December 2012: A joint initiative by the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the Global Environment Fund (GEF) and the Government of Kazakhstan has helped salvage and protect Kazakhstan’s wetlands, UNDP has reported. Since the initiative began in 2003, seven sites have been declared protected areas, illegal fishing has decreased, and local residents have developed eco-friendly business ventures.

After joining the initiative on “Integrated conservation of priority global significant migratory wetlands habitat,” Kazakhstan ratified the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar Convention). As a result, more than 1.6 million hectares have become nationally protected areas and two nature reserves have become the first in Central Asia on the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage list.

UNDP helped Kazakhstan to revise its water code and introduce restrictions on the use of water in wetlands. In addition, new regulations on fishing and hunting resulted in a 45% decrease in illegal fishing in the Ural River Delta between 2004 and 2010.

UNDP also launched an entrepreneurship progamme in rural communities to support eco-friendly business ventures, such as creating fish ponds, building greenhouses and manufacturing souvenirs. The initiative also aimed to raise awareness on biodiversity and wetlands through educational material, media outreach campaigns and trainings. [UNDP Press Release]