PROJECT PROPOSAL

Applicant: Center of Remote Sensing and GIS «TERRA»

133 Maulenova Str., Kazakhstan 480072 Аlmaty

tel.: +8 (3272) 915688; fax: +8 (3272) 917938

e-mail: terra@nursat.kz

www.gis-terra.kz

Contact persons: . N.P. Оgar, Dr Bio.Sc; B.V.Geldyyev, Cand Geo.Sc

Project Name: Ecological Zoning of the Kazakh Caspian Sea Sector Using GIS Technologies and Remote Sensing

Partners of the project:

1) Institute of botany and phytointroduction ME & S Republic of Kazakhstan

2) Physics-Technical Institute ME & S Republic of Kazakhstan

Substantiation

Anthropogenic impacts on the ecosystems of the Caspian Sea and coastal area have increased sharply due to intensive development of hydrocarbon resources, expansion of infrastructure associated with their exploration, production and transportation. That poses a threat to biodiversity and preservation of the integrity of the largest, unique intracontinental water body of the planet. In order to find an optimal compromise between the development of mineral and biological resources of the sea and the preservation of natural ecosystems and their biodiversity in view of the reaction to existing and potential impacts, the project on ECOLOGICAL ZONING of the Kazakh Caspian Sea Sector is proposed.

Pursuant to the Resolution of the Soviet of Ministers of KazSSR #252 dated April 30, 1974 a water area of the North Caspian was defined as the natural preservation zone. By Resolution #284 dated July 13, 1978, a water area and floodplain of Ural River were incorporated into the natural preservation zone.

Pursuant to the Law of RoK on Specially Protected Natural Territories, Article 48 a document has been developed on Special ecological requirements in the State preservation zone in the northern part of the Caspian Sea. These requirements have been approved by the Governmental Resolution #1087 dated July 3, 1999. They deal with a natural management regime, special actions for protection of bioresources, ecological monitoring objectives, issues related control and responsibility as well as the role of the community in the decision making process.

The paragraph 4 of this Resolution, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of Agriculture of Kazakhstan were instructed, in accordance with the procedure established by the law, to ensure execution of a verified zoning of the territory of the state natural preservation zone in the northern part of the Caspian Sea by not later than July 1, 2000 and submit proposals for their approval to the Government of RoK.

MNREP has twice invited tenders for conducting such works but the offered amount of financing did not meet the specified requirements to ensure high-quality execution of the tasks set.

Therefore, to date the clause 4 of the Governmental Resolution #1087 dated 3.07.1999 has not been executed yet. This fact impedes the process of taking managerial decisions and management in the issues related to natural management and environmental protection in the Caspian Sea region on the national as well as intergovernmental levels. The ecological zoning is required as a basis for alternative options of development of mineral and biological resources, control and normalization of natural management and execution of Kazakhstan’s obligations under Conventions such as:

- preservation of biodiversity;

- desertification control (coastal areas);

- civil responsibility for damage caused by oil pollution;

- safety of living organisms in the sea;

- international trade in endangered species of wild flora and fauna;

- protection and use of trans-bordering water courses and international lakes;

- trans-border impact of industrial accidents;

- protection of water-swamp areas.

Since an entire water area of the sea lies in the sphere of interests of oil industry we believe that in this work one should not limit oneself only to the natural preservation zone of the North Caspian. The entire Kazakh part including the Central Caspian that is associated with great oil transportation prospects, should be covered.

The importance and gravity of the problem necessitate using advanced approaches to their solution. The ecological zoning should be based on reliable actual materials of offshore and land field surveys including a comprehensive assessment of biotic and abiotic components with due regard for diversity of factors of potential impact and their cumulative effect. To this effect an analysis is required of existing data including results of ecological monitoring of oil companies (“Agip KCO”, “TengizChevroil”, etc) and supplementary field surveys to study seasonal sensitivity of biota (spawning of sturgeons, breeding of birds, etc), to identify habitats of rare and vanishing species with qualitative evaluation of their populations.

All the produced information should be organized at an advanced level into mapping models and electronic data bases based on GIS technologies (geoinformation system) and remote sensing (space imagery). This will make it possible to fill it with new data, keep it updated and model and predict the given “scenarios” of natural management and protection.

A basis for the ecological zoning in GIS will be a series of mapping models created with the use of latest space images: maps of ecosystems, biotic sensitivity; seasonal migrations of commercial species of fish, birds, etc., present-day infrastructure and others reflecting various aspects of social-economic conditions and nature-resource potential of the region.

The GIS-based ecological zoning will make it possible to plan efficient actions in potential accidents and emergency situations and to carry out the required cartometric calculations. Ecological zoning operations will be published in mass media including creation of a special ecological television program.

An experience of conducting such works and required staff potential is available in Kazakhstan.

Since similar problems concern all the Precaspian states it will be an ideal option to create a map for the water area and coast of the entire Caspian Sea. TERRA can undertake obligations to organize and conduct such works. Taking into account that the project for the entire Caspian Sea will require high financial costs, this proposal applies to the Kazakh Sector only.

Execution Period – 2 years

Amount of financing – USD 550 000