Interactive map of the best practices

on the use of water, land and energy resources,
as well as the environment of Central Asia

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Comparison of practices

Название практики Increasing water supply of Aksa-Ayuliye District Increasing water availability of pastures by constructing sardobas
Category Water resources Water resources
Tool System for enhancing water availability System for enhancing water availability
Field of application

Use of water resources
  • Use of water resources
  • Use of land resources
  • Environmental protection
Usability of practice for adaptation to climate change Moderate Moderate
Implemented by UNDP, UNECE and Water Resources Committee of the Ministry of Agriculture of the RK jointly with the Public Association “Association of Country Farms of Shet Dis-trict of Karaganda Region”
 Ministry of Nature Conservation of Turkmenistan
Used by

Country: Kazakhstan

Province: Karaganda Region

District: Shet District

Other settlement: Aksa-Ayuliye Rural District

Country: Turkmenistan
Local specifics

The site is located in the area of acute shortage of irrigation and drinking water

17,238 ha of barkhan (sand dune), takyr (dry-type playa) and solonchak (moist-type playa) sites of the Kara Kum Desert; deep ground water occurrence
Practice usage period

Start date: 01.01.2015

End date: 31.12.2015

Start date: 01.01.2012

End date: 31.12.2016
Problem solved through this practice

Acute shortage of irrigation water

Desertification and decreased productivity of desert pastures due to over-grazing around existing cattle watering sites
Tools used in the practice

Measures to restore natural springs: arrangement of stone protection fencing around springs and installation of water-release pipes

Technology of building sardobas (stone-dome covered water collection and storage reservoirs) to enhance pasture water supply
Description of the practice and its results

Actions
For project purposes, 10 springs were selected still able to exert water to the surface. Project actions included arrangement of stone protection fencing around springs to prevent cattle from trampling the springs. To allow water release, drain pipes were installed in protection stone walls.

Results
Financial and economic:
The economic effect of livestock production and irriga-tion development exceeding 100,000 USD.

Technical
Enhanced (by up to 30-40%) supply of irrigation and drinking water in the area; drafted “Rules of Using General Use Water Facilities for Personal and Domestic Needs Located on the territory of the Rural District”.

Main actions:

  • mudflow and flood risk assessment and surveying local population regarding sardobas’ locations.

Actions:

  • selection of takyrs to construct sardobas jointly with local cattle-farmers;
  • construction of sardobas jointly with local cattle-farmers;
  • cleaning takyr surfaces.

Results:

  • pastures that were not previously utilized due to absence of water sources returned to pasture rotation;
  • pastures destroyed due to over-grazing started to restore;
  • increased herd productivity due to reduced passage distances and higher fodder value of pastures.
Lessons learnt and recommendations made

Lessons learnt:
The practice demonstrated the advantages of restoring springs and the need to regularly maintain water bodies

Recommendations:
It is necessary to continue the efforts not only in Kazakhstan, but also across the region. For example, it is possible to rehabilitate multiple springs and water accumulators (like “sardoba” or underground “kyariz”) across all Central Asia.

Lessons learnt:

Construction of sardobas in takyr areas allows enhancing pasture water supply, thus, leading to the restoration of over-grazed pastures.

Recommendations:

The practice requires long-term planning and an integrated response with the early-on engagement of desertification experts (designing a set of measures to protect takyrs from sand drifts), state agencies (technical assistance) and pasture users (observance of pasture rotation schemes, prevention of takyrs from contamination and pollution).
Source of practice

Domestic tools (outcomes of research by domestic R&D organizations)

Traditional tools transferred from generation to generation that proved their efficiency in modern conditions
Readiness for implementation

1. Cost of implementation: High

2. Approximate cost of investment per 1 ha:

3. O&M costs: High

4. Expert support: Not needed

1. Cost of implementation: Low

2. Approximate cost of investment per 1 ha: $1,000-5,000

3. O&M costs: Low

4. Expert support: Needed at implementation stage
Brief information on the project

Project title: SaveH2Okz Project within the framework of the joint EU/UNDP/UNECE Project “Supporting Kazakhstan in its transition to green economy model”

Duration: 2015-2018

Project goal and objectives: raising awareness on the issue of water resources exhaustion with the aim of fostering “green economy” practices

Project beneficiaries: local population

Project implementer: Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Project title: Responding to climate change risks for dekhan farming system of Turkmenistan on national and local levels.

Project duration: 2012-2016. 

Project goal and objectives: build the adaptation capacity to respond to climate change impacts, including variability on local and national levels. 

Project beneficiaries: Bori Settlement (over 1,100 people) and Bo-Kurdak Settlement (about 4,500 people).

Project implementer: Ministry of Nature Conservation and UNDP
Funding source European Union (grant) Government of Turkmenistan, Adaptation Facility
Information sources

Joint EU/UNDP/UNECE Project “Supporting Kazakhstan in its transition to green economy model” sponsored by the European Union (saveh2o.kz)

tm.undp.org
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SIC ICWC

SIC ICWC
Form submission date 29.03.2018 04.04.2018

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