Objective The main aim of the project is an improved management of the natural resources in the delta of the Syr Darya in the Aral Sea region. A modern tool and method of resource evaluation, assessment and management will be introduced in the rehabilitation of an ecologically destabilised region. Thereby, the capacity of GIS will be used in order to monitor and evaluate natural resources as the capacity of GIS to model. The modelling capacity will allow the experimentation with different regimes of water management, its effects on morphology and chemistry of water bodies and show their potential effects on the soil-vegetation layer, its quantitative and qualitative aspects, including biological diversity and salt regime.In 1989, the Syr Darya delta was officially declared a zone of ecological disaster. Due to the decline of the level of the Aral Sea and the hydrological infringements of the river Syr Darya, radical changes have taken place in the functioning of the delta-ecosystem. The natural resource potential was considerably lowered. Subject to the most severe changes were the hydrological network of the delta and the soil-vegetation layer.Therefore, a GIS system covering the delta area is created by combination and structuring of existing data and data collected as part of the project. The organisation of the data in a computerised system will allow its complex analysis and use for experimental modelling Different scenarios of water resource management and land use management will be run as models to find out the results on water, soil and vegetation. Improved variants for natural resource management found through modelling will be further investigated and developed into concrete project proposals.The to be developed GIS for research and management of natural resources in the delta of the Syr Darya represents an open developed system for research, planning and decision-making on environmental questions in the delta of the Syr Darya. The strategy of the open system starts with the creation of a baseline complex in the beginning (water-soil-vegetation resources) and the gradual development of the system in accordance with the occurrence of new problems and opportunities to consider.During the enrolment of the project, already structured and developed information will be distributed to all institutions working on issues linked with ecology in the area. These include UN agencies, World Bank, IFAS and others. The main findings will be published in national and international journals. Results of experimental modelling, showing ways of improved water and resource management will be further developed into concrete project proposals and submitted to the relevant decision makers in administration, land user groups, NGOs and international agencies. Programme(s) IC-INTAS - International Association for the promotion of cooperation with scientists from the independent states of the former Soviet Union (INTAS), 1993- Topic(s) 5 - Earth Sciences, Environment, Energy Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme Data not available Coordinator Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) EU contribution No data Address West Mains Road EH9 3JG Edinburgh United Kingdom See on map Total cost No data Participants (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all Institute of Geography Kazakhstan EU contribution No data Address 480100 Almaty See on map Total cost No data
