OREANDA-NEWS. On 17 March 2009 was announced, that the UNDP is launching its new environmental project "Conservation and sustainable management of the steppe ecosystems in Kazakhstan". The majority of the efforts of the initiative are going to be concentrated on the preservation of the steppe ecosystem of Kazakhstan. Relevance of the project is justified by the deficit of integration of the steppes in the system of wildlife havens of the country. Furthermore, the steppes in Kazakhstan are endangered because of the soil degradation.

It is expected that the project will encourage the involvement of the steppe ecosystems in the national wildlife conservation network of the specially protected areas, which will be governed basing on the model of comprehensive landscape concept. This will allow rehabilitation and stabilization of the number of species under extinction threat like saiga antelope, kulan and goitered gazelle that migrate on a permanent basis in this natural zone.

During the project implementation process, the land cultivating residents of the area covered by the project will be offered alternative activity options in the specially protected areas through the improvement of soil use and development of the environmental tourism. Meanwhile, all the strategic decisions on rational use of natural resources will be made basing on the local participatory practice.

The territory of the initiative will involve the natural areas of Irgiz, Turgai and Zhylanshik, located in Kostanai region. Kazakh side will be represented by the Committee of forestry and hunting of the Ministry of agriculture. Project duration is going to be five years and the total budget of the undertaking is 23,758,300 USD.