CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT
Our project aims to improve the advisory capacities of private and public service providers (e.g., agricultural extension services, industry associations) on environmentally sustainable resource use. With the help of trainings or peer to peer coaching, we advise across various sectors such as agriculture, aquaculture, forestry, eco-tourism, and livestock on different levels from individuals to entire organizations. In addition, our project develops innovative cross-sectoral consulting and information packages on sustainable resource use in the Aral Sea region.
As an example, we offer training programs to strengthen the skills of planning officers on the application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and the use of earth observation as well as other digital planning tools. The GIS training modules cover i.a. water management, land management, hydrology and forestry. For this our project closely works with the Reiner Lemoine Institute (RLI) to conduct module-based GIS training courses. As part of the GIS training, we have organized a GIS study tour to Germany for Uzbek and Kazakh partners for an advanced workshop at RLI, to participate in a conference on GIS, and to visit the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK). The newly acquired skills and relationships with their peers allow our partners to have stronger collaborations and enhanced use of GIS in their daily work.
Furthermore, our project collaborates with the German Aerospace Center (DLR). Together we set up a GIS laboratory at the Agrarian University in Nukus as well as a geoportal solution for an enhanced results visualization and analysis. The DLR conducts satellite data processing of Landsat and Sentinel-2 optical imagery to derive different base products for further applications and planning activities. These products consist of several maps mirroring an up-to-date land cover situation as well as evolution of abandoned crop land, development of natural vegetation and bare soil in the regions around the Aral Sea and its dried seabed.
These maps were first used to support the selection of potential sites for Artemia cultivation and for the assessment of sites selected for different afforestation measures. The final maps will cover the entire area of our project and contribute to regional cross border activities.
Capacity Development Activities
EQUIPMENT FOR SUDOCHYE AND SAIGACHIY RESERVES
Within the framework of the GIZ “ECO ARAL” project equipment worth 337 million UZS was handed over to the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan for the use in Sudochye and Saigachiy state wildlife sanctuaries. The Handover Protocol was signed by Manager of ECO ARAL project Paul Schumacher and Head of Protected Natural Areas Department of the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan Zokir Rakhimov.
SEMINAR ON GROWING ROSEHIP AS INCOME SOURCE
The GIZ project “Environmentally Oriented Regional Development of the Aral Sea Region” (ECO ARAL) in cooperation with the Forestry Agency under the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan held a seminar on the topic: “Agrotechnology for growing rosehip as additional income source” on August 11, 2023 in the forestry nursery of Khodjeyli city of the Republic of Karakalpakstan. The training was held for forestry workers and individual household microenterprises by the representative of
STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING OF ECO ARAL IN TASHKENT 2022-2023
Since its launch in 2020, every year the regional project of GIZ ECO ARAL holds a Steering Committee Meeting (SCM) to discuss the implemented activities of the past year and to discuss the plans for the upcoming year. The Steering Committee was established in January 2021 during the kick off meeting of the project with the aim of coordinating the activities with the political partners. On March 10, 2023, ECO ARAL held the SCM at Hampton by Hilton Hotel in
ECO-ARAL PROJECT STEERING COMMITTEE WORKSHOP 2022-2023
The second meeting of ECO-ARAL Project Steering Committee, established to coordinate the activities of the project, as well as the development of key areas and coordination of activities implemented under the project, took place in Astana on December 2, 2022. During the meeting the project team presented the results of the project in 2022 and discussed the work plan for 2023. According to the results of the current year: During the discussions there were many comments and suggestions for joint
ECOTOURISM TRAINING WITH FOCUS ON SUDOCHYE LAKE
October 13 – 15, 2022, Nukus, Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan | ECO-ARAL in collaboration with German consultancy company Mascontour organized a three-day ecotourism training with participation of local tour operators, the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Heritage of Karakalpakstan, rangers and officials from the protected areas as well as other tourism stakeholders. The eco-tourism training offered by ECO-ARAL led by Mascontour consultants Prof. Nicole Haeusler and Martin H. Petrich and aimed at using the Sudochye Nature Sanctuary as a showcase for designing
PILOT POND FOR ARTEMIA CULTIVATION IN CHIMBAY
September 01 – October 06, 2022, Chimbay, Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan | ECO-ARAL in partnership with the State Unitary Enterprise “Aral Artemia Prom” under Khakimiyat of Muynak district of Karakalpakstan and BVBA Sorgeloos4Aquaculture company led by Prof. Patrick Sorgeloos from University of Ghent, Belgium set up the first pilot pond in Uzbekistan for sustainable cultivation of Artemia. To provide technical support for the new pilot pond ECO-ARAL invited Mr Huynh Thanh Toi from Can Tho University (CTU) in Vietnam. ECO-ARAL in close
