The ECO-ARAL project together with public association “Baitak dala” in cooperation with the State Reserve “Barsakelmes” monitors and evaluates the current state of biodiversity of wetlands in the Small Aral Sea and the Syrdarya River delta. The study aims to identify trends in biodiversity change for use in conservation activities in the long term by the State Reserve “Barsakelmes”. Based on the results of the study, recommendations will be developed for sustainable functioning of the wetlands.
From October 2, a group of experts began monitoring wetlands and assessing the state of biodiversity in the Syrdarya river delta. The monitoring is conducted for the 3rd time, and this year it is especially necessary and important due to the expansion of the Barsakelmes Reserve in the Delta section and the current low water levels of the Syrdarya River.
The last monitoring conducted in 2013 and 2015 revealed dangerous trends of declining biodiversity, especially the number of rare species of zooplankton, insects and birds. As a result of previous monitoring in order to preserve the biodiversity of the wetlands, in 2020 the wetlands were included in the reserve area of the Barsakelmes State Reserve.