The International Crane Festival 2008 was organized and celebrated in Naurzum district centre from 13 to 14 September 2008. The Festival was celebrated in the district for the third time, and more than 14,000 schoolchildren took part this year: drawings, posters, homemade articles, verses and songs, computer presentations were sent by children from Rudniy, Lisakovsk, Arkalyk, Petropavlovsk and Semipalatinsk cities and Karabalyk, Karasus, Auliekol and Naurzum districts, the Russian Federation and Uzbekistan.

One Hundred and six children representing 26 delegations came to the opening of the festival, which took place on September 13 at the stadium, decorated with enormous stands depicting Siberian Cranes. More than 800 spectators enjoyed theatrical performances, the actors of which were children – laureates of the former and future festivals. All inhabitants of the district center and surrounding villages came to watch the performances of the children and school groups. Amateur groups and groups from children’s creative activity studios prepared legends - ballets about the Siberian Crane and Naurzum land appearance. The settlers dressed in clothes of bright colors and came in ancient carts, and the local people greeted them with dances and songs. On completion of the festival opening the guests enjoyed a holiday firework and merry disco.

The culmination of the festival was a gala concert – a parade of young talents on September 14. What a great number of songs, author's poems and dance performances were presented for 250 spectators! All of them were dedicated to a remarkable bird - a crane, which is considered by many people of the world as a symbol of peace, happiness, long-life, faithfulness and good life; as well as the Naurzum National Natural Reserve - a pearl of the country, which was included into the List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in July 2008.

The hymn of the festival was a "Crane," a song composed in Russian, Kazakh and English by Naurzum youth from Hasengaly Kamalov and Bakhytzhan Badygulov. An atmosphere of good will, cordiality, light, friendship and peace reigned during the holiday. The spirit of unity of people with nature, as if the Siberian Crane, whirled midair.

An exhibition of children’s creative works, as well as an exhibition of wood works of AnsaganTorin from Ulendy village that caused great interest of guests and delegates, was organized at the festival.

Judging by the opinion of local inhabitants, the Crane Festival has become the most striking event in 2008. Next year the expenses for organization of this ecological holiday will be allocated in the district budget and the initiative of "Siberian Crane Wetland Project" will be continued, and that will arouse love of nature and native land in the hearts of people.

Akim of the Naurzum district, Mr. Tashmagambetov, thanked Vera Inyutina, the Manager of "Siberian Crane Wetland Project" for her help in the organization and financial support of the holiday. The positive influence of the Crane Festival for the development of the economy, ecotourism and image of the district was mentioned by the director of the Naurzum National Natural Reserve, Mr. Muttakov, the secretary of Maslikhat, Mr. Amanbaev, and leaders of organizations and institutions of the district.

The addresses of the guests from the Russian Federation made a great impression during the festival: the head of the Biodiversity Department of the All-Russian Institute on Nature Conservation, the Vice President of the Working Group on Cranes of Eurasia, the national coordinator of the Memorandum on the Conservation of the Siberian Crane  within the framework of the Bonn Convention, Mr. Alexander Sorokin, the director of Oksk State Biosphere Reserve, supervisor on the common crane of the Working Group on the Cranes of Eurasia, Mr. Yuriy Markin, who works under "Flight of Hope" international project.

The children listened to the coordinators of nature conservation programs of the Associations of the Conservation of Biodiversity in Kazakhstan (ASBK), Edit Mayer from Austria and Zhanna Aksartova from Almaty, who presented the participants of the festival with memorable prizes, with great interest. The experts Rauf and Tamara Sabitovs, permanent initiators and organizers of annual festivals awarded young winners with diplomas and prizes, prepared through the "Siberian Crane Wetland Project".

The Kazakhstan Working Group of the "Siberian Crane Wetland Project" thanks the organizers for active participation in the work of the Festival: the organizational committee of the festival, whose enthusiasm, patriotism and faith in good will helped to take place this great remarkable holiday - A.Omarova, O.Glushkova, G.Anesova, T.Vasilyeva, G.Aksautova, N.Ahmetova, I. Azbasarova, Doskulova, A.Salemgareyev, M.Glushkov and B.Badygulov. It thanks for the  assistance and sponsor support: ASBK, experts of  "Ak Tyrna" Resource-informational centre, members of public associations: "Naursum BioNet", "Ak Niet"; the director of the Naurzum National Natural Reserve - B.Muttakov, his deputy M. Zeynelova, Akim T. Tashmagambetov, District Maslikhat (B.Amanbayev), deputy of the chairman of the Public Democratic Party "NurOtan" (K.Zeynelov), the employees of the Central District Hospital (S.Ismagulov), district committee of the trade union of educational employees (A.Orazbayev), public shop, "Salem" and "Dostyk" shops, district public library, K.Yermukhanov; the teachers of Dokuchayev Secondary School (Z. Aldazhumanov), Zhambyl Secondary School (T. Sutemgenov), professional Litsey  #8 (Z.Shayahmetov), House of Culture (B.Kamalov), RES (A. Tazhkenova), Treasury (B. Kozhabaeva A.), PCH- 16 (Z Anayev A), Department of the Economy and Finance, employees of "Arman" Leisure Centre, District Library, schools of Karamendy village, L-club of students of senior forms.

"I was present at many celebrations of the Crane Day in different countries and nowhere this holiday was at such a great scale, striking and impressive as it was in Kazakhstan" – the words of the national coordinator of the Memorandum on the Conservation of the Siberian Crane within the framework of the Bonn Convention, Mr. Alexander Sorokin, that inspire the organizers to do the Crane Festival, an ecological tradition, for many years in the future.

For more information on this program please contact:

Member of Festival Organizational Committee,
Deputy Director of Dokuchayev Secondary School
A.Omarova

National Manager of UNEP/GEF Siberian Crane Wetland Project
Vera Inyutina
Astana city, tel./fax.:8 (7172) 340 145
e-mail: vera.inyutina@mail.ru

National Coordinator of MES RK
Member of Coordination Council of RK NGO EcoForum
Chairman of "Naurzum BioNet" YPA
Maxim Glushkov