The preservation of the
ecosystems of the Caspian and Aral Sea basins, along with the minimization of
flood consequences in the region, are important objectives. In pursuit of these
goals, a dedicated international fund has been established in Kazakhstan.
According to its founder, Zhanbolat Nadyrov, the organization’s goals align
with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's call to pay special attention to
water-related issues. Additionally, at the SPECA Summit in Baku, the Head of
State proposed that countries unite to jointly address climate change and
environmental issues, as well as efficiently manage transboundary water
resources. The Kazakh President emphasized that solving these issues individually
is impossible, citing the Aral Sea situation as an example, as the consequences
of its drying affect not only countries in the region but also beyond its
borders. The fund believes that addressing water issues should begin with
small-scale research and engineering projects, one of which involves the
exploration of the Yertis and Yessil rivers. In this regard, a comprehensive
research project was conducted in collaboration with the Kazakh Scientific
Research Institute of Water Management, initiated by the international
organization in the autumn of this year.
“Exploring the lower reaches of
the Yessil River will be highly beneficial for us. It will contribute to the
development of territories of the former Torgai region, now comprising the
southern part of the Kostanai region, the southern part of the Aktobe region,
the western part of the Ulytau region, and the Kyzylorda region. Following the
filling of the Shalkarteniz River, the water will flow further into the Aral
Sea. There is an old riverbed there, and as a result of this expedition, we
have reviewed and checked everything. I believe that expanding the dam of the
Small Aral Sea and diverting water from the Yertis River to the Syr Darya River
will be the first step in addressing this global issue,” said Zhanbolat
Nadyrov, founder of the International Caspian-Aral Basin Ecosystem Revival and
Flood Mitigation Fund.
