Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative

Last updated May 07, 2024

The Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative (ADCI) is a longstanding collaborative partnership of national and international NGOs and the Government of Kazakhstan dedicated to safeguarding and restoring the diverse steppe, desert, and wetland ecosystems of Kazakhstan, for the benefit of both wildlife and people. Geographically, the focus is on the parts of the historical range of the Saiga antelope which are still re-occupiable.

The main goal of the ADCI is to preserve and restore fully functional ecosystems. In order to achieve this, the Initiative supports the creation of a cohesive network of conservation areas covering priority wilderness areas, while promoting ecological corridors and Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) on the larger scale to ensure full ecological connectivity and cover areas of sufficient size to protect and grow populations of Threatened species and other biodiversity and enable their natural movement and migrations. Lost wildlife species should be restored at suitable habitats, while still existing, but depleted species should receive better protection. Valuing the interests of local people living in the ADCI area close to wildlife is a guiding principle for the initiative. The ADCI aims at gaining their support for nature conservation through environmental education and awareness raising, but also giving them the opportunity of receiving tangible benefits from thriving wildlife. All this is underpinned by high quality science and monitoring to get the data and knowledge needed to guide the implementation of the whole ADCI.

The Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative consists of the Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan (ACBK), the Committee of Forestry and Wildlife of Kazakhstan's Ministry of Ecology & Natural Resources, Fauna & Flora, Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS), and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), implemented primarily by ACBK with support from all partners. The ADCI complements the work by the Government of Kazakhstan.

In December 2022, the Initiative was selected and recognised by the United Nations as one of only 10 World Restoration Flagships, the first award of its kind, under the banner of the Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.

Ecology

Situated in Central Asia, the Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative's focal areas are dominated by extensive grasslands interspersed with pockets of shrubs and low woodlands, transitioning into semi-desert and desert ecosystems in the southern part of Kazakhstan. This habitat provides a haven for a wide range of wildlife, including numerous species of mammals, birds, reptiles, and insects.

The climate is continental with hot summers of up to +40°C and more, while winters are extremely cold reaching –40°C. There is only little precipitation decreasing from north to south. Trees and shrubs can only exist along rivers, in depressions or on sandy soil, where more water is available. Grasses, herbs and dwarf shrubs still produce a lot of biomass, which cannot be decomposed over the winter due to the low temperatures. Therefore, herbivoric animals play a key role in the nutrient cycle by feeding on plant material and returning the nutrients back into the soil.

A focal theme of the initiative is therefore the protection and conservation of iconic steppe fauna. The Saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica) is a flagship species for the region and the largest remaining herbivore. With its distinctive large nose and extensive migrations, the saiga antelope is emblematic of the steppe's vastness and harsh climate.

Like the Saiga, ‘kulans’ (Equus hemionus) or Asiatic wild asses are an iconic steppe species, living in nomadic herds. They are perfectly adapted to life in this harsh environment, growing a thicker coat of hair in the winter to keep them warm and moving over long distances between suitable habitats. They became extinct in Kazakhstan in the first half of the 20th century.

Przewalski's horse (Equus przewalskii), is a rare and endangered wild horse originally native to the steppes of Central Asia. Previously extinct in the wild, it has been reintroduced to its native habitat in Mongolia as well as several other locations in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. In April 2023, a memorandum of cooperation was signed between the Forestry and Wildlife Committee of the Kazakh Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources and Prague Zoo, to begin plans to reintroduce Przewalski's horse to the Kazakh Steppe within the framework of the Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative.

Steppe predators include species like the Pallas's cat (Otocolobus manul), with its distinctive expressive face and excellent camouflage, the steppe wolf (Canis lupus campestris) which preys upon saiga antelope and small mammals, and the Corsac fox (Vulpes corsac). Historically, the Critically Endangered Asiatic cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus) inhabited the southern desert regions in Kazakhstan. Uncontrolled hunting of cheetahs and their prey, as well as severe winters contributed to the population's decline. Today, the Asiatic cheetah is classified as extinct in Kazakhstan.

The steppe grasslands also provide essential habitat for a variety of bird species, many of which are migratory and depend on the region as a crucial stopover during their long migrations. These grasslands support breeding populations of the globally threatened Sociable Lapwing (Vanellus gregarius), Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis), as well as the Endangered White-headed Duck (Oxyura leucocephala) and Demoiselle Crane (Grus virgo).

