SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENTDIMENSION

UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME IN THE KYRGYZ REPUBLIC

IN THIS ISSUE:

Focus of the Sustainable Development Dimension

Roza Otunbaeva and UNDP draw attention to the problems of areas of new settlements

Development of interstate cooperation on water resources

Balkan experience of interstate water use was studied by members of the Interstate Commission on the use of water resources of the Chu and Talas Rivers

Further steps into the realms of environmental-economic accounting in the Kyrgyz Republic

Experimental ecosystem accounting: study visit in Kyzyl Unkur forestry

Chon-Alai: water of changes

Beekeepers of the Osh region have established breeding of thoroughbred bees

Fight for snow leopard

On June 3, Bishkek held a solemn event dedicated to the World Environment Day and the professional holiday of Kyrgyzstan ecologists - Environment Day of the Kyrgyz Republic, which are celebrated June 5th. The event was organized with support of the UNDP-GEF project “Enhancing Legislative and Institutional Capacity for improvement of national environmental information management and monitoring systems.” The event was attended by representatives of the Government of the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic, as well as international organizations.

Within the celebration, a presentation of the book “Atlas of flora and fauna of protected areas of the Central Tien Shan” was held. The Atlas contains materials about the unique flora and fauna of the Central Tien Shan - one of the most famous and at the same time little-known parts of Central Asia. The book is the first illustrated edition of this nature and is dedicated to the flora and fauna occurring in the Sary-Ertash state reserve and national natural park “Khan Teniri”, as well as adjacent areas of Sary-Jaz river basin.

Focus of the Dimension:5 June - World Environment Day

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Kyrgyzstan-Finland:Towards the Sustainable Business Partnership

4 April 2016 Kyrgyz-Finnish business seminar took place in Bishkek. The main purpose of this event was to improve business cooperation between Kyrgyz Republic and Finland.

The idea was proposed by Mr. Juhani Toivonen, Ambassador at the Department for Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland. Representatives of the Governments of Finland and the Kyrgyz Republic, as well as representatives of the business sector attended the event.

Kyrgyzstan had established diplomatic relations with Finland in 1992. Presently, the parties also have trade relations - for last five years, precious metals waste, shoes, apparels and other products have been exported from Kyrgyzstan to Finland. According to the assessment of the Finnish side, our country has the most liberal and open capital market framework in Central Asia: there are no exchange controls, the tax system is simple, local companies and the individuals are free to transact business internationally.

The seminar was organized within the framework of the regional Aid for Trade in the Central Asia - project, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme and financed by Government of Finland.

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The role of the kyrgyzstan’s youth in achievingsustainable development goalsn 29 April 2016 Bishkek hosted a forum “The Role of the Kyrgyzstan’s Youth in achieving Sustainable Development Goals”, which brought together the leading youth organizations and activists. The main purpose of the forum was to inform young people about Sustainable Development Goals, as well as familiarization with the results of a survey among young people, which was conducted by student organization AIESEC in the Kyrgyz Republic. The survey was aimed at identifying the main problems of youth in areas such as education, economy and health care. The results showed that 40% of young people are worried about the quality of education, 41% of respondents believe that the state plays a key role in addressing these problems.

The forum was organized by the international youth organization AIESEC, with the assistance of the Ministry of Economy and Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Ministry of Education and Science, the State Agency for Youth Affairs, Physical Culture and Sports, with organizational support by UNDP, UNICEF and UNFPA in the Kyrgyz Republic.

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The outcome of the forum was the adoption of a resolution to appeal to the Coordinating Committee on the adaptation, implementation and monitoring of Sustainable Development Goals 2030 in the Kyrgyz Republic, to pay attention to young people, their expertise, willingness to take an active part in the development of the next Country Agenda to 2030, along with the implementation of the SDG in the present and in the future.

Employees of natural reserves of Kyrgyzstan shared their experience in the management of protected areas

On May 11-13 a study tour was organized for the staff of the natural parks of Chu, Naryn and Issyk - Kul regions in the framework of the “Improving the Coverage and Management Effectiveness of Protected Areas in the Central Tien Shan Mountains” project.

The purpose of the tour was to demonstrate the feasibility of natural parks, experience and results of the interaction of parks and local communities. For three days, experts have familiarized with activity of colleagues in the conservation of biodiversity, environmental monitoring, sustainable development and the restoration of damaged natural complexes and work on awareness and eco-education of the population. Particular attention was paid to the participation of natural and legal persons in the management of protected areas and the development of cooperation between the different actors of nature: pasture, forest users, hunters and entrepreneurs providing tourist services. The participants shared their experience, visiting the territory of the state natural parks “Chon-Kemin” and “Salkyn Tor.”

The study tour was attended by representatives of natural parks of “Chon-Kemin” (Chuy olast), “Salkyn Tor” (Naryn region), “Karakol” and “Khan Teniri” (Issyk Kul oblast), as well as representatives of a number of rural councils of Ak-Suu district of the Issyk-Kul region, which remote grazing areas are part of the natural park “Khan Teniri”. In addition, experts of the State Agency of Environment and Forestry, UNDP and GEF conservation projects, “Rural Development Fund”, “Conservation Union Germany (NABU)” made their presentations.

