Aralsk town is situated north-east of the Aral sea and until the mid-70s it was a port. At the present time the sea has been receded and the former sea bed has become a source of wind salt, sand, and dust which blows onto the town. The prevailing south-westerly wind used to bring cool moist air from the sea but now it brings hot air and hazardous chemicals from the sea bed. Absence of the woody and shrub vegetation around Aralsk aggravates the problem. Clearing of saxaul woodland at the begining of 20th century and current desertification process can dramatically affect biodiversity of north deserts. The importance of stands of trees and shrubs in desert area is difficult to overestimate. They retard the wind speed by 50%, reduce the evaporation from soil surface by 30-50%, and raise the air humidity by 6-8%. Also these stands very important in air improvement as they catch dust, keep ion balance of the air, and are the main sources of production of oxygen, phytoncides. Ecosystems of saxaul and tamarisk play significant role in forest amelioration, are good grazing lands, and nesting places for a great number of desert birds.

The main aim of this project is to identify methods of combating desertification around the Aral sea with the help of ?green zones? in the south-west part of the city, landscape and protected oases, and nurseries for the permanent restoration of forest resources.

Implementation of the project on establishment of the ?green zone?, landscape and protected oases allows to conduct activities on conservation and restoration of biological diversity of the north deserts, improve ecological situation in Aralsk, provide the basis for changing the microclimate, weaken processes of desertification and degradation. Involvement of schoolchildren to the project, ecological popularization and propaganda will become important tool for introduction of new ecological thinking.

The main activities are:
1. Establishment of green protective belt and nursery for woodland and shrubland species on 4 hectares at the south-west edge of the town.
2. Establishment of 3 landscape oases of 100 sq. m.
3. Establishment of 3 protected oases of 400 sq. m and buffer zone of 1 ha.
4. Scientific and practical monitoring of oases.
5. Ecological education of schoolchildren.
6. Popularization of ecological knowledge and dissemination of information about the project.