Kazakhstan, Almaty, 22 May, 2013 – CAREC manifests its homage to The International Day for Biodiversity and holds a meeting devoted at Water and Biodiversity issues in Kazakhstan.

Date & time: 22nd of May, 2013, 2 pm
Venue: CAREC, 40-Orbita 1, 050043 Almaty

The meeting will be attended by CAREC staff, representatives of the Association for the Conservation of the Biological Diversity of Kazakhstan (ACBK), Institute of Ecology and Sustainable Development (IESD) and GEF/SGP.

Participants will report on International efforts for the protection and sustainable use of Biodiversity and possible implications for Central Asia, water related biodiversity, conventions, policies and implemented projects in this sphere.

Water is essential for life. No living being on planet Earth can survive without it. It is a prerequisite for human health and well-being as well as for the preservation of the environment. The theme Water and Biodiversity was chosen to coincide with the United Nations designation of 2013 as the International Year of Water Cooperation. Water and Biodiversity is the theme for International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) in 2013. Designation of IDB 2013 on the theme of water provides Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the public at large the opportunity to raise awareness about this vital issue, and to increase positive action.

CAREC invites biodiversity-related organizations to this informal meeting to present their research, conservation or sustainable use activities and to exchange about on-going and planned biodiversity activities.

Meeting Agenda

Contacts:

Maxim Olar
Communication Specialist, CAREC
Tel.:+7 (727) 2785110, 2785022, ext. 185
Fax: + 7 (727) 2785110 (335)
Mob.: +7 705 575 25 03
e-mail: olar.m@carec.kz

The thousand-year history of Nauryz has made it the most favorite and loved by all holiday of regeneration and renewal of nature, strengthening the peace and harmony in the society. Since ancient times, our ancestors used to balance their achievements, successes and defined plans for the future specifically with this sacred day. Today we are honored continue this good tradition.

Nauruz marks the beginning of a new year, new beginnings. Celebration of Nauryz is firstly about goodness and peace on earth.

Dear friends! Let Nauryz strengthen the bonds of friendship, mutual respect and understanding in every family! Let Nauryz bring happiness and prosperity to every house!

The AWARE project prepared a special presentation on the overall aims and objectives in Central Asia and its implementation plans for Turkmenistan. Participants will discuss the practices of Shared Environmental Information System promotion in pan-European region as well as possibilities of its implementation in Turkmenistan. The seminar will give opportunity for representatives of, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan to share experience on environmental data collection and dissemination.

Representatives of media are welcome to participate.

The seminar will be held from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm in Big Conference Hall of “Grand Hotel Turkmen”, at address: Gorogly Street No. 7, 6 floor.

The Raising Awareness Project is designed for two years (2012-2014) and will be implemented in five countries of Central Asia: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. The projects is implemented in order to increase awareness on return- and reused waters addressing gaps in water resources management; to enhance opportunities for EU-CA cooperation on environmental governance through promoting the most practices such as Shared Environmental Information System, as well as to increase involvement of private sector in sustainable consumption and production and energy efficiency as a gateway for Public-Private Partnership.

The total amount of project’s budget is 994 324 EURO

For more information about the project please refer to the website www.caresd.net, section “Information campaigns” or to Facebook http://www.Facebook.com/PovysenieOsvedomlennostiPoEkologiceskimVoprosamVCa

Should there be additional questions or requests on SEIS seminar, please apply to Veronika Yudina, Project
Manager (+7 701 7236414), vyudina@carec.kz or to contact person from the Europa House in Turkmenistan info@europahouse-tm.eu

Dr. Abdullayev has over 25 years experience in water management, irrigation & drainage management. Dr. Abdullaev has working experience in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Pakistan, India, Afghanistan and Central Asian countries. He received his PhD in water management in 2006 and his Hydrotechnical Engineering Diploma in 1992 from Tashkent Institute of Irrigation & Melioration (TIIM). Prior to joining CAREC, he had worked as Regional Advisor at GIZ, the leading German institution that includes ZEF Centre for Development Research University of Bonn (Germany), International Water Management Institute (Sri Lanka), Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Melioration, Uzbekistan Ministry of Agriculture & Water Resources.
He becomes to be a founder of NGO Association of Uzbekistan for Sustainable Water Resources Development named „Suvchi“.
He has written 4 monographic books, over 30 scientific articles published in well known foreign media. Dr. Abdullayev has worked in many international projects as «Ferghana Valley on pilot testing of IWRM principles», «Kunduz Irrigation System of the Afghanistan», «Lower Amudarya Basin- Khorezm region of Uzbekistan» and etc.