More than 300 young volunteers participated in landscaping of the “Karakol” nature park

The environmental descent took place in the Issyk-Kul region in the framework of international environmental action - “March of Parks 2016”. The event was conducted in the State Nature Park of “Karakol” located in the Ak-Suu district of the Issyk-Kul region with aim to draw attention of the authorities, media, business and community to problems of specially protected natural areas.

More than 300 young volunteers together with their teachers participated in landscaping of the “Karakol” nature park. Students and employees of the Pedagogical College named after I. Biybosunov collected garbage and landscaped ecological trails.

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The Strategy for Medical Waste Managementin the Kyrgyz Republic

Kyrgyz Republic to supply EAEUmarkets with food product

On May 12, 2016 the capital hosted the round table for discussion of the draft Strategy for Medical Waste Management in the Kyrgyz Republic for 2016 - 2020.

The aim of the strategy is to establish an effective health-care waste management systems to minimize wastes and to prevent adverse effects on human health and the environment.

Clinical wastes contain potentially harmful micro-organisms which can infect hospital patients, health professionals and others. Other potential risks of infection may include the spread of drug-resistant microorganisms from health care institutions to the environment. The round table, as well as the work of the interdepartmental group in general, are supported within the project of “Protection of human health and the environment from accidental releases of persistent organic pollutants and mercury as a result of ill-treatment of medical wastes in Kyrgyzstan”, implemented by UNDP with funding from the Global Environment Facility.

On April 26-28 in Issyk-Kul, a joint program of actions was developed for the supply of products of Kyrgyz enterprises to the markets of Kazakhstan and Russia.

The working meeting on “Prospects for supply of food products from Kyrgyzstan to the retail chains in Russia and Kazakhstan” was attended by members of the Association of Fruit and Vegetable

Enterprises of the Kyrgyz Republic, beneficiary companies of the UNDP project, consulting and transport companies of the Kyrgyz Republic, representatives of financial institutions, certification organizations, representatives of ministries and authorities the Kyrgyz Republic, and other development projects. Along with representatives of the domestic business, the meeting was attended by companies from Russia, Turkey, Kazakhstan and Iran. Among them we should note enterprises such as the Russian companies Azbuka Vkusa, X5 Retail Group (retail chains Carousel, Perekryostok, Pyatyorochka), a Russian trading company Amouage, Kazakhstan companies Metro Cash & Carry Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan Logistics Group, the Turkish company Askon, and Iranian company Torai.

The purpose of this event is to develop a joint program of actions for the supply of products of Kyrgyz enterprises to the markets of Kazakhstan and Russia. The meeting participants also discussed the trend of overseas markets and the prospects for the domestic products to access the markets of the Eurasian Economic Union, as well as an action plan to be developed for the supply of fresh and processed products from the Kyrgyz Republic to the markets of Kazakhstan and Russia.

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“Effective cooperation between press services of state bodies and mass media is crucial for information quality”

Chingiz Kubatbekov: «It is a priority for the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic to develop of drinking water supply and sanitation settlements »

Elena Bayalinova, (Expert on effective communications) stated during the working meeting with participation of press secretaries of state institutions and journalists.

During the meeting, participants have openly discussed shortcomings and problems, disputable questions they face in their daily interaction with one another. The work-shop has turned into a unique platform for opinions ex-change. Among the most important problems, participants have highlighted the following: provision of information to mass media in the state language, creation of a pool of ex-perts to comment on various themes, increasing the status of press secretaries, sensationalism and negative informa-tion in mass media and wide range of other issues that were all discussed in the work in groups.

According to the Department of Rural Water Supply and Sanitation of the State Agency for Architecture, Construction and Housing and Communal Services of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic, the territory of the country has 1805 villages, where 595 villages do not have adequate access to centralized drinking water; and in 390 villages there is no water supply network, when population consumes water from open water sources.

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In the Kyrgyz Republic, a finding solution providing the population with clean drinking water and improving sanitation in rural areas is a national priority.

In this regard, on 30 June-1 July 2016, in Bosteri village, there was an extended meeting of the Coordination Commission for the implementation of investment projects in the sphere of drinking water supply, sewerage and sanitation services in the Kyrgyz Republic held.

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Results of the UNDP “Green village” Initiative in two pilot Ugut and Ak-Muz villages of Naryn oblast for last five months

Solar water heating systems were installed on four social infrastructure objects (public school named after Boogachi, hospital, kindergarten in Ak-Muz village and public school named after Bayetov Ugut village), which allow provide hot water and to save annually about 21,600 kWh of electricity .

Energy-efficient LED illuminations were installed on three streets of Ugut village (Kochkonbay uluu Bolot, Moydieva and Akmatova),illuminations in the park of the Victory were improved. Now street lighting are increased on 40% and annual energy savings are about 41 975 kWh.

Four practical training “Do it yourself!” and “green” technologies in agriculture were held for 154 people (42% of them are women). As a result of the training 11 greenhouses for growing vegetables were installed in Ak-Muz village and 10 - in Ugut village. Today about 1,400 local residents, including 300 children can eat fresh vegetables.

