OSCE Centre supports discussion on water management and green economy development in Kazakhstan

KYZYLORDA, Kazakhstan, 10 July 2013 – An international conference on best practices in integrated water resource management as part of the Kazakhstan’s national strategy on the transition to a green economy began in Kyzylorda today.

The event was co-organized by the OSCE Centre in Astana and the Executive Directorate of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) in Kazakhstan with the support of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the United Nations Development Program.

More than over 60 central and local government officials, representatives of IFAS from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, business, academia and, international and non-governmental organizations will discuss integrated water resource management in the Syrdariya River Basin and across borders in Central Asia, and help elaborate priority areas for pilot green economy projects in the Kyzylorda region.

“A Kazakh proverb asserts that when nature is sound, people are healthy. We must unite our efforts under a common strategy which can lead us to a sustainable development and society,” said Ambassador Natalia Zarudna, Head of the OSCE Centre in Astana at the opening.

“The national strategy ‘Kazakhstan – 2050’ tasked the Government to ensure a stable water supply to the people and the agriculture. Environmental components of the water resources - such as stability of the ecosystems, development of fisheries, ecotourism, and preservation of natural resources - should not be infringed in favour of the industrial development," said Yerkebulan Bekzhanov, Head of the Natural resources and environmental control division of the Kyzylorda regional government.

"The co-operation of IFAS in the sphere of environmental and water resources management with the OSCE and the other international organizations brought visible positive results. Now we can speak of best integrated water resource management practices in Kazakhstan's part of the Aral Sea, which can be used in other areas and river basins in Central Asia," said Demesin Nurmaganbetov, Deputy Chairman of the Executive Committee of IFAS.

The meeting will be followed by an "EcoMedia Troopers” study tour for journalists and participants from Central Asia to the Aral Sea area on 11 and 12 July aimed at raising public awareness of the environmental and socio-economic challenges of the region.

The event in Kyzylorda is part of the Centre’s efforts to promote a green economy across Kazakhstan.