Environmental research

The project implies using new pastures for grazing of some cattle of the community, optimization of the pasture water supply to decrease the grazing pressure, and organization of the seasonal pasture rotation. The new pastures are used over the whole grazing period with the seasonal rotation of the pastures. These activities contribute to mitigation of the pasture degradation caused by climate change and decreasing the risks related to weather and climate conditions and economic activities. Project aim: To prevent the adverse consequences of climate change at the sand pasture ecosystems of Semirechye Project tasks: In order to improve the pasture water supply two wells were reconstructed. All selected wells are repaired, drinking pans are concreted, the water from the wells is pumped off, the joints between the rings are concreted, the lids are installed, water-filling units are cleared and washed, and the wells and water-filling units are white-washed. Project results: - In spring 2009 the project has formed two herds of Lepsy village community that included 150 heads of cattle, 405 heads of sheep and goat, and 2 horses. The villagers concluded agreement for using the remote pastures with the Lepsy rural district. Akim of the rural district concluded agreement with the NGO AraI (project partner) for using this herd for the project implementation. - Today the villagers have more trust in the project outcomes and ask to include their cattle into the herd, which is almost 200 heads of cattle. This trust was gained trough the project efforts. The project team regularly (once a month) takes 2-3 cattle owners to the remote pasture to show how the grazing is going. People have a chance to look at the grazing conditions, stock state, they ask for details about the grazing process and benefits. Based on the agreed schedule of veterinary procedures, the cattle was examined and vaccinated. - NGO Arai provided 2000 ha of remote pasture lands for organization of the grazing by the resolution of Sarkand district Akimat of Almaty region for the project implementation. - The practice of remote grazing was proved successful and the grazing pressure around the village was significantly reduced. In accordance with the project plan 100 heads of cattle and 420 heads of sheep and goat were grazed on 3 pasture sites: Kasavatka (from 01.04. till 15.08.); Burlyu (from 16.08. till 01.09.), and Kum (from 02.09. till now). - Thus, the pasture rotation was implemented, which contributed to conservation of 30-40 % vegetation for better pasture productivity for the future years. The use of remote pastures has decreased the pressure on the village pastures by reducing the cattle by 5% and sheep and goats by 10%, which will facilitate the rehabilitation of the limited village pastures. - The project has estimated the productivity of the grazed-up pastures in Kasavatka , Burlyu , and Kum sites. Productivity of biomass on Kasavatka site (considering the autumn growth of Artemisia) is 3,1 centner per hectare; productivity of Burlyu site is 3,4 centner per hectare, and Kum site - 4,6 centner per hectare. These indicators correspond to the sustainable pasture management standards, since they comprise 30-40 % of the ungrazed part of a plant that forms the future vegetation. - During the workshop the community members were trained on traditional methods of pasture management. Within the project component Dissemination of the pasture management practice at the local, district and regional levels the project published an article in the district newspaper Sarkand named Lepsy community are ready to face the climate change .

Kazakhstan