Currently, two greenhouses and two biogas plants are being constructed.

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Green economy whichconserves natural capital

Roza Otunbaeva and UNDP draw attention to the problems of areas of new settlements

On June 30 – July 1, 2016, Bishkek hosts international conference on natural capital for the transition to a green economy.

The conference brought together over 100 participants from Central Asia, Eastern Europe and Caucasus: decision-makers and representing ministries of finance, planning, economy, environment and statistics, and representatives of science, civil society and international organizations.

The Forum became a platform for discussion of a concept for assessment and management of natural capital - natural resources and ecosystems, to use it effectively for the transition towards a green economy.

For two days, the conference had multilateral discus-sion of the assessment of natural resources from an economic point of view, to identify the real value of natural capital and its importance in the economy of states.

The conference was organized by the National Statistics Committee, in collaboration with the State Agency of Envi-ronment Protection and Forestry under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic, and with the support of the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), the UNDP – UNEP Poverty-Environment Initiative (PEI).

On 8 April 2016 a tree-planting event took place at the territory of the public school №94. The event was aimed at transformation the space of the school №94, located on the territory of the “Dordoi-1” new settlement, providing a comfortable walking parkland and green infrastructure, to raise awareness of general public on the careful attitude to the environment and to instill a culture of proper planting of

trees and plants and to draw attention of donor and business communities to the initiatives on green transformation of school territories in the new suburbs. This initiative was launched by the International Public Foundation of “Initiative of Roza Otunbayeva” and supported by the UN Development Programme in the Kyrgyz Republic.

Territory of the public school №94 was equipped by energy-efficient solar-powered lighting, bins for separate waste collection and benches for a comfortable stay in the territory. Also proper planting of trees and plants was carried out in collaboration with school students and representatives of the donor community and business sector.

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The planting ceremony was attended by the former President Roza Otunbayeva, Deputy Resident Representative of the UNDP in the Kyrgyz Republic Aliona Niculita, representatives of diplomatic missions in the Kyrgyz Republic, representatives of the Education Department of the Bishkek Mayor Office and other officials, as well as by school students of the school №94, and representatives of the donor community.

Aigul Bolotova, Communication specialist of the“Sustainable Development” program dimension

According to official data for today, there are 48 new suburbs in the outskirts of Bishkek, the popula-tion of which is, according to various sources, 250 - 600 thousand people. In the majority of suburbs, the most basic living conditions, such as clean water, electricity, gas, roads, access to education and health care are missing. There were 19 schools in total built in new suburbs, and only one-third of school-age children attend school. There is crucial lack of parks and recreation areas for children and adults. Often such public areas are spaces around newly built schools. There is an urgent need to develop and refine green areas of new suburbs, where there are practically no green spaces and dusty roads due to lack of coating.

“Territory of new suburbs are in need of green landscaping. Since the “Dordoi-1” new settlement is located close to the market, where is a lot of dust, children need fresh air, it is necessary to inculcate the ability to plant trees, care for them, and the culture of saving their native land for the sake of their future, and the future of the next generations. It is necessary that the children have learned to understand that the environment and nature depends on how we treat them”

the ex-president of the Kyrgyz Republic Roza Otunbayeva.

Development of interstatecooperation on water resources

Water is a valuable resource that is a heritage for present and future generations in Central Asia.

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In soviet times the water authorities closely cooperated within the central management system. After the states of the region became independent, new approaches for regulating interstate water relations had to be developed. One of the examples of successful water management relations is the cooperation of Kazakh and Kyrgyz governments for international exploitation of water management facilities on Chu and Talas rivers that was established in January 2000. It provides a platform for a dialog on water resources between two countries that is based on good neighborhood and collaboration principles. This agreement contains commitment of Kazakhstan to reimburse part of Kyrgyz expenses for maintenance of water channels, dams and reservoirs that are located in Kyrgyzstan but supply water to both countries. According to this agreement, an international commission was created for managing water facilities of international use on Chu and Talas rivers.

In September 2014 UNDP with support from Global Ecologic Fund (GEF) has started implementation of the project “Promoting cross-border cooperation and integrated water management in Chu and Talas basins” that is targeted for improving monitoring and evaluation of water use in the basins of these cross-border rivers. Additionally, this project has to improve skills and knowledge of local communities in balanced water management and decreasing negative impact on ecosystems of these watersheds. Thanks to this initiative, a cooperation for the inclusion of ecological issues in cross-border water management has been

extended for a broader number of stakeholders. The experts of GEF and UNDP share their expertise both on regional and local levels in order to increase the understanding of circumstances of cross-border water management in Chu and Talas basins.

On April 20 of this year the 21st meeting of The Commission for International Water Management on Chu and Talas Rivers took place in Taraz, Kazakhstan. At this meeting GEF and UNDP made a suggestion to develop a cross-border diagnostic analysis (CBDA) in Chu and Talas rivers. CBDA is a process that is built on the extensive experience of GEF in many cross-border basins in the world for analysis of quality and quantity of water, as well as ecosystems of basins. The Commission instructed its secretariat to create a working group for developing CBDA, the final report for which has to be submitted in two months. This work will identify and analyze the main cross-border issues, their causes and consequences, and suggest recommendations for the next three years’ operations of the Commission.

