Climate Vulnerability & Adaptive Capacity of Mountain Societies in Central AsiaSujata Manandhar, Stefanos Xenarios, Dietrich Schmidt-Vogt, Christian Hergarten, Marc Foggin

Research Report #1 (English, January 2018, 42 p.)

Mountain societies in Central Asia are highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, which may se-verely threaten their livelihoods and wellbeing. This study reviewed the state of research on climate change and vulnerability of rural communities in the Tien Shan and Pamir mountain ranges of Central Asia. Identi-fied in the study are current existing knowledge gaps; and research and development measures for improv-ing the adaptive capacity of mountain societies in Central Asia are proposed.

http://bit.ly/MSRI-Climate

Contextual Factors of the Conflict in Batken Province KyrgyzstanAsel Murzakulova

Research Report (English, 2017, 34p.)

The research for this report was based on the premise that conflict in local communities can be attributed to contextual factors such as agricultural crises, restricted movement of goods across borders, the militariza-tion of borders, migration, and problems surrounding natural resources management. The study analysed the factors which create certain vulnerabilities that lead to the emergence of tensions and conflict at the local community scale.

http://bit.ly/MSRI-BatkenConflict

Manual: Studying Water Through ExperimentsAline Rosset, Aliya Ibraimova, Bilimbek Ajibekov, Aikena Orolbaeva, Albina Muzaffarova

Manual (Russian, Kyrgyz, June 2017, 128 p.)

The manual was developed within the framework of the Kyrgyz Mountains Environmental Education and Citizen Science“ project. The aim of the project was to engage kids in learning and exploring their sur-rounding natural environments by improving access of rural schools in Kyrgyzstan to low-tech methods and experiments. The project worked closely with 10 schools in rural areas of Naryn province in developing the manual and jointly engaging in citizen science. The manual includes chapters on the general properties of water, watershed mapping and the water cycle; biological assessment of water quality through macro-in-vertebrates; how to build DIY microscopes; simple chemical experiments as well as measurement of water discharge of small rivers. As such, it can be used by biology, geography, chemistry and physics teachers, but also by children and parents interested in the practical exploration of scientific concepts.

http://bit.ly/MSRI-WaterManual

Mountain Societies Research Institute

Publications & Resources

www.ucentralasia.org/msri

MSRI publications include a Background Paper series and Poli-cy Brief series, which provide structured assessments of knowl-edge (and knowledge gaps) in priority areas and help to inform MSRI’s emerging research agenda. Topics covered by these pub-lications include pastoralism and farming systems, sustainable land management, mountain tourism and sustainability, agrofor-estry, and natural resource management in border communities.

Asel Murzakulova

Contextual faCtors of ConfliCt in border Communities in batken ProvinCe, kyrgyzstan

ReseaRch RePoRt 2017

Asel MurzakulovaIrène Mestre

(Kyrgyz Republic)

UNIVERSITYOF CENTRAL ASIA

Mountain Societies Research Institute

natural resourCe

management dynamiCs

in border Communities of

kyrgyzstan and

taJikistan

RESEARCH REPORT April 2016

Asel MurzakulovaIrène Mestre

(Kyrgyz Republic)

UNIVERSITYOF CENTRAL ASIA

Mountain Societies Research Institute

natural resourCe

management dynamiCs

in border Communities of

kyrgyzstan and

taJikistan

RESEARCH REPORT April 2016

Agroforestry for Landscape Restoration and Livelihood

Development in Central AsiaDr Utkur Djanibekov, Klara Dzhakypbekova, Dr James Chamberlain

Dr Horst Weyerhaeuser, Dr Robert Zomer, Dr Grace B. Villamor, Dr Jianchu Xu

Wor

king

Pap

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Natural Resource Management Dynamics in Border Communities of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan

Asel Murzakulova, Irène Mestre

Policy Brief and Research Report (English, Russian, March 2016, 40 p.)

