OSCE donates unmanned aerial vehicle to Altyn-Emel national park administration

On 18 September 2021, the OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan handed over a specialized unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to Altyn-Emel national park. The handover took place at the park administration’s headquarters in Baschi village, the Almaty region and included the official signing of a donation agreement.

The UAV was procured by the OSCE Programme Office within the framework of its long-term co-operation with the Forestry and Wildlife Committee of the Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources (Committee), for implementing reconnaissance flights to prevent poaching. Earlier this year, a similar UAV was donated to the Committee’s East Kazakhstan territorial inspectorate, and has been successfully used in monitoring activities.

The donated equipment is expected to perform a wide range of tasks, from tracking poachers in remote areas and monitoring of wild animals, to controlling forest fires. The Office also provided training to the Altyn-Emel national park’s two employees who will administer the UAV during its flight operations.

The event is part of the Programme Office’s multi-year efforts to promote good governance by focusing on combatting poaching in Kazakhstan.