Among participants invited are the Mayors of the cities of Tajikistan, the leading experts in the sphere of energy saving and energy efficiency, and international institutions: the European Union Delegation to the Republic of Tajikistan, UNDP in the Republic of Tajikistan, EBRD, programme INOGATE, USAID, ICF International, GIZ and the project DACO.

What is the advantage of the initiative, and how it differs from others? “Covenant of Mayors – East” not only shares with rich international and European experience of its over 4400 signatories in contributing to green economic growth and improving quality of life, it also provides the municipalities in new independent states with access to latest energy efficient technologies and best practices. Hence, it facilitates to raise additional funds for project implementation in accordance with national priorities and specificities.

Energy Development Strategy of Tajikistan along with the construction of new energy sources, attaches great importance to energy efficiency. Adopted Law of the RT “On the use of renewable energy”, signed Presidential Decree “On additional measures for economic use of energy.” In order to implement the requirements of the above-mentioned laws and decrees adopted the “standardization program for energy conservation and energy efficiency in the years 2010-2012.” Also on the basis of guidelines and norms of EU, Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan, Tajikistan has developed eight standards on energy efficiency and renewable energy.

It is currently used less than 4% of the available capacity on the capability and cost effective hydropower resources of Tajikistan and less than 1% of other types of renewable energy.

In this regard, the Covenant’s priority is closely overlapping with the already developed strategic plan of the Kyrgyz Republic in the sphere of energy efficiency.

The Covenant of Mayors is a growing international community of leading local and regional authorities, which benefits from a strong support from political (European Commission, Committee of the Regions, national governments, regional governments, etc.) and financial institutions (European Investment Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, private banks, etc.). In 2012, the number of signatories has reached more than 4,800 municipalities, including more than 50 cities from the European Neighbourhood and Central Asia.

Note for Editor:

Covenant of Mayors is the flagship initiative of the European Union brings together local, regional and national authorities in achieving voluntary pledges to reduce emissions of CO2 by at least 20% by 2020 through using energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies.

Since the launch of the initiative “Covenant of Mayors” in Europe, it has been joined by more than 4,500 cities in 46 countries. In 2011, the European Commission for Development and Cooperation EuropeAid has launched the project “Covenant of Mayors – East”, which provides support for the participation of the cities of the Eastern Partnership and Central Asian countries in achieving sustainable development and energy efficiency of their cities. Armenia, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine have already joined the project and successfully implement a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
More information can be found on the official website: www.eumayors.eu or contact:

Olar Maxim
Communications Specialist, CAREC
Tel.: +7 (727) 2785110, 2785022, ext. 185
Fax: + 7 (727) 2785110 (335)
Mob.: +7 705 575 25 March
E-mail: olar.m@carec.kz

The project has started in October 2012 CAREC in cooperation with the Regional Evnvironmental Centre for Central Eastern Europe (REC), the Goethe – Institute, Ministry of Science and Education of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, with the support of GIZ.

The meeting will be attended by leading scholars – experts in the mountains and glaciers of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, representatives and experts of Goethe Institute, NGOs and teachers of secondary schools of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, with experience in environmental education and education for sustainable development (ESD) and previously engaged in the development of the “Green Pack for Central Asia.”

The first meeting of the working group (WG) was held in CAREC during 28-30 November 2012. As a result, meeting defined the basic structure of the project participants and the experts responsible for the development of materials for six main sub-topics of main topic of “mountains and glaciers”: mountain ecosystems, mountains, climate, mountains and biodiversity, mountains, people, mountains and the economy, the mountains and culture.

The second meeting of the project WG, which will be held in the new office of the Goethe Institute located at Nauryzbai Batyr str. 31, experts will present their achievements according to the following sub-topics. For three days, participants will discuss and finalize the thematic material for the CD “Green Pack for CA – the Glacier Edition” and other components of the educational resource: A guide for teachers, game ‘dilemma’, tests for students and pictures, photos, video, music and cartoons.

This resource will be developed in co-operation with the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC) – as a maing project “know-how” owner – based on the project “Green Package for Cental Asia” developed in 2009-2010.

Note:

This educational project implemented as part of a large program of the Goethe-Institute in Central Asia – “Music of the Glacier.”

