Project Profile: Kazakhstan

Integrated environmental education in schools and promoting capacity building of the local population on the conservation of the Saiga Antelope in Kazakhstan

Background

Saigas in the Steppe (Photo: ZGF)

Grassland ecosystems are among the least protected global ecosystems. This kind of disregard in nature conservation often results in a relatively poor condition of the latter. This fact also applies to the steppes of Kazakhstan, which during the Soviet times suffered heavy use. After the break up of the Soviet Union and subsequent collapse of control structures in the field of nature conservation, loss of income of the local population led to severe poaching of the Saiga Antelope for subsistence reasons and for the purpose of financial benefit. As a consequence, within the past 10 years Saiga population in Kazakhstan decreased by 95%. Nowadays, it is forbidden to hunt on Saigas and trade in “Saiga products”.

The project:

Saiga cub (Photo: ZGF)

The project complements international efforts on the protection of the Saiga Antelope (e.g., within the framework of CITES and CMS). It was implemented as part of the Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative in collaboration with the Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS), Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), WWF, Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan (ACBK) and the government of Kazakhstan.

The target group is the local population, in particular schoolchildren, youth and teachers as well as public authorities.

Objectives of the project:

Environmental education in schools;
Informing the local community on the Betpak Dala population of Saigas in Central Kazakhstan;
Raising awareness on the importance of species for steppes as ecosystems and on the problem of poaching.

Environmental education in schools

Trainee program “Volunteer Ranger” (Photo: FZS, Final report)

During 20 months of the project runtime a total of 35 schools were visited, where training units were organized, which in turn were specially developed for the project (e.g., presentations, games, puzzles and films). These schools are mostly located in regions, where Saiga Antelope is still to be found. The project team worked with 52 groups of schoolchildren, which corresponds to an audience of about 4000. For these schools two teaching posters both in Russian and Kazakh languages were created. Besides, there has also been issued a book on steppe ecosystems for higher grade schoolchildren. This in turn complements the textbook on Saiga, which was designed for younger pupils. In addition, within the framework of the “Voluntary Ranger” program five young men had an opportunity to be employed at the Altyn Dala Anti-Poaching Units during their school holidays.