The flora of the Kazakh Steppe is equally important and diverse. The grasslands are home to a rich assemblage of herbaceous plants, including feather grasses (Stipa spp.), fescues (Festuca spp.) and sagebrush (Artemisia spp.). These plants not only provide food and shelter to wild grazers and burrowing mammals, but also contribute to the overall health and resilience of the ecosystem, mitigating drought and sequestrating and storing significant quantities of soil carbon.

In Spring, the steppe blooms into a veritable carpet of colour, featuring rare and endemic species of wild Tulip, such as the Kaufmanniana tulip and Greig's tulip, as well as irises, Alliums and poppies.

Wetland ecosystems are also an integral component of the region's ecology. These areas, which include marshes, lakes, rivers, and tributaries, provide vital water resources, and serve as critical breeding grounds for many aquatic species. The wetlands support a variety of plant life, such as reeds (Phragmites spp.), sedges (Carex spp.) and water lilies (Nymphaea spp.), forming habitats for amphibians, waterfowl, and other aquatic organisms.

By studying the interactions between species, the effects of climate change, and the impact of human activities, the Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative develops evidence-based conservation strategies and adaptive management practices to restore fully functional and resilient ecosystems.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ili (river)</span> River in Central Asia, through northwest China and southeast Kazakhstan

The Ili is a river in Northwest China and Southeastern Kazakhstan. It flows from the Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture of the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region to the Almaty Region in Kazakhstan.

The saiga antelope, or saiga, is a species of antelope which during antiquity inhabited a vast area of the Eurasian steppe, spanning the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains in the northwest and Caucasus in the southwest into Mongolia in the northeast and Dzungaria in the southeast. During the Pleistocene, it ranged across the mammoth steppe from the British Isles to Beringia. Today, the dominant subspecies only occurs in Kalmykia and Astrakhan Oblast of Russia and in the Ural, Ustyurt and Betpak-Dala regions of Kazakhstan. A portion of the Ustyurt population migrates south to Uzbekistan and occasionally to Turkmenistan in winter. It is regionally extinct in Romania, Ukraine, Moldova, China and southwestern Mongolia. The Mongolian subspecies occurs only in western Mongolia.

The Kazakh Steppe, also called the Great Dala, is a vast region of open grassland in Central Asia, covering areas in northern Kazakhstan and adjacent areas of Russia. It lies east of the Pontic–Caspian steppe and west of the Emin Valley steppe, with which it forms the central and western part of the Eurasian steppe. The Kazakh Steppe is an ecoregion of the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome in the Palearctic realm. Before the mid-19th century, it was called the Kirghiz steppe, 'Kirghiz' being an old Russian word for the Kazakhs.

The Eurasian Steppe, also called the Great Steppe or The Steppes, is the vast steppe ecoregion of Eurasia in the temperate grasslands, savannas and shrublands biome. It stretches through Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, southern Russia, Kazakhstan, Xinjiang, Mongolia and Manchuria, with one major exclave, the Pannonian steppe, located mostly in Hungary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mongolian–Manchurian grassland</span> Ecoregion in East Asia

The Mongolian-Manchurian grassland, also known as the Mongolian-Manchurian steppe or Gobi-Manchurian steppe, in the temperate grassland biome, is an ecoregion in East Asia covering parts of Mongolia, the Chinese Autonomous region of Inner Mongolia, and Northeast China.

The Wilds is a private, non-profit safari park and conservation center that combines conservation science and education programs. The park also offers visitors leisure activities such as ziplining, horseback riding, and fishing. Located in southeastern Muskingum County, Ohio, just west of the village of Cumberland, the Wilds is home to rare and endangered species from around the globe living in natural, open-range habitats.

The wildlife of Kazakhstan includes its flora, fauna, and funga and their natural habitats.

The wildlife of Djibouti, consisting of its flora and fauna, is in a harsh landscape with forest accounting for less than one percent of its area. Most species are found in the northern part of the country in the Day Forest National Park at an average elevation of 1,500 metres (4,900 ft), including the massif Goda, with a peak of 1,783 metres (5,850 ft). It covers an area of 3.5 square kilometres (1.4 sq mi) of Juniperus procera forest, with many of the trees rising to 20 metres (66 ft) height. This forest area is the main habitat of the critically endangered and endemic Djibouti spurfowl, and another recently noted vertebrate, Platyceps afarensis. The area also contains many species of woody and herbaceous plants, including boxwood and olive trees, which account for sixty percent of the identified species in the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Betpak-Dala</span> Semidesert in Kazakhstan

Betpak-Dala or Betpaqdala is a desert zone in the Ulytau, Karaganda, Turkestan and Zhambyl regions, Kazakhstan.

