OSCE supports study on wetlands conservation in Chu river basin

Kazakhstan’s part of the working group on environmental protection under the Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Chu-Talas Water Commission (Commission) held a meeting on 12 November 2021 in Almaty. The meeting was organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan in co-operation with the Commission and the Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan.

Some 20 participants discussed the findings and recommendations of the OSCE-supported study on needs assessment for the conservation of wetlands in the Chu river basin. This study was implemented from July to November 2021 in co-operation with the Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan. It was carried out by four national experts specialized in ichthyofauna, ornithology, geobotany and hydrology. The meeting’s objective was to  evaluate the condition of wetlands in the lower reaches of Kazakhstan’s part of the Chu river basin, with a follow-up action plan to preserve critical ecosystems. The study results will be discussed at the 9th meeting of the Working Group on Environmental Protection under the Commission's Secretariat .

The Chu river basin is shared by Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. In response to emerging challenges such as climate change, it is necessary to take preventive and adaptive measures to preserve ecosystems, ensuring a balance of ecological protection and socio-economic development.  

The Chu-Talas Water Commission promotes bilateral co-operation between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, with the goal of improving access to information by involving stakeholders in the process of joint river basin management and promoting activities for the protection of ecosystems.

The event is part of the Programme Office’s multi-year efforts to raise awareness and to build capacity of state institutions in the area of water governance by contributing to the transboundary dialogue on managing water resources.