Environmental research

The growth of climate aridization significantly impacts the pasture capacity: decrease of winter and spring-summer precipitations, frequent droughts and dust storms. The surveys report that the climate in Balkhash region has significantly warmed up. The average annual temperature was growing by 0,2 C each 10 years. Due to lowering of the water level in Lepsy River the area and productivity of the natural inundable hay lands decreased. Project aim: To reduce the impact of aridization induced by the climate change through planting haloxylon and enhancement of pastoral and inundable resources. Project tasks: The project proposed is directed on support and improvement of the LC s natural resources management in terms of the climate changing conditions, through radically enhancement of the pastures by planting haloxylon and improving fertility of inundable hayfields Project results: The goal of the project is to support the local communities in adaptation to aggravating climate aridization through introduction of the climate resistible pasture management practices. In addition to the climate adaptation measures the project will address the pasture degradation threats. These benefits will be gained through the increasing of the production efficiency of the inundable hay lands, improving of the pastures by planting saksaul, and organization of the remote grazing. In 2009 the project has completed activities on increasing the inundable hay lands productivity on the total area of 20 ha. Application of 6000 kg of nitrate under the snow in winter contributed to the better absorption of the nitrogen during the spring snow melting and its storing with the moisture in the soil. The following results were achieved within this task: - Significant growth of hay productivity at the demonstration site: the fertilized inundable hay lands produced more hay than those that were not fertilized by 2,7 times; - Good quality of the hay. During the field event the participants observed that the height of the grass on the project site was 30 sm bigger than that on the regular hay fields; - The example of the sustainable use of the natural resources for the community: 20 ha of fertilized inundable hay lands produced 8 haystacks, while the regular hay field produced only 3 haystacks. The after-growth on the project site was sufficient for grazing until the first snow. The described practice of improving the inundable hay lands has proved to be the most viable and easy for the local community to adapt to the climate aridization and related pasture degradation. The conservation of the additional fodder decreased the risk of mortality due to forage shortage during winter. Given the demonstrational purpose of the project we consider that this aspect needs more efforts to broadly involve the community members into the implementation of the inundable hay lands improvement practices. In autumn 2008 the project sowed saksaul on 70 ha of pastures and set up 1 ha of the nursery for growing seedlings for further planting on the project site pastures. The following results were achieved within this task: - The experts reported good viability and survival rate of the saksaul seedlings: - 30% viability on 70 hectares; - 70% viability in nursery. - Currently the height of the seedlings is 20-50 sm. The results of this component have a long term perspective, since the results of the forest plantations will be tangible only in 3-5 years. Nevertheless the amelioration of the pastures should be implemented now in conditions of climate aridization. Saksaul will help to sustain and improve the capacity of the sand pastures, decrease the risks of desertification and unfixed sands. In the future the use of these pastures will increase the adaptation capacity of the local communities. We consider that there is a need for expansion of the area fro saksaul planting and strengthening of the awareness and involvement of the local communities in the project activities. In 2009 the community of Mukan Tulebayev village has organized the herd and remote grazing (20 km from the village). The following results were achieved within this task: - The basic infrastructure was arranged in the remote pasture; - The project purchased one yurt for herders; - The project purchased power generator to provide electricity supply; - The meeting was held with Akim and community members of the rural district that includes the villages Tulebayeva, Ulgy, and Krasny Rybak where the problems of remote grazing in the project area were identified and the level of participation of each party in the project implementation was discussed and agreed. The improvement of the cattle productivity due to remote grazing increased the adaptation capacity of the local people. Seasonal pasture management reduced the risks of the cattle mortality due to fodder shortage and contributed to the close pastures rehabilitation. We think that additional activities are needed to nail down the seasonal grazing achievements in M. Tulebayev village.

Kazakhstan