In Kazakhstan, about 75 percent of soils used for agriculture are subject to various forms of degradation, such as desertification, salinization, erosion and depletion. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the government have launched a project to restore land and preserve ecosystems in northern Kazakhstan.
The project , with a total budget of $1.6 million, is designed to be implemented over several years. It will be carried out by the United Nations Development Program in Kazakhstan in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Committee for Forestry and Wildlife of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan with financial support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
Land degradation
Land degradation is one of the acute environmental problems that reduces soil productivity, threatens the sustainability of the agricultural sector, worsens the condition of ecosystems and has a negative impact on biodiversity.
According to the UN, about 40 percent of the planet’s lands are degraded, and three billion people worldwide suffer from the consequences of this phenomenon. In Kazakhstan, about 75 percent of soils used in agriculture are subject to various forms of degradation, such as desertification, salinization, erosion and depletion.
According to data from the State Institute for Land Surveying of the Ministry of Agriculture of Kazakhstan, potential soil fertility has decreased by 17 percent, leading to a decrease in crop yields.
Improving legislation
The Kazakh government is improving legislation to address these issues. Land degradation issues are included in the Land and Environmental Codes, as well as in the draft law “On Soil Protection” aimed at protecting and restoring land, UNDP notes.
Integrated approach
As part of a joint project, UNDP and the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan will test sustainable land management approaches and practices in four key regions of northern Kazakhstan: Akmola, Kostanay, North Kazakhstan and Pavlodar. In 2023, the area of arable land in these regions amounted to about 17 million hectares, equivalent to 70 percent of all arable land in the country. This underlines the key role of the target regions in Kazakhstan’s agricultural production.
“To combat land degradation, an integrated approach to sustainable territorial planning is needed, ensuring a balance between economic development and the conservation of natural resources,” said Katarzyna Wawiernia, UNDP Resident Representative in Kazakhstan.
Sustainable agriculture
The project includes measures for sustainable agricultural production, pasture restoration and optimization of territorial planning. Scientifically based approaches to land use will be developed, including tools for functional zoning and landscape planning, taking into account environmental, economic and social factors. The project also aims to minimize conflicts between different land users and develop ecosystem services.
The project will support the integrity of the lake ecosystem of the Naurzum Nature Reserve, which is a globally significant place for nesting, migratory stopovers and feeding of waterfowl.
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