Environmental research

The project teritory (Burevestnik village) is located in the Northern part of te country. The climate is extremely continental and dry, with long winters and hot summers. The absolute maximum temperature reaches +42 C and the absolute minimum -45 C. Monthly rainfall is erratic. Long term data portrays very low average annual precipitation approximating 260 mm. The population is approximately 1,860 people, consisting of heads of large and small farms as well as employees, teachers, seasonal workers and their families. The main sources of livelihood are grain production, vegetable growing, livestock and fish-farming. Most of the economic needs of the village relies on water from dams filled with spring floods. However, for a long period of time these structures were not maintained, so the erosive processes affected the floodgate gradually and led to an unacceptable increase in the ravines and gullies. This situation undermine the economies of local communities since dams play an important role for agriculture production and fish farming which serves as alternative source of income, as well as roads and source of industrial water for household purposes. It`s expected furthe climate change aridity on the project territory, which will cause local community deprivation of the only sources of industrial water and people will not be able to grow vegetables, raise fish and keep livestock. The main source of income - growing wheat - is also treathened under this scenario since machinery needs to use water. Increasing frequency of dry periods will lead to a loss of economic attractiveness of grain cultivation and as a consequence, will heigthen poverty and then will force migration since grain is the main and practically the only source of livelihood. Project aim: Reduce the vulnerability of rural communities of Burevestninskij County Naurzum Area of Kostanai region attributed to global climate change Project tasks: - Elimination of erosion-driven ravines and establishment of herbs and bushes to reduce land degradation - Piloting of erosion control technologies and building of community capacity to use degradation control technologies to reduce land degradation - Reconstruction and sustainable management of dams - Establishment of community-based institutional framework for oasis management and sustainable water supply - Raise of awareness and capacity building of the community to manage water and soil resources in a climate resilient manner - Demonstration of drought-resistant grain, vegetable practices, and water saving technologies in pilot sites Project results: - Local community awareness regarding risks attributed to climate change is raised - Two dams strengthened and legitimized - Constructed and manufactured objects that demonstrate water-saving technologies - New water and soil saving technology is introduced

Kazakhstan