The Research Report and Policy Brief aims to provide insight into the institutions and local dynamics involved in natural resource management in border communities between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. It provides solution-oriented recommendations to address natural resource management challenges in light of these dynamics.

http://bit.ly/MSRI-NRM

Agroforestry for Landscape Restoration and Livelihood Development in Central AsiaDr Utkur Djanibekov, Klara Dzhakypbekova, Dr James Chamberlain Dr Horst Weyerhaeuser, Dr Robert Zomer, Dr Grace B. Villamor, Dr Jianchu Xu

Background Paper #4 (English, March 2015, 40 p.)

This paper discusses how the adoption of agroforestry for ecosystem and livelihood improvement in Central Asian countries can be enhanced. First, it describes how previous and current developments have led to changing environmental conditions, and how these changing conditions have consequently affected peoples welfare in Central Asia.

http://bit.ly/MSRI-BP-4

Mountain Tourism and Sustainability in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan: A Research ReviewQobiljon Shokirov, Aisulu Abdykadyrova, Chad Dear and Sia Nowrojee

Background Paper #3 (English, Russian, July 2014, 48 p.)

This paper focuses on Mountain Tourism and Sustainability in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Tourism is one of the largest and fastest growing industries in the world. As such, government, civil society and the private sector in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are placing increasing emphasis on developing this industry. This paper examines relevant literature on these two countries through the framework of sustainabil-ity. The paper identifies gaps in the literature and recommends topics for future research and ways to strengthen research on tourism.

http://bit.ly/MSRITourismb

Sustainable Land Management in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan: A Research Review

Jyldyz Shigaeva, Bettina Wolfgramm and Chad Dear

Background Paper #2 (English, Russian, September 2013, 90 p.)

This paper reviews the state of research on sustainable land management in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan and analyses the interface between research and practice. Recommendations are made for targeted, application-focused, multistakeholder research and knowledge sharing, which engages local and inter-national researchers as well as practitioners, policy-makers and land users.

http://bit.ly/MSRI-BP-2

Asel MurzakulovaIrène Mestre

(Kyrgyz Republic)

UNIVERSITY

OF CENTRAL ASIA

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RESEARCH REPORT April 2016

Mountain Societies Research Institute Knowledge Hub

UCA’s Mountain Societies Research Institute (MSRI) Knowledge Hub is an interactive source of infor-mation on Central Asian mountain societies serving at the interface of researchers, practitioners and pol-icy makers. It includes the MSRI Library; an Expert Database; a range of databases and applications to enable users to search for information and networks studying mountain communities and related issues in Central Asia; information and data on thematic studies on the region; the collected works of projects conducted in Central Asia with fully searchable archives; and information on partners and contributors to the Knowledge Hub. Users can register for Hub access and upload biographical details in the Expert Database. Materials are primarily in English and Russian, but also include Central Asian and other lan-guages, which users can specify in their search. The Hub was created by UCA’s Knowledge Man- age-ment (KM) unit, using free and open-source technology, to create a dynamic platform, extensive library database, an advanced search function with multiple filters to aid users to locate specific information, and an e-learning platform to engage all Hub visitors.

http://msri-hub.ucentralasia.org/

Mountain Research and Development (MRD) Special Issue: Central Asian Mountain Societies in Transition

University of Central Asia (UCA) and International Mountain Society (IMS)

Journal (English, Russian, August 2012, 124 p.)

UCA’s Mountain Societies Research Institute (MSRI) researchers served as guest editors of this special issue of international peer reviewed journal Mountain Research & Development (MRD), published by the International Mountain Society, of which UCA and MSRI are institutional members. The issue fea-tures the institutional aims and mission statements of MSRI and research carried out by NSRI on a range of issues facing the mountains of Central Asia. Topics include mountain pastoralism; pasture govern-ance reforms and analysis of related development initiatives; climate change adaptation; large carnivore conservation; thermal insulation; quality of life in remote mountain communities in Afghan Badakhshan; rangelands in relation to changing pasture use, pasture tenure & farming system modeling, and liveli-hoods in conflict areas. This inaugural MSRI guest issue was translated and printed in Russian by UCA’s MSRI for use in the region.

http://bit.ly/MSRI-MRD-Issue

Tree and Land Tenure: Rapid Appraisal Tools Karen Schoonmaker Freudenberger. Russian Translation by University of Central Asia (UCA) and Mountain Partnership.