Banni Grasslands Reserve or Banni grasslands form a belt of arid grassland ecosystem on the outer southern edge of the desert of the marshy salt flats of Rann of Kutch in Kutch District, Gujarat State, India. They are known for rich wildlife and biodiversity and are spread across an area of 3,847 square kilometres. They are currently legally protected under the status as a protected or reserve forest in India. Though declared a protected forest more than half a century ago Gujarat state's forest department has recently proposed a special plan to restore and manage this ecosystem in the most efficient way. Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has identified this grassland reserve as one of the last remaining habitats of the cheetah in India and a possible reintroduction site for the species.

The Saiga Conservation AllianceSCA is a network of researchers and conservationists working to study and protect the critically endangered Saiga Antelope and their habitat. The Saiga are often seen as a major flagship species of the Central Asian and pre-Caspian steppes. In the last ten years, saiga populations have declined by 96%, which is the fastest decline ever recorded for a mammal species. Saiga Conservation Alliance is partnered with the Wildlife Conservation Network.

The Kazakh semi-desert is an ecoregion in the deserts and xeric shrublands biome, located in Kazakhstan. The climate is semi-arid and continental, with a total annual precipitation of 160 millimetres (6.3 in), and mean temperatures in January averaging −15 °C (5 °F) and in July 23 °C (73 °F). It is a transitional area between the steppes and the deserts of Central Asia and supports flora found in both biomes, predominantly grasses, particularly Stipa species, and shrubs such as Artemisia species. A number of mammals and birds are found in this ecoregion but the habitat is threatened by overgrazing and fragmentation from human encroachment. However, a recent reduction in livestock numbers in Kazakhstan is allowing the native plants a greater opportunity to regenerate.

The Central Asian northern desert is an ecoregion in the deserts and xeric shrublands biome, located in the Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The annual precipitation ranges from 100 to 150 mm, the winters are cold at −10 to −15 °C and the summers hot at around 25 °C (77 °F). There are a range of habitat types including salt flats, clay desert, rocky desert and some sand desert. The vegetation consists of scanty xeric shrubs including Artemisia and Salsola. The fauna is varied, as well as mammals and birds, there are a large number of reptiles and many species of invertebrate. Some protected areas are included in this ecoregion but other parts are being degraded by conversion to farmland, overgrazing and poaching.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frankfurt Zoological Society</span> International conservation organization

The Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS) is an international conservation organization founded in 1858 with headquarters in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. FZS focuses on maintaining biodiversity and conserving wildlife and ecosystems in protected areas and outstanding wild places. FZS leads and supports about 30 projects in 18 countries. Bernhard Grzimek, renowned German zoo director, zoologist, book author, editor, and animal conservationist in postwar West-Germany, served as president of the Frankfurt Zoological Society for over forty years.

Naurzum State Nature Reserve is a nature reserve in Kostanay Region, Kazakhstan. It is part of the UNESCO heritage site Saryarka — Steppe and Lakes of Northern Kazakhstan. It protects about 3,081 square kilometres (1,190 sq mi) of steppes, semi desert and forests. The administrative office of the protected area is located in Karamendy village.

The Turkmenian kulan, also called Transcaspian wild ass, Turkmenistani onager or simply the kulan, is a subspecies of onager native to Central Asia. It was declared Endangered in 2016.

Korgalzhyn State Nature Reserve is a protected area in Aqmola and Karaganda regions of Kazakhstan, located west of the city of Astana. It is part of the UNESCO heritage site Saryarka — Steppe and Lakes of Northern Kazakhstan, Ramsar site and biosphere reserve.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Concerning Conservation, Restoration and Sustainable Use of the Saiga Antelope is a Multilateral Environmental Memorandum of Understanding and came into effect on 24 September 2006 under the auspices of the Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), also known as the Bonn Convention. The MoU covers five range States, all of which have signed. A number of cooperating organizations have also signed the MoU.

The wildlife of Mongolia consists of flora, fauna and funga found in the harsh habitats dictated by the diverse climatic conditions found throughout the country. In the north, there are salty marshes and fresh-water sources. The centre has desert steppes. In the south, there are semi deserts as well as the hot Gobi desert in the south, the fifth-largest desert in the world.

References

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.