Creation of such initiatives as The Commission for International Water Management on Chu and Talas Rivers is an example of successful cooperation for peaceful and mutually beneficial water use of cross-border rivers. The project of GEF and UNDP is an example of how international organizations can facilitate to such cooperation. Hopefully, this experience on Chu and Talas rivers would be replicated in other river basins of Central Asia.

More than one million people live in the area of two watersheds in Djambul oblast of Kazakhstan. In three oblasts of Kyrgyzstan about 1.2 million people live in Chu watershed, and more than 220 thousand people in Talas watershed. In both watersheds agriculture is the most important sector of economy: crops on irrigated lands and pastures have been gradually increasing and now constitute more than two thirds of total agriculture. According to several experts, technical condition of water supply and drainage systems is not satisfactory and, in some cases, even poses ecological threat. It is caused by lack of funds for renovation of infrastructure that has not been done properly since 1991.

Daniyar Jakypov, PR Consultant of the“Sustainable Development” program dimension

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Balkan experience of interstate water use was studied by members of the Interstate Commission on the use of water resources of the Chu and Talas Rivers

Photo source: http://www.savacommission.org

In May this year, the members of the Interstate Commission on the use of water resources of the Chu and Talas Rivers visited the city of Zagreb, Croatia, to study the experience of the Balkan colleagues. A study tour was organized by the Global Environment Fund (GEF) and UNDP in the framework of the “Promotion of cross-border cooperation and integrated water resources management in the Chu and Talas rivers” project. Members of the Commission, representing state bodies of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan on water resources management, went to study a solid experience of the International Sava River Basin Commission (ISRBC) - a transboundary river, which flows through the territory of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia.

Sava takes its origins in the mountains of Slovenia, carries its waters to a distance of 945 km and flows into Danube near the capital of Serbia - Belgrade. After dissolution of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in the early 90-ies, the Sava River, which was the biggest national river, has become an international river of recognized importance. The four riparian countries of the Sava River Basin: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia have entered into cooperation process known as the “Initiative for the Sava River Basin” The process led to the adoption of “Memorandum of Understanding” in 2001 on the start of joint operations about the river Sava and its tributaries. Basic idea of the Sava Initiative contained in the “Letter of Intent” was to utilize, protect and control the Sava River Basin water resources in a manner

that would enable “better life conditions and raising the standard of population in the region”, and to find appropriate institutional frame in order to enhance the cooperation. The result of the strengthening of cooperation in this process was the Framework Agreement on the Sava river basin (FASRB) - the unique international agreement, which integrated all aspects of water resources management and established the international commission on the Sava river basin (ISRBC) for the implementation of the agreement of 2002.

During the week, members of the Kyrgyz - Kazakh delegation got acquainted with the activities of the ISRBC. On the first day, officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Management of Croatia bodies held for detailed study presentations, followed by discussion of opportunities for future cooperation of the ISRBC and the Commission on the Chu – Talas rivers. Then the Central Asian delegation visited the refinery wastewater in Zagreb, where they directly got acquainted with the advanced European technologies of cleaning of drains from a 800,000th population city. After a visit to the factory, the ISRBC organized for the guests a meeting with representatives of non-governmental and business organizations with whom the Commission has established cooperation on water issues. Members of the Kyrgyz - Kazakh delegation were told how ISRBC managed to establish partnership with NGOs and business, and how it helps in achieving the Commission’s objectives.

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Very interesting visit was to the city of Shishak, which is the main river port in the upper reaches of the river Sava. Despite the fact that on the Chu and Talas rivers there is no shipping, the guests were interested in knowing how river navigation and fishing are regulated, and how to build a system of engineered hydraulic works in this part of the Sava.

The Croatian side has decided to diversify the visit for guests from Central Asia, and on the third day “has withdrawn them from water” by inviting to the natural park of Lonzhsko Pole. However, there were organized presentations on the prevention of floods, river preservation of biodiversity and the local tourism development in the river basin.

After saturated field trips, on the final day, the members of the ISRBC and the Commission on Chu - Talas rivers again gathered at the round table, to express a firm commitment to collaborate and execute to the signing of a memorandum of understanding. In particular, the parties agreed to exchange experience in the maintenance of water quality: wastewater management and clean-up, the introduction of treatment technologies on the experience at the Zagreb refinery. In addition, the ISRBC members will hold a series of trainings to prevent and combat the effects of floods. Experience of Sava will be implemented on the Chu and Talas rivers also in the field of involvement of NGOs and businesses in the process of implementing an effective water use and

conservation of the river basin. Separately, it was noted the creation of an information system for the exchange and storage of meteorological data of the river basin - the Balkan side pledged to help with this innovation to its Central Asian partners.

In general, members of the Kyrgyz - Kazakh delegation noted the great potential that they have acquired in the course of this study tour. This summer, a regular meeting of the Interstate Commission on the use of water resources in the Chu and Talas river basins will be held, where all participants will be acquainted with the results of the study tour to Croatia, and will prepare the final text of the agreement on cooperation with the Balkan colleagues.

