Problems
Against the background of the above-mentioned framework conditions a key challenge identified by the analysis of the problem NSiPD is: Mountain Natural resources are not used in a sustainable manner in order to obtain the optimum benefit for the population of Kyrgyzstan.
First of all, this applies to agricultural resources (pasture / grassland, arable land and protected areas). Biodiversity in areas that are not considered to be protected, is an additional resource, in addition to agricultural and forest resources in these areas. This resource should be used on a sustainable basis. As protected and unprotected mountain territory, together with those used in agricultural and forest lands are an excellent opportunity for the development of tourism and recreation. Glaciers and eternal snows of high mountains, and underground water are another very important strategic resource for the mountains, vital not only for mining, but also the adjacent plains. Water resources of the mountains – a source of hydroelectric power generation. And finally, the mountain minerals, depending on the conditions of the market and economy, can be used for the benefit of the country.
There is evidence that climate change (global warming) impact on water resources. Clearly, the changes caused by human activity on the planet, can hardly be prevented only through the efforts of Kyrgyzstan. Therefore, natural phenomena, which cause damage to the environment, for example, geological changes, heavy rains, etc., should be considered as Kyrgyzstan, the framework conditions.
The enormous damage to the environment and the deterioration of the resource base are the result of the actions of people who live immediately in Kyrgyzstan
Agricultural resources are not used in a sustainable manner in order to obtain maximum benefits for the people of Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia.
This is particularly true of mountain areas, which is due to improper management of pastures, significantly reduced the number of cattle, distributed among a large number of small owners. Alpine pastures are not fully utilized, and often not used at all, while the winter pastures in the valleys and foothills are used throughout the year that because of overgrazing causes them serious harm, including forest areas. Different breeds of cattle are kept together, which led to their mixing, and a significant decrease in quality. Artificial insemination is carried out practically in many areas, leading to slower development of livestock, and often to his downfall. Technique of livestock has deteriorated, as most farmers do not have a sufficient level of training on these issues. Winter forage is of poor quality. Animal health is poor, which is primarily due to incorrect assembly and veterinary services. Finally, the lack of adequate market structure is an obstacle to the sale of milk and meat, especially meat of yaks.
On irrigated land in the mountains of deteriorating soil fertility, including due to lack of fertilizer. Negative impact on productivity of arable land the wrong rotation or lack thereof. Due to lack of awareness of farmers, caring for crops is wrong. The applied methods of irrigation, leading to partial soil erosion and leaching of vital ingredients in over-watering.
Farmers are leaving the valleys, mainly in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, and there is wasteful use of irrigation methods that detrimental effect on yields. Thus, the limited water supply in summer is not economical to use, although they could be used for irrigation of additional areas or rehabilitation, for example, the Aral Sea.
The negative framework conditions, such as limited access to credit, lack of training and advisory services, and lack of marketing support services and more retard the development of agriculture.
Limited water resources in the mountains of wasteful uses, decreasing the quality and quantity is not a complete picture of the impact in the short and medium term, has a global warming on water resources (the melting of glaciers and eternal snows in the mountainous regions of Central Asia). If all the predictions about the temperature rise around the world come true, no doubt, the volume of water from this source in the end be reduced.
Toktogul reservoir, one of the main features which should be the accumulation of water for irrigation is increasingly used to generate electricity. This leads to the fact that the volume of water for irrigation will continue to decrease during the summer, especially in the lowlands. This situation is a potential source of regional conflicts.
Although water supplies in the region are limited, it pays in accordance with the amount consumed, and in accordance with the established rate, which leads to water losses in industry, household and irrigation. The above practice of irrigation largely determines the fact that water is an essential factor of production agriculture in the plains of Central Asia, effectively used in agriculture.
There is a trend, or at least reduce the risk of volume and quality of drinking water due to poor-quality treatment facilities, but also because of unprotected and neremontiruemyh old and new tailings PROCESSING industry.
The above-mentioned land-use practices have resulted in the headwaters to the partial reduction of vegetative cover, and in particular to a decrease in forest area, which negatively affects the productivity of the soil and leads to a chaotic soil erosion during rainfall. This leads to erosion, siltation of reservoirs and a water supply systems. It also reduces the availability of water in the summer, as in mountain areas accumulate less groundwater. The energy potential of mountain areas, or not used in full or used wastefully.
The energy situation in Kyrgyzstan is very closely linked with the regional water problems because of large hydroelectric power cascades on mountain rivers of the country is unable to carry out their activities in a normal economic operation. Decreased production of energy forces the country to import them from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Russia, which poses the problem of finding Kyrgyzstan necessary amounts of foreign currency. This lack of Kyrgyzstan is trying to compensate by making more power at the Toktogul hydroelectric power station. This highly subsidized form of energy especially in large quantities is required in the winter for heat.
