The years 2007 and 2008 were remarkable for strengthening activities in the field of environmental and nature protection for the administration and inhabitants of the Naurzum district. “Why is it the youth, who work so actively in Naurzum district?”, this question was addressed by the Akim of the Kostanay area, Mr. Kulagin, to the director of the Ak Tyrna Resource Centre, Mr. Igor Simbayev.
The leaders of the Naurzum BioNet Youth Public Association prepared a detailed presentation on the history of the creation of the youth NGO and the Resource Centre, as well as the results of two years of activity, for the visit of representatives of the regional and district administration, which took place on June 3, 2008.
Back row (from left): Igor Smbayev - Director of the Ak Tyrna Resource Centre, Bakitzhan Badygulov - Naurzum Bionet member, Coordinator of the Youth ECONET of the Naurzum region, Ablaihan Anesov.
Front row (from left): Maksim Glushkov - Naurzum Bionet member, Coordinator of the National Youth ECONET, Kulagin - Kostanai governor (Akim), with deputy governor, Tashmagambetov - Naurzum Regional Akim
The process started with the appearance of the experts of the SCWP in 2005. They gathered the local population, youth, had meetings with authority representatives and farmers, told about the great possibilities for non-governmental organizations, supported by the government and international organizations in the field of education and access to great activity. They also discussed the objectives and tasks of the project, the achievement of which was impossible without participation of the local population. The workshops on alternative livelihoods, methods of NGO creation and searching for additional sources of income for the local population, provided new possibilities for the rural inhabitants.
The youth were the first people who responded. In 2006 the Naurzum BioNet MOO was created, then Ak Tyrna Information Electronic Network, and in 2008, Ak-Tyrna Resource Centre began to work. All initiatives are supported by the project and district Akimat. According to the order of Mr. Tashmagambetov, premises were provided for the youth centre, which was repaired by them, and the equipment and furniture were obtained using project funds. Bionet members decided to organize a mini-hotel, and Akimat provided two apartments above the office of the resource centre. Why do they trust them so much?
On the initiative and financial support of the SCWP, the boys organized and conducted the First Crane Festival 2006, the National Crane Festival 2007, the First Forum of Rural Youth of Naurzum district, the First Youth Ecological Forum of Naurzum district, ecological KVN, and the Ak Tyrna youth ecological network was created.
Igor Smbayev made great efforts for the creation of an initiative group of water users of Naurzum district that resulted in the first achievement – using their own means they organized clearing of the trough, installed water release facilities and reconstructed the dam on the territory of Burevestnik rural district on the lands of "ZHITO" TOO managed by Oleg Torhov. The process of creation and registration of a NGO is developing.
French ornithologists visiting the Ak Tyrna Resource Center
The "Eco-sanitary-Energy-Ecology" project is being realized, within the framework of which they plan to install at hydro pump in June 2008, which does not require GSM and electricity, as well as to install solar batteries at cordons of the reserve, in 2009 a bio gas installation will be installed for ecological treatment and receptions of organic fertilizer necessary for restoration of farmland humus.
They shared the information on their own plans and projects with the Akim.
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on development of ecological tourism (examination of new tourist itineraries outside of the Naurzum Reserve has been organized already, a photo report and an ornithological report have been prepared),
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on ecological husbandry,
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on reconstructions of the dams (a project proposal has been prepared and a donor has been found),
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on restoration of pasture lands to prevent conflict, when removing pasture lands from the population in favor of the expansions of the reserve (a project proposal has been prepared and a donor has been found),
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on alternative energy,
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on provision of the population with drinking water,
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on rendering assistance to rural economic units in writing their proposals, development and realization.
It is important to have the support and approval of higher guest officials, since except regional and district Akims, the Deputy Akim of the region on agriculture, Mr. Sadvakasov, and the Chief of the Regional Territorial Committee MA RK, Mr. Mirmanov, and many others were present among the delegation members, whose support is crucial for the fate of the many Naurzum BioNet and Resource Centre initiatives.
Ak Tyrna Resource-information Centre is becoming well known, and not only young people come here, but also old ones. Mr. Dauren Iskakov, who is 83 years old, is a frequent guest, a writer, an author of the book on the history of Naurzum district, "History of the Native Land", he deals with making souvenirs, music instruments, wooden dishes and horse harnesses. He proposes cooperation on organization of a souvenir shop. His work was exhibited at many exhibition centers in Kostanay city on the subject "Public creative activity".
Iskakov Dauren, Siberian crane friend, writer and artistThe resource centre develops international contacts with ornithologists from Finland, France, Scotland, and volunteers will come from the Peace Corp by the end of the year.
Akim of Kostanay region, Mr. Kulagin, was interested in the support of the initiatives in the region:
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environmental awareness raising and education for sustainable development,
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ecological tourism,
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youth ecological initiatives,
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attraction of attention of the public to the problems of biodiversity through organization of PR campaigns/actions, contests, excursions, concerts,
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provision of the population with drinking water.
The support of local authorities and the population is very important for the Resource Centre for sustainable development and realization of plans, and the first successful steps in this direction have been made already.
For more information on these activities please contact:
Director of Ak Tyrna Resource Centre
Igor Simbayev,
Karamendy vil. t/fax: 8-714-54-21038
E-mail: naurzumbionet@mail.ru
Coordinator of Naurzum BioNet MOO
Albert Salemgareyev,
Expert on public participation
Yekaterina Salyutina
Astana city, t/fax.: 8-717-2-34-01-45
E-mail: vera.inyutina@mail.ru