The ISRBC actively works with local communities to raise awareness of the need for rational water use and conservation of the Sava River. As part of this work, popular activities are carried out, and one of them is - white water rafting - whereto the guests from Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan were also invited to participate. Together with members of the ISRBC they made river rafting, stopping and taking part in meetings and informational interviews with local residents of coastal villages.

Photo by Gulzira Muktarova

Daniyar Jakypov, PR Consultant of the“Sustainable Development” program dimension

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On the way to implementing the sustainable development priorities, the Kyrgyz Republic has been launching new initiatives to support their implementation. One of these initiatives is the System of Environmental and Economic Accounting and Experimental Ecosystems Accounting (SEEA-EEA). There is political will and motivation to introduce the SEEA-EEA international framework, which will enable the integration of environmental factors into the system of major economic indicators of development.

Instead of separate economic and environmental statistical indicators, the Kyrgyz Republic will develop a comprehensive set of interrelated economic-environmental indicators in line with the international statistical standard to make sustainable decisions and policies. Such a result will be possible thanks to the expert support of Czech consultants from the Department of Human Dimensions of Global Change, Global Change Research Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences (CzechGlobe). This project is jointly funded by the Czech Trust Fund and UNDP-UNEP Poverty and Environment Initiative (PEI) in the Kyrgyz Republic within the framework of the project entitled “Sharing of Czech Experience: Piloting SEEA-EEA in the Kyrgyz Republic”. This 6-month project will work closely with the National Statistical Committee (NSC), The State Agency for Environment Protection and Forestry (SAEPF) and the UNDP-UNEP PEI to provide the Kyrgyz Republic with what it needs to successfully start implementing the SEEA-EEA.

In early 2015, a scoping mission from a Czech expert found the policy background in the Kyrgyz Republic to be adequate for developing SEEA-EEA, as well as a need for capacity strengthening. Based on the results of this scoping mission, the Czech team of four experts conducted data-mapping and in-depth stakeholder consultations in March 2016 to design a capacity-building programme and experimental ecosystems accounting in a selected pilot territory.

SEEA-EEA provides decision makers with just what they need to make smart decisions affecting the economy, the environment and the social development. There are obvious economic and social benefits of protecting nature and development cannot take place without taking into account natural capital. The NSSD highlights that the 2013-2017 economic development policy is aimed at ensuring efficient use of national natural resources. Provision of updated and quality data on interlinkages between the economy and environment is essential to achieve this smart growth in the country.

The introduction of SEEA-EEA will help the Kyrgyz government with developing robust evidence-based knowledge and policy advice for implementation of its National Strategy for Sustainable Development and its National Biodiversity Strategy. For example, the National Biodiversity Strategy adheres to Aichi Biodiversity Target 2 of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), which commits countries to evaluating biodiversity and ecosystem services and integrating these assessments into national accounts by 2020 (CBD, 2010). SEEA-EEA can help the Kyrgyz Republic do just that.

“The introduction of SEEA-EEA will also have significance in delivering on the forthcoming Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SEEA provides a measurement framework that underpins the environmental and economic aspects of many of the SDG indicators,” - David Vačkář, Lead Expert, CzechGlobe. It is also expected that the SEEA can contribute to the broader strengthening of national statistical systems and their adaptation to changing data landscapes.

Further steps into the realms of environmental-economic accounting in the Kyrgyz Republic

Photo by Augustin Roncin

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Overall, SEEA-EEA will contribute to improving conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and ecosystems within the country, to the benefit of all. As the Kyrgyz Republic is now the first country in Central Asia to start using SEEA-EEA, we wait with excitement to see how this project will help the Kyrgyz Republic lead the region in green accounting and provide an example on how decisions can be made that deliver on the economy, society and the environment.

The Kyrgyz Republic holds all the cards to successfully meet the challenge of implementing Experimental Ecosystem Accounting, which in turn would make the country a worldwide pioneer in that respect. The team of experts from the Czech Republic visiting Kyrgyzstan from May 16th to May 22nd, along with national stakeholders and PEI, were all bearing in mind the great challenge ahead of them while visiting the forestry of Kyzyl Unkur. The forestry, located in the heart of the majestic walnut forest near Arslanbob, was chosen to host the pilot project, which will run until the end of 2016. Being part of a broader framework developed by the UNSTATS, namely System of Economic-Ecological Accounting (SEEA), Experimental Ecosystem accounting (EEA) aims at capturing all economic and non-economic inflows and outflows deriving from an identified ecosystem (such as tourism, contribution of forest to retain water or the collection of walnuts). The data deriving from ecosystem accounting are relevant tools to assist policy-makers in taking decisions in compliance with sustainable development goals. When David Vačkář, leading expert of the project, declared in his introduction speech that « the project aims at bringing the importance of nature into numbers », the very essence of those words were as groundbreaking as Galileo’s declaration: « The Book of Nature is written in the language of mathematics ». However, contrary to the latter, David’s audience welcomed those words with a vivid interest.

