The release of the film is associated with the receipt by the Altyn Dala Environmental Initiative (PIAD) of the status of the World Flagship for Ecosystem Restoration, the El.kz reports with reference to the press service of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Last December, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) recognized it as one of the ten most successful programs around the world to restore and conserve ecosystems and biodiversity.
The Altyn Dala initiative has been implemented since 2006 in partnership between the Committee for Forestry and Wildlife of the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife of the Ministry of Ecology of the Republic of Kazakhstan, asBC, the Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS, Germany), Fauna and Flora International (FFI) and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB, UK). Its goal is to preserve key species of animals, steppe and semi-desert ecosystems and improve the network of specially protected natural areas.
"Thanks to the measures taken by the state to protect saigas, it was possible to restore their number from 24.0 thousand individuals (2003) to 1.3 million individuals (2022)," the ministry said.
In addition, the tagging of animals with collars with satellite transmitters has identified key sites for saigas at different times of the year and recommended the creation and/or expansion of specially protected natural areas, deepened understanding of the characteristics and migration paths of saigas and the impact of linear infrastructure on them, as well as contributed to the strengthening of the protection of the species by state inspectors.
With the support of UNDP projects in Kazakhstan and other partners, more than 5 million hectares of valuable steppe and semi-desert ecosystems have become lands of specially protected natural areas.
"The return of the saiga is one of the world's greatest conservation success stories. This is a brilliant example of what humans can do when they act decisively to restore fragile ecosystems," said UN Environment Executive Director Inger Anderson:
It is worth noting that in addition to PIAD, nine other initiatives and projects for long-term ecosystem restoration received the award. These 10 examples show that with political will, science and transboundary cooperation, there is a chance to achieve the goal of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and create a more sustainable future for the planet.