Zhamankum Lakes (Almaty oblast) as part of Sorbulak Lake System were rightfully recognized as wetlands of national significance inasmuch as one of the largest southern flyways of migratory birds ran through the lakes and the number of birds stopped over and stayed for feeding reached 100 thousand. In 1988, after the breakout of Sorbulak, Zhamankum lakes became extinct however started recovering due to filtration makeup and currently make a group of small lakes connected with channels. Due to favorable conditions, a high concentration of water and peri-aquatic birds can be observed in the lakes distinguished by rich species structure and a large number. E.g., over 10 rare and endangered species enlisted in the Red Books of International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources and Kazakhstan were found in Koskuduk lake covering 35 ha. Many of those nest and stay for winter. At the same time, biodiversity of Zhamankum lakes face a number of adverse factors such as poaching, animal grazing, demolition of vegetation, land degradation and desertification, inadequate conservation and legal protection of lakes. Local people due to the outbreak of Sorbulak, destruction of hay fields, gardens, melon plantations, cattle and cattle structures lost their jobs and now live in poverty.

The project is committed to conserve biodiversity in Zhamankum lakes by improving environmental activities, level of environmental education amongst local people, students and schoolchildren and their involvement in the project activity; implementation of practical measures to protect water fowl; improvement and recovery of dwelling conditions; improvement of living conditions for local people. The project is planning awareness campaign, training workshops, theoretical and practical classes for students and schoolchildren, public environmental supervision jointly with governmental and environmental agencies, improvement of legal protection for biodiversity and regulation of the use of nature in combination with a lobby component, combating desertification and degradation of lands, improvement of dwelling conditions for water fowl in Koskuduk lake (the most significant in terms of biodiversity) by biotechnical and reproduction activities. Within the project 3 households from Zhapek Auly will be relocated to the project site (their home place). As an alternative livelihood, local people will be involved in rehabilitation of degraded pastures for grazing, planting trees for construction material and fuel in order to prevent cutting trees in forest protection belt. Since the lakes are very attractive and visited by tourists, ecological tourism in combination with national hunting are envisioned. This will encourage conservation of biodiversity and improve livelihoods.