.
- GEF/WB,UNDP,UNEP Aral Sea Program
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GEF Small Grants program.
Monitoring and follow-up
Kazakhstan has prepared and has presented the National report on biodiversity conservation and sustainable use to COP 4 of the Convention on Biological Diversity in Bratislava. There were references that there is a process of development NBSAP in the report.
Lessons learned
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It is necessary to develop the implementation plan and to follow it strictly to execute all planned work in time.
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The representatives of economic sectors should be involved in the process of Strategy development from the very start.
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To avoid a possible skew in the party of excessive scientific character, we should put the task for the executors correctly. It's important to remember that the Strategy is not just a scientific publication but the managing political document.
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Criteria of Impact assessment on biodiversity should be developed
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Development of economical evaluation of components of biological diversity should be developed.
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Involvement of NGOs and community into development and implementation of the Strategy should be provided.
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Wide range discussion of the draft and final version of the Strategy through mass-media.
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Positive experience of biodiversity components should be spread, traditional knowledge of biodiversity sustainable use should be taken into consideration etc.
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All professionals should pass tender procedure and be employed just after it.
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Creative planning should be formed on the basis of real budget and possible donor's inputs.
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It's necessary to search for partners and potential donors at the very early stage of the process.
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Series of workshops to identify the key (hot spot) issues of the forthcoming activity on Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan development should be conducted.
LITERATURE
- Kazakhstan - 2030. The message of President N.Nazarbayev to Kazakhstan people. Almaty, 1998.
- Strategy - 2030. The Strategic plan of the development of Kazakhstan for 1998-2000, Astana, 1998.
- The National Strategy and Action Plan on Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity. Kokshetau, 1999.
- Miller Kenton R. And Lanou Steven. National Biodiversity Planning: Guidelines Based Early Experiences Around the World. World Resources Institute/United Nations Environment Program and The World Conservation Union (WRI/UNEP/IUCN). Washington D.C.; Nairobi; Gland, Switzerland, 1995.
- United Nations Environment Program. Guidelines for Country Studies on Biological Diversity. UNEP, Nairobi, Kenya, 1993.
- Draft Guide for Countries Preparing National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans. UNDP/GEF, 1998.
- Planning for biodiversity. Full Workshop Proceedings. Bristol, UK, November 4-7, 1997.
- Proceedings of UNITAR/KIWC Training workshop for the Asia-Pacific Region on the Implementation of Multilateral Agreements Related to Biological Diversity, Kushiro, Japan, 13-19 September 1998.
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