Lake Son-Kul has been included in the International List of Wetlands of the Ramsar Convention[1] since 2011. Ramsar sites are recognized as being of significant value not only for the country or the countries in which they are located, but also for humanity as a whole. Lake Son-Kul is of great importance as a nesting and summering place for waterfowl, 131 species were registered, of which - 17 are listed in the Red Book of Kyrgyzstan, 18 - in the Red List of the International Union of Nature Conservation (IUCN), 11 - CITES[2] and 6 - Bonn Convention. A wide variety of birds flies into the Himalayas and for a short time stays around the lake, concentrated mainly in the conservation area. With intensive, uncontrolled grazing in some areas, which leads to the degradation of pastures, the spread of animal diseases, which ultimately leads to threats to waterfowl. Human disturbance and destruction of the natural balance through household waste, extraction of biomass, which directly reduce or worsen wildlife habitat. Illegal fishing, poaching, hunting, especially for birds during molting, also destroys their populations. Ineffective law enforcement and control over human activities, uncontrolled tourists, visits to wildlife and their habitats also lead to degradation.
The state of biodiversity, including wetlands and waterfowl, largely depends on the sustainability of the mountain ecosystems of the pilot area. They play a significant role in soil formation, regulation of runoff in the catchment part of river basins, protection of soil from erosion, cleaning of surface pollution, prevention of floods and mudflows, as well as landslides that cause great economic damage.
Natural capital like natural resources, ecosystems, ecosystem services and climate is the basis for local communities in the project area, who are directly dependent on natural resources and biodiversity. At the same time, local communities in the pilot area are particularly vulnerable to environmental degradation, climate change and disaster risks, chiefly because of their mountainous terrain and sensitive ecosystems, as well as their low adaptive capacity. The project contributed to sustainable use and management of natural resources by raising awareness and strong capacity building interventions based on the right-based/participatory approach provided both to local communities, incl. women, on national, provincial and local levels, so that they have exercised their rights and participate on their own terms in the protection and management of wetlands and their natural resources such as birds, fish, forest and land. This helps mitigate the risks of conflicts over land use by different local communities from neighboring communities who also graze cattle in the Son Kul area.
The project timeline: 01 April to 31 December 2022
Main Goal: Local communities in northern Kyrgyzstan with a focus on Cholpon rural municipality have their rights acknowledged and respected to sustainably use, govern and preserve natural resources and wetland ecosystems of Son Kul Lake.
Project’s Sub-goals and main activities:
Sub-goal 1: Awareness of local communities raised on the ecological and economic importance of effective use, management and preservation of natural resources and conserving Son Kul Lake’s unique wetland mountain ecosystems
A wide educational and informational campaign was conducted on local, regional and national levels. Mapping and monitoring of wetlands and biodiversity of the Son Kul wetland area were conducted by local communities with close collaboration with scientists from the National Academy of Science (NAS). Askar Davletbakov and Myskal Ganybayeva, experts of the National Academy of Science, developed a simplified methodology for biodiversity monitoring (waterfowl, pastures, medicinal herbs, etc.), on the basis of which community-based monitoring of fauna (waterfowl) and flora (plants) with active involvement of local communities of Cholpon municipality.
[1] https://www.ramsar.org/about/wetlands-of-international-importance-ramsar-sites
[2] The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
Sub-goal 2: Members of Cholpon pasture users union, “Nasyat” biocultural diversity network and ISDS staff raised their capacity and competence on right-based and participatory approaches and advocacy towards duty-bearers.
Capacity of local pastoralists and Nasyat network’s members strengthened on right-based and participatory approaches and advocacy. Four trainings based on a participatory approach were held, among them were "Biodiversity of the Son-Kul Basin: Problems and Solutions"; "Environmental law" and "Advocacy: protection and promotion of public interests based on gender equality approach".
A Community Initiative Group (12 people) (CIG) (gender-age-balanced, involved women, youth) was formed to lead the local community to effectively use, manage and preserve natural resources/wetlands.
CIG members conducted a number of community meetings to identify priority needs and develop Community Action Plan (CAP) based on right-based/participatory approaches in an open and transparent way.
Sub-goal 3:
The capacity of duty-bearers in local government and state institutions is strengthened to respond to claims of right-holders and work together on effective use, management, and preservation of natural resources and wetlands.
Several working meetings were held with representatives of state and partner organizations of Cholpon aiyl aimak, Cholpon Pasture Union, Karatal-Zhapyryk State Reserve, Department of Biodiversity Conservation under the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision, National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic, where issues of cooperation and interaction in solving the problems of the Son-Kul wetlands were discussed as a result of which a memorandum of cooperation was concluded. A research with overview of the international, national and local legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic, including ratified international acts and conventions regulating issues of protection wetlands, biodiversity, their effective management, use, conservation and restoration was developed by Turdumatov Talant, a Chief specialist on Monitoring and Coordination of Scientific Activities of the Department Biodiversity. Based on the research findings, a Wetland Management Plan for 2022-2027 was developed.
Project results:
- The awareness of more than 7,200 people from among the local residents of Cholpon rural municipality from 9 villages has been increased on the environmental and economic importance of efficient use, management and preservation of natural resources and preserving unique water-fiber mining ecosystems of Lake Son-Kul.
- More than 40 local citizens from 9 villages, incl. members of the Pasture Union, local eco -activists, women and youth are competent to promote their interests and raised issues in relation to natural resources management (pasture management, environmental issues, proper management of the Son Kul Lake area, etc.) to the state and local authorities.
- There is a good interaction and joint work among local authorities, state institutions and local community members for the effective use, management and preservation of natural resources and water-fiber grounds of the Son Kul Lake pilot area. A joint community action plan was developed for management of the pilot area, the experience of Cholpon municipality is being replicated among 11 municipalities of Kochkor district and among districts of Naryn region that graze livestock in the Son Kul Lake.
Institutional impact
This pilot project provided the opportunity for ISDS and CAG to build a strategic partnership to implement future initiatives and additional projects related in the field of environment and climate.
The learned lessons associated with the implementation of the project, the methodologies and approaches, contextual analysis, community reviews, etc., will be included in the future joint programs and projects of ISDS and CAG.