Bio-diversity

West Altai is home of a lot of unique, rare, and endangered species of plants and animals. In last decade the pressure on biodiversity of West-Altai Natural Reserve and nearby territories has increased due to human activity. This include construction and use of road build recently in the reserve and ignorant and unlimited plant gathering for food and herbal medicine purposes, which leads to disappearance of some endangered species. The road and adjusted land stripes were excluded from Reserve status, but it creates new challenges for the Reserve. Such as increase of fire risk, pouching, littering along the road, tramping and unauthorized wild tourism. Provision of the necessary facilities along the road, creation of ecological trails and involvement of local community in eco tourism will help to decrease the pressure on West Altai Natural Reserve biodiversity. Project aim: To demonstrate biodiversity conservation through organization of ecological tourism in the Poperechnoye village and on the special sites allocated for ecotourism, addressing both biodiversity conservation and improvement of the livelihood of the local community in Poperechnoye village. Project tasks: - Creation of possibilities for involvement in eco-tourism local people from administration level to average villager, who is willing to enhance his/hers livelihood through sustainable use of nature and developing eco-tourism. - Awareness rising about biodiversity conservation through organization of ecological tours. Forming positive attitude to the nature among local communities. - Enhancement of tourist attractiveness of the region for the tourists and investors Project results: - 4 guest houses organized - A program for tourist s folk group developed involved 12 people - Locals involved in tourists servicing -15 people - Improved the environmental situation in the region, improved locals livelihoods - Improved tourism infrastructure - Two routes equipped: one route is equipped with an awning for 3x4 kitchen, canopy for dining, cooking stove, toilet, 3 rest grounds, and the second route is equipped with 2 car rest grounds with toilets - A museum of Old Believers created in the school of the Poperechnoe village - Two new tours developed - Infrastructure for tourists developed. Environmental awareness of tourists rose. - Decreased environmental violations by the tourists on the project area, which is 2474 ha. A new level of biological diversity conservation - Issued a promotional film (8 minutes) - 5000 copies of information leaflet released - Reduced the load on the rare plants growing area of 74 hectares - Families of 15 people able to participate in the tourism business and to receive regular income - The project involved nine women

Kazakhstan