In the summer of 2012 the project held an expedition with Goethe Institute – Almaty Tuyuksu Glacier and installed a highly sensitive microphone to record the sounds of the glacier, they are also called “the breath of the glacier.” In early August 2012, these sounds have been passed to Central Asian artists for mixing them with music or create other pieces of art. The sounds of the glacier will be used in the creation of the “Green Pack for Central Asia – the Glacier Edition.”

It concerns the convergence of art and scientific points of view, and the intersection of art, culture, education and science, with the aim of strengthening cooperation among stakeholders and identify ways and prospects for making unusual decisions. This is particularly important for the success and progress of the project results widely in the Central Asian region and Europe.

The World Bank aims to support the creation of a regional network of knowledge and learning institutions in Central Asia. The workshop brought together representatives from universities, government institutes, academies and civil society organizationsfrom all Central Asian countries that provide thematic learning programs.

“Knowledge and skills foster cooperation. Therefore, we welcome the opportunity to help establish a network of national institutions to promote a systematic exchange of experiences, and to help equip national institutions with cutting-edge curriculum and skills to build the capacity of Government agencies, civil society organizations and other professionals in water, energy, agriculture, climate change-related issues”, said Mr. Laurent Debroux, Sector Leader for Sustainable Development at the World Bank Central Asia Regional Office.

The participants discussed existing educational programs in Central Asia, their strengths and knowledge gaps, cross-sector issues and subjects that would benefit from theknowledge exchange. Also theyshared ideas oncustomization of curriculum and assessedthe opportunities to create a regional network of knowledge and learning institutions (“centers of excellence”) around priority issues such as land and water management, climate smart agriculture, and sustainable energy, among others.

“The conducted consultative workshop showed that sharing of knowledge, experience, information and training materials is of great importance in preparation and retraining of personnel in all countries of Central Asia. Constantly changing reality requires new skills, new approaches, new interactive methods and technologies for learning. Creation of a network of educational institutions can become the basis for a constant exchange of knowledge and experience”, said Mrs. Yekaterina Strikeleva, Water Initiatives Support Program Manager of the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia.

This Central Asia regional Workshopis one ofaseries of eventsfocusing on the creation of knowledge exchange mechanisms in an array of topics that are in high demand throughout the region.

Contacts:

• Regional Environmental Center for Central Asia: GuljamalJumamuratova, Program specialist, Water Initiatives Support Program +7 (727) 278 51 10, 229 66 46 (190), Gjumamuratova@carec.kz, +7 (727) 278 51 10, 229 66 46 (191), AInozemtseva@carec.kz
• World Bank: Margarita Grigoryeva,Communications Officer, +7 (727) 2980-580, mgrigoryeva@worldbank.org

Preliminary results of socio-economic assessment on river Aspara, the concept of GIS mapping of pilot areas, as well as next steps of the project will be presented.

The meeting will be attended by representatives of ministries and departments of the Central Asian countries working in the field of environmental protection, agriculture and water management, emergency situations, as well as representatives of international and regional organizations, and NGOs.

Note to editor:
In April 2012, the Regional Environmental Center for Central Asia (CAREC) started a project on “Fostering transboundary cooperation on small watersheds in Central Asia” with financial support of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The objective of the project is to foster transboundary cooperation based on the introduction of integrated water resources management principles in three selected small rivers (Aspara, Isfara, Ugam).

For more information, check the following link: http://www.carecnet.org/programmes-and-activities/water-initiatives-support/stakeholders%e2%80%99-partnerships-in-collaborative-policymaking-fostering-transboundary-cooperation-on-small-watersheds-in-central-asia/?lang=en

The Kyrgyz Republic, Bishkek, 20 December 2012 – The European Commission, in cooperation and with the support of the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC), the State Agency for Construction and Regional Development of the KR and the INOGATE programme will host the First National meeting, designed to introduce the European Initiative “Covenant of Mayors – East” in the Kyrgyz Republic.

Among participants invited are the Mayors of the cities and regions of Kyrgyzstan, the leading experts in the sphere of energy saving and energy efficiency, and international institutions: the European Union Delegation to the Kyrgyz Republic, UNDP in the Kyrgyz Republic, EBRD, programme INOGATE, USAID, ICF International, GIZ and the project DACO.