Appraisal (Russian, May 2012, 76 p.)

Rapid Rural Appraisal is a family of methodologies designed to encourage participation of local commu-nities in collection and use of information to improve their livelihoods. This qualitative research method-ology can be used in three ways: 1) to gather general information about a topic, 2) to gather in- depth in-formation about a particular subject, and 3) as a monitoring and evaluation tool. This manual introduces background information on the methodology and develops a toolkit of activities for use by researchers and practitioners. Originally published by United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in 1994, UCA’s Mountain Societies Research Institute (MSRI) and the Mountain Partnership Consortium’s Central Asia Hub translated and printed the manual into Russian for use in the region.

http://bit.ly/MSRI-Appraisal-ru

138 Toktogul Street, Bishkek 720001, Kyrgyz Republic. Tel.: +996 (312) 910 822, E-mail: MSRI@ucentralasia.org© UCA April 2018

Sustainable Mountain Development in Central Asia: From Rio 1992 to Rio 2012 and Beyond University of Central Asia (UCA), Mountain Partnership, Zoï Environment Network and GRID-ArendalReport (English, Russian, May 2012, 156 p.)

Conducted by UCA’s Mountain Societies Research Institute (MSRI) in association with the Mountain Partner-ship Consortium’s Central Asia Hub, Zoï Environment Network and GRID-Arendal, this report is based on a re-gional assessment of progress in Central Asia related to the sustainable development of mountain areas- Chapter 13 of Agenda 21 of the 1992 Earth Summit goals. The assessment contributed to a global synthesis report calling attention to the unique natural resources and vulnerabilities of mountain areas at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20 Summit) in June 2012. The report includes background information on mountain ecosystems and societies in Central Asia; case studies of innovative responses to the challenges and op-portunities facing mountain communities in the region; and recommendations for action. Findings are presented in four categories: people, infrastructure, ecosystems and institutions and governance and knowledge.

http://bit.ly/MSRI-SMD

Herders’ Manual for Western Pamir Inam-ur-Rahim and Daniel Maselli Manual (Tajik, English, Russian, December 2011, 128 p.)

Drawing on local expertise of Central Asian herders, this manual combines traditional knowledge about key pasture plants and ecology with current scientific knowledge about sustainable pasture manage- ment, live-stock production, and health management in the rangelands of the Western Pamir. A joint project of UCA’s Mountain Societies Research Institute (MSRI) and NCCR North-South, the manual is designed to inform training of livestock herders, village Pasture Committees and other village-level pasture management and monitoring organisations.

http://bit.ly/MSRI-WesternPamir

Herders’ Manual for Kyrgyzstan Inam-ur-Rahim and Daniel Maselli Manual (Kyrgyz, English, Russian, October 2011, 128 p.)

Drawing on local expertise of Central Asian herders, this manual combines traditional knowledge about key pasture plants and ecology with current scientific knowledge about sustainable pasture manage- ment, livestock production, and health management in the rangelands of Kyrgyzstan. A joint project of UCA’s Moun- tain Societies Research Institute (MSRI) and NCCR North-South, the manual is designed to inform training of livestock herders, village Pasture Committees and other village-level pasture management and monitoring organizations.

http://bit.ly/MSRI-Kyrgyzstan

Pastoralism and Farming in Central Asia’s Mountains: A Research Review Carol Kerven, Bernd Steimann, Laurie Ashley, Chad Dear and Inam-ur-Rahim Background Paper #1 (English, Russian, September 2011, 60 p.)

Commissioned for international symposium Pastoralism in Central Asia: Status, Challenges and Opportu-nities in Mountain Areas, hosted by UCA’s Mountain Societies Research Institute (MSRI) and the Nation Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) North-South, this paper reviews the distinctive characteristics of mountain agro-pastoralism in Central Asia. The paper includes a discussion of past and present research directions and background to farming and raising livestock in the mountains. Key findings focus on bio-physical, climatic, and socio-economic aspects of pasture management and governance and the social and political environments within which agro-pastoralism is practiced in the region. Recommendations for fu-ture research are included.

http://bit.ly/MSRIPastoralismbp-eng