• Serious losses occur in the distribution of electricity (approximately 40 – 60% of the total amount of produced electricity) before the energy gets to the consumer, because it is related to the fact that
• Distribution system was not designed for the increased workload of today, especially in winter.
adapted to the low purchasing power of the poor, electricity prices are supported by large subsidies, which leads to poor-quality service and distribution systems, hydroelectric, and therefore funds for investment is almost gone.
• the potential of renewable energy (privatized hydropower, solar, wind, biogas, geothermal) is not used because of the economic and legal problems, which gives public utilities a monopoly on power and makes investments in alternative energy sources unprofitable. Due to lack of energy (the distribution network does not reach some mountain areas and not quite reliable), the local population is engaged in illegal logging, and thereby contributes to deforestation. Forest and shrub resources are reduced, decreasing their quality and productivity.
The main problem of the use of forest resources, inefficient system of forest management. On the one hand, there is a state agency, which still continues the practice of leadership top down, but on the other hand – a very small level of responsibility at lower levels. Local communities have neither the expertise nor the incentive to participate actively in the protection of forest areas. That is why over-grazing in the forests hinders the natural regeneration of forests, and this practice is virtually no control. Recovery is also slower due to inadequate forestry practices employed foresters. Adverse environmental conditions in the previously cut forest areas also reduces the possibility of natural regeneration. The increasing level of poverty in mountain areas leads to excessive collection of firewood for fuel. The high price of timber and inefficient use of forests leads to an increase in illegal logging and, consequently, a reduction of forest resources. Forest management is hampered by an insufficient number of enterprises processing of forest resources. The establishment of such enterprises would increase local employment and thereby contribute to the protection of forest areas. But to support the creation of these enterprises there is no appropriate legal framework.
Protected and unprotected area is not fully utilized, and accordingly, are at risk due to excessive use (hunting, fishing, gathering medicinal herbs, and tourism).
The concept of buffer zones for protected areas is used and implemented insufficiently. This problem is very closely connected with another – the local population does not take part in the planning, operation, and active protection of protected areas. The benefits of protected areas and their use is practically negligible or absent entirely. Due to lack of government funding officers protected areas have a very small salary, which leads to delinquency or abuse of the local population and the population of other areas involved in poaching (hunting, fishing, picking mushrooms and berries) in protected and unprotected areas, to obtain a livelihood, or for commercial or sporting purposes. This indicates a low awareness of the population in the area of environment and demonstrates the vulnerability of official protection, as employees are forced to take bribes because of low salaries.
Another source of threats to biodiversity of mountain areas is in the mining industry (existing and potential), and other industries and activities (hiking, hunting, etc.), which leads to environmental pollution, extinction of plants and animals or the destruction of their habitat .
The potential for tourism and recreation in the mountains, or not fully used, or carried out without compliance with the principles of sustainable development and environmental safety.
Recreation, health, rehabilitation, and tourism resources of mountainous areas of Kyrgyzstan is not inventoried and are not tracked properly, are not sufficiently developed and advertised to attract local and foreign clients. Local communities that are very poorly connected to reside in the city tourism agency, is not fully aware of the value of these resources. Recreation and tourism infrastructure is not developed and practically does not receive any investment – partly because of legal and administrative problems, but also because of political and economic instability in the country. It is hard to overcome the administrative problems, inconsistent procedures for obtaining visas and border crossing Central Asian countries need to urgently address the national and regional levels.
In Western countries, there is still a poor image of Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia as a whole, because of social and economic crisis during the period of economic adjustment. The security risk in areas such as the Pamirs and Ferghana Valley does not help to overcome this image. Slight experience kyrgyzskogo population with foreign tourists, the mentality which focuses on a wide variety of services also helps to overcome the adverse image. And finally, the lack of a positive and useful information about Kyrgyzstan in the media hinders improvement.
Commercial hunting, as a kind of tourism is not organized based on the long term, due to insufficient monitoring of the animal world, the lack of contributions from this source of income for conservation and development of tourist potential, in addition, a very limited part in the activities of the local population. The last remark means that the local population receives very little revenue from this activity and, therefore, is not interested in the active protection of wild animals.
The deposits of mineral resources in the mountains not being used, and their operation at the same time endangering the entire ecosystems of the mountains.
Ecological risk arises from both the previous and the current practice of extraction of mineral resources. Environmental monitoring and control are not effective, leading to a lack of information, which is also scattered across multiple agencies. Mineral resources still remain unattractive to investors due to adverse legislative and administrative environment. An additional burden is the need for large investments to create the appropriate infrastructure and upgrade basic data exploration.