ARTEMIA POTENTIAL RESEARCH IN THE ARAL SEA REGION
International aquaculture expert Prof. Patrick Sorgeloos from Ghent University (Belgium) conducted a research expedition to the Northern Aral Sea in Kyzylorda province from 19th to 23rd of September 2022 within ECO-ARAL project to explore the potential of environmentally friendly and sustainable farming of Artemia and other aquaculture species. Representatives of the Executive Board of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea in Kazakhstan and the Aral branch of Fisheries Research and Production Centre also joined the expedition. In addition,
SUSTAINABLE LICORICE CULTIVATION FOR ARAL SEA SPECIALISTS
19-21 September 2022 | Nukus, Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan. ECO-ARAL in partnership with International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) conducted 3-days training of trainers (T o T) programme on “Sustainable Cultivation of Licorice”. 23 participants consisting of specialists from International Innovation Centre in the Aral Sea (IICAS), Tashkent State Agrarian University and Karakalpak Agriculture Research Institute took part in the training that was held at the premises of IICAS. Licorice industry has been one of the main local economic sources for many
KARAKALPAKSTAN FARMERS VISIT KHOREZM FOR OBSERVING AND LEARNING ADVANCED PRACTICES TO GROW HEALTHY MUNGBEAN CROPS
ECO-ARAL in cooperation with the International Centre for agricultural research in the Dried Areas (ICARDA) selected ten farmers’ fields in Karakalpakstan and Khorezm region as piloting plots, to introduce crop diversification for increasing the economy and improvement of the soil quality in the Aral Sea region. Since then, the farmers are participating in the evaluation of innovative crop rotation plans to improve income and soil health compared to the traditional 2-year wheat-cotton rotation. Following up the training programmes in June
DEMONSTRATION OF INNOVATIVE TOOLS AND ADVANCED COMPUTER MODELS FOR ASSESSMENT, ANALYSIS AND MONITORING OF WATER RESOURCES IN KHOREZM REGION OF UZBEKISTAN
The regional project of GIZ Ecologically oriented regional development in the Aral Sea region (ECO-ARAL) in cooperation with the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and Information and Analytical Resource Center of Ministry of Water Resources of Uzbekistan in the framework of a joint project entitled “Increasing water use efficiency in the Aral Sea Region”, organized a one-day training on 26 August 2022 in Urgench. In the event a diverse group of 42 participants representing specialists of Basin Irrigation System Authority,
IMPROVED VARIETY AND PRODUCTION PRACTICES TO GROW MUNGBEAN CROPS IN INNOVATIVE CROP ROTATIONS IN KHOREZM
ECO-ARAL in cooperation with the International Centre for agricultural research in the Dried Areas (ICARDA) selected ten farmers’ fields in Karakalpakstan and Khorezm region as piloting plots, to introduce crop diversification for increasing the economy and improvement of the soil quality in the Aral Sea region. The farmers are participating in the evaluation of innovative crop rotation plans to improve income and soil health compared to the traditional 2-year wheat-cotton rotation. On 12 September 2022, a field visit to the
SERIES OF TRAINING PROGRAMMES ON CAPACITY BUILDING OF WOMEN IN THE ARAL SEA REGION BY INVOLVING THEM IN INNOVATIVE AGRO-BUSINESS
Karakalpakstan Republic and Khorezm Region, Uzbekistan | ECO-ARAL in partnership with Association “Women of the Agricultural Sector” of Uzbekistan conducted a series of seminars for 310 trainees entitled “Capacity building of women in the Aral Sea region by involving them in agro-business and production of compost from waste” in Bozatov, Kungrad and Nukus districts of the Republic of Karakalpakstan between 28-30 July and in Urgench, Khanka and Gurlan districts of Khorezm region on 22-27, August 2022. Empowerment of women in
CONFERENCE ON CAPACITY BUILDING OF THE POTENTIAL OF WOMEN IN THE ARAL SEA REGION BY INOVLVING THEM IN SUSTAINABLE AGRO-BUSINESS
ECO-ARAL in partnership with the Association “Women in Agrarian Sector” of Uzbekistan held a conference on strengthening the potential of women in the Aral Sea region by involving them in sustainable agro-business. ECO-ARAL в партнерстве с Ассоциацией “Женщины в аграрном секторе” Узбекистана провели конференцию по укреплению потенциала женщин в регионе Приаралья путем вовлечения их в устойчивый агро-бизнес. https://ecoaral.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/24-AVGUST-20-00-XABAR-INNO-4.mp4
CONFERENCE ON CAPACITY BUILDING OF THE POTENTIAL OF WOMEN IN THE ARAL SEA REGION BY INOVLVING THEM IN SUSTAINABLE AGRO-BUSINESS
August 23, 2022, Nukus, Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan | The regional project of GIZ Ecologically oriented Regional Development in the Aral Sea (ECO-ARAL) in cooperation with Association “Women of the Agricultural Sector” of Uzbekistan held a conference entitled “Capacity building of women in the Aral Sea region in increasing the efficiency of saline lands and improving the environmental situation in the region through the use of innovative composting” at the premises of the International Innovation Centre for the Aral Sea Basin (IICAS).