After our arrival at Kyzyl Unkur, a sizable assembly of different stakeholders (walnut trees tenants, medicinal herbs collectors, honey-makers, etc.) gathered in the shadow of a big tree to discuss and collect information. The exchange of information was significant in many respects: first of all, a great amount of data was presented, from spatial units to type of products collected from the forest. Wild apples, walnuts, mushrooms, honey and livestock were also subject to a lively debate between the assembly members to distinguish the proportion between what is used as personal consumption and as commodity product. The collection of information, which resulted from the consultation of stakeholders, was all the more fruitful that the director of the forestry did not hesitate to dig into archives to obtain quantified data, some of them dating back to the Soviet times.

Charlotte Whitham and Zuzana Harmackova, Consultants/Czech Globe and Gulnara Abdykalykova, UNDP-UNEP PEI KR

Experimental Ecosystem Accounting: Study visit in Kyzyl Unkur forestry

Photo by Augustin Roncin

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Secondly, the several meetings held during the two days’ visit contributed to inventory all data availabilities and develop methodology to design the questionnaire given out to a great number of inhabitants of the region afterwards. The questionnaire, along with the collaboration of State agencies, should enable the group of experts to provide with a first version of the EEA project by September. Far from being free of challenges, the project’s future is heavily dependent on the stakeholder’s commitment. The expectations in terms of collection of information should not be overestimated and rather focus on the methodology developed so as to enhance capacity-building. Nonetheless, the study visit highlighted the potential of the EEA project to successfully capture the forest ecosystem and contribute to a better management of forestry resources, meeting people’s yearning for better living conditions.

Indeed, some inhabitants complained about the lack of productivity, the uncertainty of yearly yields or the absence of business opportunities stemming from the area. Addressing these issues by designing new statistics, through census, mapping, resources management or tourism statistics will help revitalizing the economic activity. That is why the project carries the hope to be up-scaled at the country level in order to obtain a global vision of the entire ecosystem in Kyrgyzstan and promote green growth, a vision confirmed by Baktygul Ysabekova, from the NSC: “As soon as the government and the business community see what profit and income can be obtained on the basis of our ecosystem, they will pay attention to this sector. Through this system of accounting, we will be able to attract a lot of investment (tourism, real sector: medicinal plants, wood products, to establish their import). Also, the state can allocate more subsidies to it as to a profitable sector (region)”.

After all, we felt we had collected our own walnuts, those who feed the scientist appetite to quantify the environment. We have also worked hand in hand with the national stakeholders, mainly SAEPF and NSC, showing a great support to the project and willingness to move faster and further. The final mission of the Czech Trust Fund will take place later in 2016 to discuss the stakeholders’ requirements and to analyze the information collected through questionnaires. With such a system of Experimental Ecosystem Accounting in place, no other Alexander the Great will be able to take walnuts away from the forest without people knowing it!

Photo by Augustin Roncin

A glimpse from a Frenchman

Inviting Europeans experts to Kyrgyzstan made me question how was France performing in that respect. Despite a programme launched in 2013, France is still at the very beginning of an ecosystem accounting. However, experts provided evidence-based results by scaling-up environmental accounting to the national level through focusing on one specific ecosystem service: pollination. Results were eloquent: the economic value created by pollinator insects accounts for € 2,9 bn in the total € 32,5 bn of crops production dedicated to consumption in France in 2010. Further data stemmed from that research, like an index of vulnerability by regions. Not only did the programme brought relevant and synthetic conclusions but it showed the importance of ecosystem service in the French economy an

Augustin Roncin, an intern of the“Sustainable Development” program dimension

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CHON-ALAI: WATER OF CHANGESNearly three thousand Karamyk villagers in Chon-Alai rayon of Osh oblast have access to clean drinking water.

The border village of Karamyk in Chon-Alai rayon of Osh oblast, with a population of 2,800 citizens, is one of the most remote villages of our country. Lack of access to drinking water in the village, which is located at an altitude of 2400 meters above sea level was quite complicated due to utter absence of drinking water supply system. Quite a lot of efforts required to do that. Thanks to the hard work of the local community and UNDP Osh-Area Based De-velopment Programme initiative, the installation of a water pipe with a total length of 6.5 km to the spring, where the inhabitants had to carry water from, was completed in 2015 with the financial support of Coca-Cola Company.

Water examination in the spring showed its suitability for drinking. The volume of water delivery through the pipe is six to seven liters per second. The reservoir and chlorination were installed in the village that allow households, local school, medical and obstetric clinic and kindergarten access for safe drinking water. The project was prior-itized by the local development strategy of local aiyl aimak. Funds were allocated from the local budget to support the works of the project by the decision of the local kenesh members.

The project is also working with the Health Committee of the local school, teachers, parents and health professionals to improve understanding of population on sanitary rules through information campaigns, workshops and distribu-tion of information materials.

Sustainability of the project results will be maintained by the rural public association of drinking water consumers (Association), which was created for the first time in the Aiyl Aimak based on the successful experience of UNDP in the Osh region. Association will be in charge of maintenance of the new water supply system and charge users for its services.

“Thanks to the project, our lives have changed for the better. Now we don’t have to pack animals to carry jars and buckets as well as no need to use the water from the canal, which is polluted in the seasonal periods during rainfall and movement of livestock to pastures. Now we may spend more time taking care of children and do pleasant homework”.