What is the advantage of the initiative, and how it differs from others? “Covenant of Mayors – East” not only shares with rich international and European experience of its over 4400 signatories in contributing to green economic growth and improving quality of life, it also provides the municipalities in new independent states with access to latest energy efficient technologies and best practices. Hence, it facilitates to raise additional funds for project implementation in accordance with national priorities and specificities.

Today, Kyrgyzstan is the most active among the Central Asian countries in developing strategies to improve the energy efficiency of municipalities at the legislative level. Republic was the first in the CIS introduced a law “On the energy efficiency of buildings”, which came into force on 6 February 2012.

In this regard, the Covenant’s priority is closely overlapping with the already developed strategic plan of the Kyrgyz Republic in the sphere of energy efficiency. This also affects on having two signatories of the Initiative “Covenant of Mayors – East” – the cities of Osh and Talas – the only signatories of the Covenant on the whole territory of Central Asia.

The Covenant of Mayors is a growing international community of leading local and regional authorities, which benefits from a strong support from political (European Commission, Committee of the Regions, national governments, regional governments, etc.) and financial institutions (European Investment Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, private banks, etc.).

Note to Editor:

Covenant of Mayors is the flagship initiative of the European Union brings together local, regional and national authorities in achieving voluntary pledges to reduce emissions of CO2 by at least 20% by 2020 through using energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies.

Since the launch of the initiative “Covenant of Mayors” in Europe, it has been joined by more than 4,000 cities in 46 countries. In 2011, the European Commission for Development and Cooperation EuropeAid has launched the project “Covenant of Mayors – East”, which provides support for the participation of the cities of the Eastern Partnership and Central Asian countries in achieving sustainable development and energy efficiency of their cities. Armenia, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine have already joined the project and successfully implement a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

More information can be found on the official website: www.merlerdinkelishimi.eu/ or contact:

Olar Maxim
Communications Specialist, CAREC
Tel.: +7 (727) 2785110, 2785022, ext. 185
Fax: + 7 (727) 2785110 (335)
Mob.: +7 705 575 25 March
e-mail: olar.m@carec.kz
olar_maxim@yahoo.com

In October 2012 the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) in cooperation with Goethe Institut, Ministries of Education and Science of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, and at the support of the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) embarked on a new project «Green pack for Central Asia – the Glacier Edition».

The target countries of the project are Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. The target group: teachers and 11-15-year-old students of secondary schools of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

This educational resource will be developed in co-operation with the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC) – as a mian “know-how” owner – based on the project “Green Package for Cental Asia” developed in 2009-2010 in cooperation with REC.

Being a most significant peculiarity of the natural mountainous landscape, the glaciers of Central Asia are a unique source of quality potable water supply in the region. They give rise to the rivers, and their role for agriculture in these arid and semiarid areas is crucial. Glaciers cover about 4% of the territory and store around 50% of all potable water resources of Central Asia.

The project primarily aims at boosting the significance of such issues as climate change, mountains and glaciers, and at promoting mitigation options in Central Asia via the innovative visual teaching tool «Green pack for Central Asia – the Glacier Edition» in CA schools. It also aims at developing relevant skills and competences of students and teachers for sustainable development.

The project maps out the elaboration of the teaching pack «Green pack for Central Asia – the Glacier Edition». The pack will include a CD-ROM, a teacher’s manual and a game Dilemma, and will be made in the Russian, Kazakh and Kyrgyz languages.

On November 28-30, 2012 in cooperation with Goethe Institut and at the support of GIZ the CAREC holds the I Working Group Meeting of the «Green pack for Central Asia – the Glacier Edition» project in Almaty.

The meeting will be held with the participation of leading scientists who are experts in mountains and glaciers of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, representatives and experts of Goethe Institut, NGOs and secondary school teachers of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan who have experience in education for sustainable development (ESD) and who took part in the elaboration of the «Green Pack for Central Asia».

The goal of this meeting is to study and review the action plan, distribution of roles and allocation of responsibilities in scientific, educational and cultural components of the project, to define priority topics of the « Green Pack for Central Asia – the Glacier Edition» with the stress on climate change and energy efficiency.

Contacts

Tatyana Shakirova
Manager of the ESD Programme, CAREC
tel.: 8 (727) 278 51 10, 229 66 46 (120),
e-mail: tshakirova@carec.kz
tatiana_shakirova@yahoo.com

Оларь Максим
Communications Specialist
tel.: 8 (727) 278 51 10, 229 66 46 (185),
e-mail: olar.m@carec.kz
olar_maxim@yahoo.com