August 21-22, 2019 - Seminar on best practices for wetland management in Kazakhstan was held on the basis of the Korgalzhyn State Nature Reserve based on the example of the Tengiz-Korgalzhin lake system. The seminar was attended by experts on wetland management from Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan and an international expert from Russia, Deputy director and head of the scientific department of the Korgalzhyn reserve and specially protected natural areas of Kazakhstan (Mangystau, Akmola regions and other regions), Chairman of the Tourism Industry Association and recreation of Akmola region.
The seminar included both theoretical and practical parts. On the first day, the participants held a meeting at the premises of the Korgalzhyn Reserve administration. The participants noted the relevance of the issues discussed for the Republic of Kazakhstan and the entire Central Asian region as a whole and the importance of sharing experience with involvement of relevant specialists.
During the second day of the seminar, the Korgalzhyn Reserve’s team conducted a tour through the protected territory, showing by real-life examples how scientists, zoologists and the reserve administration are working to maintain in a good shape the ecosystem of the Tengiz-Korgalzhyn lake system.
The participants fully supported the practice of promoting certain areas of activities in the study and sustainable use of wetlands and public education. It was proposed to support and involve young professionals in the development of tourism products, especially those related to local cultural traditions in the use of wetlands; to expand the activities of industry and leisure associations, such as the Tourism and Leisure Industry Association of Akmola region; to promote and assist local communities in creating souvenirs, gifts and other products that do not adversely affect natural ecosystems, at the same time helping to maintain a high level of well-being of local residents, to spread the positive experience of local residents of the village of Korgalzhyn; to support the proposal to expand the Ramsar list of the wetlands in the Republic of Kazakhstan and the nomination of Karakol Lake in the Mangistau region to this list.
The meeting was held by CAREC under the Regional Ramsar Initiative in Central Asia project funded by the Ramsar Secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland.