Kanym Myrzaeva, resident of the village

Photo by Mavluda Khodzhaeva

Mavliuda Khodzhaeva, Communications Specialist UNDP Osh Area Based Development Programme

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In the Sary-Be canyon of Kara Kuldzha rayon of Osh oblast, local beekeepers created a buffer zone for the devel-opment of bee breeding. This zone is a protective section for the development of livestock breeding to improve the marketability of bee products and the preservation of bee species that are in the breeding apiary of queen bees and bee colonies. Within a radius of at least 20 km buffer zone, it is prohibited an importation of other honey bees, bee colonies and queens of unknown origin. This is the first buffer zone in Kyrgyzstan, which was established as a pilot, and which, in addition to the conservation and breeding of pedigreed bees, prevents the spread of diseases and par-asites that will have a positive impact on the quality of honey produced here.

The buffer zone was opened 16 April this year as part of measures to build and strengthen the added value chain for honey in the Kara-Kuldzha rayon. This is a joint achievement of the UNDP “Trade Support” project in Osh oblast and partners: “AgroLead” NGO and “Too Baly” Community unit.

“In this buffer zone there are six operating beekeepers, who, in addition to honey production, sell purebred queens, since we are receiving requests for them from other oblasts. Now Kyrgyz beekeepers have an oppor-tunity to buy pedigreed bees at an affordable price, while before importing of queens costed beekeepers a tidy sum,” the beekeeper Emil Sydykov, Head of the “Too Kapchygai baly” Community unit.

“We are pleased to announce this is the first such a buffer zone in the Kyrgyz Republic. In the near future it is planned to create other buffer zones in seperate area, but with other breeds of bees,” Kayirkul Kazylaeva, Project manager of the “AgroLead” NGO.

“The UNDP “Aid for Trade” project, in the framework of the strengthening of the added value chain, conducts a number of activities for the production of quality honey to enter the external and internal markets of the Kyrgyz Republic. Currently, we conducted a series of trainings and consultations for pilot beekeepers in Kara-Kulja rayon and a demo day for the opening of the buffer beekeeping area became a platform for informing the local population about creation and development of this area,”- said Azamat Kasymov, Coordinator of the UNDP “Aid for Trade” Project in Osh oblast.

Beekeepers of the Osh region have established breeding of thoroughbred bees

Photo by Azamat Kasymov

This project was initiated by UNDP in partnership with the Ministry of Economy of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Chamber of Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic and the State Enterprise of “Centre of one window principle in foreign trade” in 2014. The main objective of the project is to support domestic economic growth, through the promotion of trade and strengthening the competitiveness of manufacturers in the country, to reduce poverty and improve the livelihoods of people in Batken, Naryn, Osh and Jalal-Abad oblasts, since in these oblasts there is a biggest level of poverty according to statistics. In particular, at the micro-level, the project is working to support farmers, small businesses and cooperatives that produce agricultural products, as well as manufacturers of handicraft goods.

Daniyar Jakypov, PR Consultant of the“Sustainable Development” program dimension

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Fight for snow leopard

In November 2013 The World Wide Fund officially recognized the western African black rhino as an extinct species. I learned about it recently from social media, and frankly, I was very upset. It turns out that the last time the black rhino was seen in 2006.

Perhaps to the majority of our fellow citizens this news would seem far and not concerning them. Why care about one rhino species extinction in far Africa, as there are more species of rhinos out there, so why should we bother… Well, we better should and here’s why. The fact is that in Kyrgyzstan, as in many African countries, there are several areas of habitation of rare and extinct animals, and one of the reasons why these species might disappear is the same as for black rhinos in Africa – poaching and extermination by people.

In spring 2015 the picture of a hunter posing with a shot snow leopard caused a wave of huge resentment in Kyrgyz social media. It was revealed that it was a famous Russian businessman, and this picture could be taken either in our mountains or in Siberia – where snow leopards also exist. I even wrote an electronic appeal to the President of Russia Vladimir Putin because he personally oversees Russian program for conservation of snow leopard. I immediately received responses from the Russian Ministry of Nature Protection and the Ministry of Internal Affairs that they started investigation, but, unfortunately, this man was not brought to justice. No one knows how many leopards were shot in total by poachers.

In 2012 an international meeting in Bishkek approved recommendations for conservation of snow leopards

and their alpine ecosystems. A year later, The National Strategy for Conservation of Snow Leopard in Kyrgyz Republic was approved for ten years. The government agencies - such as The State Agency for Nature Protection and Forestry - in coordination with national and international partner organizations implement a number of ecological projects targeted to preserve snow leopard’s population in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan.

In particular, UNDP with financial support from WWF implement programs for protection of ecosystems in Central Tian-Shan. As part of these programs, the project entitled “Improving the effectiveness of the coverage and management of protected areas in the mountains of Central Tian-Shan” has been implemented since 2013. The main goal of this project is preserving the globally important biodiversity of mountainous ecosystems of Central Tian-Shan through strengthening systems of protected areas. This work doesn’t limit itself to creation of new protected areas and reserves. It is planned to introduce not only policy changes, but also to promote changes in the lifestyle of local people. The latter measure is necessary not only because limitations of nature use in protected areas have to be substantiated, but also to engage local population to the activities of these protected areas. For this purpose, the project plans a huge work to provide

Photo courtesy: Dauletbakov A.