SEMINAR ON STRENGTHENING WOMEN’S CAPACITY IN THE AGRICULTURE BUSINESS
ECO-ARAL and the Association “Women in Agricultural Sector” of Uzbekistan continue series of seminars on improving capacities of women in the Aral Sea region by involving them in agricultural business. This time it was held on July 28-29-30 in Buzatau district. And the main objective of these seminars is to increase women’s skills in using saline lands effectively, proper placement of vegetable crops, increasing fertility, the use of mineral and organic fertilizers, protection from pests and diseases of crops on
TRAINING ON APPLICATION OF DIGITAL MODELS TO IMPROVE WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
July 26, 2022, Kyzylorda, Kazakhstan | ECO-ARAL project in cooperation with the Kazakh Research Institute of Rice named after I. Zhakhayev and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) conducted a training on “Application of Ground Control Models, Remote Sensing/Geographic Information Systems and Computer models to improve water resources management at basin and sub-basin levels”. Representatives of the Aral-Syrdarya Basin Inspection on Regulation, Use and Protection of Water Resources, Kazakh Research Institute of Rice named after I. Zhakhayev, RSE “Kyzylorda Hydrogeological
AQUACULTURE STUDIES VISIT IN THAILAND BY HIGH-LEVEL DELEGATION OF THE ARAL SEA REGION
On April 20, 2022, a delegation of 14 participants from Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan along with two experts of ECO-ARAL arrived in Bangkok, Thailand. The purpose of the study visit is to exchange of successful experience on aquaculture and artemia cultivation in Thailand. The delegation of Uzbekistan is led by Kamalov Alibek, Deputy Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade of the Republic of Karakalpakstan and joined by the specialists of the ministry and other experts in the field of agriculture and
EXCHANGE TOUR TO GERMANY ON HYDROGEOLOGY, GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT AND USE
May 30 – June 3, 2022, Berlin, Dresden, Leipzig | The ECO-ARAL project organised a trip to exchange on experience and practical study of the German experience in the field of hydrogeology, groundwater management and use with representatives of the State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Geology and Mineral Resources, the Geology Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan and their relevant departments.During the trip the participants met with a number of organisations, including: German Federal Ministry for the
GIS AND EARTH OBSERVATION STUDY TOUR TO GERMANY
May 23-27, 2022, Berlin, Bonn, Dresden The ECO-ARAL project conducted the next third module of the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Earth Observation training program, which included a study tour to Germany with national partners from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to get acquainted with the practical application of products based on GIS and Earth observation in various environmental projects in Germany. In particular, the participants got acquainted with the project activities of the Reiner Lemoine Institute (RLI) in Berlin; visited the
CAPACITY BUILDING IN ECOTOURISM WITH SPECIAL FOCUS ON PROTECTED AREAS
Between 28 March and 1 April, ECO-ARAL conducted ecotourism training program in Nukus with a field trip to the remote areas of the dried seabed of the Aral Sea. 23 participants of tourism sector from the Aral Sea region of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan took part at the five-day workshop. The aim of the training program has been bringing together various tourism stakeholders – staff of nature parks and protected areas, tour operators, guides, trainers and academics. The group has been
TRAINING PROGRAMME ON EARTH OBSERVATION AND GEOINFORMATION SYSTEMS – Module 1
February 14-18, 2022, Tashkent. ECO-ARAL project conducted a 5-day training on Earth Observation (EO) and Geoinformation systems (GIS) with participation of 20 experts from Uzbekistan, Karakalpakstan and Kazakhstan. The training is designed to build up the capacity of planning officers from territorial administrations, national line ministries and the private sector in using Earth observation-based spatial planning tools and methods.The training module1 covered basics of EO/ GIS and targeted the following topics: Introduction to QGIS for regional planning Geospatial datasets and