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local people with alternative sources of income, which serves to rational resource exploitation along with improvements in lifestyle.

A new project for conserving biodiversity in ecosystems of Western Tian-Shan has been prepared. During the seminar that took place on April 15, the representatives of the State Agency for Nature Protection and Forestry, the scientists of biology and land institute of National Academy of Science of Kyrgyzstan, and directors of protected areas of Western Tian-Shan together with UNDP experts discussed the concept of this new

A little more than one hundred years ago, there were tigers – so called ”transcaucasian” or “Turan” tigers – living in our region. Transcaucasian tiger lived in reeds on Central Asian rivers, in Iran and in Caucasus. This tiger was able to run for more than 100 kilometers which is why it was called “wandering” leopard, or “jolbors”, “yulbars”. For centuries local people peacefully cohabitated with tiger and did not consider him dangerous. Despite of the fact that in Islam it is prohibited to depict living creatures, this tiger was an exemption from rules – it had been depicted on fabrics and carpets. Gradually, this species of tiger disappeared: after people cultivated lands on river banks by turning them to agriculture fields, wild boars and roe deers left these areas and tigers lost their feeding. Last time Transcaucasian tiger was seen was in 1957 in delta of Amudarya.

Despite of technical progress and development of civilization, I hope that we will learn to coexist in harmony with nature and surrounding world and that snow leopard will not have the same destiny as Transcaucasian tiger. I hope our descendants would be able to observe and take pictures of living snow leopards in Kyrgyz mountains. It is remarkable that there are initiatives and organizations that target their efforts to protect extinct species of animals and plants in Kyrgyzstan and that the government is also concerned about this issue. However, without full public support for protection of ecology, without strict measures against poaching and illegal fishing, as well as active oversight of civil society on these measures, the efforts to protect the environment would be in vain. And while I was writing this note, more than hundred species of animals and plants have disappeared and this happens day by day…

project. With a budget of $16 million, this project has to complement current programs that are targeted for protection of ecosystems of Central Tian-Shan. These initiatives complement each other geographically for the maximum protection of biodiversity and sustainability of Tian-Shan as an ecoregion. One of the goals of this project is to increase habitation areas of snow leopard through recovery of five thousand hectares of forests in the state nature parks Alatai and Kanachuu in which there are migration trails of snow leopard.

Photo source: http://crazy-zoologist.livejournal.com/495466.html

Daniyar Jakypov, PR Consultant of the“Sustainable Development” program dimension

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“Without reliable information, we can not improve the lives of the population” - a new form of statistics to improve rural water supply

More than 70 district staff of the National Statistical Committee and heads of NGOs of Rural Drinking Water Users’ Unions (RDWUU) from Naryn, Talas, Chui and Issyk-Kul oblasts underwent a two-day training on the correct filling of a new form of statistical reporting “1- Drinking water in rural areas”.

The form was developed and put into use in 2015 in the framework of the GoAL WaSH UNDP “Environment Protection for Sustainable Development” project and the first results were received this year. As they showed, while the respondents are not capable to fill it, as well as accounting bodies are not always able to analyze them. Therefore, the National Statistical Committee and the Department of the drinking water supply of the State Agency for Architecture, Construction and Housing and Communal Services of the Kyrgyz Republic, with the support of GoAl WaSH UNDP, organized seminars on co-education of the respondents (RDWUUs), and those who receive reports on a new form (district statistical committees).

“The government has committed itself to ensure that every citizen has access to water, and in the National Strategy for Sustainable Development there is an entire section dedicated to drinking water. The National Statistical Committee, as a body to collect data on the basis of which decisions are made, must contribute to its implementation. After all, if we cannot measure something, we cannot manage that effectively. Therefore, specifically for the village, a statistical reporting form was developed, which is called “1 - Drinking water in rural areas.” On the basis of these data, we can manage more effectively the sector of water supply in rural areas,” says Ms. Kanykei Orozbaeva, head of the statistics department of sustainable development of the environment of the National Statistics Committee.

The head of department of development of water supply and sanitation department of drinking water supply of the State Agency for Architecture, Construction and Housing and Utilities Ms. Shayyrgul Orozbakieva also agreed on that: “The country has 633 rural drinking water users’ unions (RDWUU). Water supply systems in villages are on the budget of rural administrations and RDWUU, and, accordingly, they have filled reports on its condition. With support by UNDP, we conducted trainings for them in Batken, Jalal-Abad and Osh oblasts on the new reporting form. As a result, we will have a picture of the state of water infrastructure in rural areas: technical specifics, which villages have water-supply, state of pipes, leaking and etc”.

This was the first seminar of proper training on statistical reporting in 2016 for northern regions of the Kyrgyz Republic. Within a month the NSC and Department of drinking water development, with support of GoAL WaSH UNDP, will organize trainings for the southern regions of the country.