The State National Park ?Aksu-Zhabagly? is the last exclave of the wild country in the mountains of South Kazakhstan Oblast. Large territory of the National Park, its forests of Central Asia juniper, high-mountain lakes and rivers, gletchers and glacier reservoirs and well-preserved flora play an important role in formation of the clear atmosphere, clean water and favorable climate of South Kazakhstan and Zhambyl Oblasts. At the same time during the last years the situation in the National Park and its protective zone has aggravated and great many ecological, economic and social problems have appeared. In accordance with the preliminary estimates about 80% of the local residents are unemployed and majority of them do not have any permanent sources of income.

Under present conditions the development of ecological tourism is the most optimal alternative of the economic activity that meets the interests of the National Park, local citizens and the local authorities and helps to

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preserve the biodiversity of Western Tyan-Shan. Organization of the ecological tourism in the National Park and its buffer zone will help to minimize the negative ecological, social and cultural consequences of the non-organized tourism, assist in funding the National Park and environment protection actions and create the sources of income for the local people. Positive experience obtained in the course of the Project implementation will allow demonstrating the optimal scheme of development of the organized ecological tourism and apply this experience for other NAPPs and communities.

The main objectives of the project are:
1.Raise the ecological conscienceness of the people, visitors and sightseers through establishment of the information system.
Develop and popularize the ecological information among the visitors and sightseers.
Train the conductors and guides from among the local residents to provide excursion for Kazakhstani and foreign tourists.
Print the advertising materials: photoalbum of endangered species of flora and fauna, make information boards and maps, rules for tourists, etc.
2. Lay down the fundamentals of the ecological tourism on the basis of local communities:
Create the local infrastructure to accept and serve the tourists
Implement and explain the fundamentals of the environment protection and local studies to the local residents
Reach the high level of reception and services provided to the tourists by the local people
Render services to the tourists
3. Furnish the ecological paths and routes.
Select the ecological paths in different ecosystems
Map and prepare the explanatory legends
Furnish 2 sample routes or paths
Develop the ecological route outside the National Park (in order to reduce the loading)
Prepare and conduct the excursions.
4. Technical re-equipment of the existing information center of the NGO ?Wildlife?

Expected outcomes:
1.As a result of the Project implementation the level of ecological knowledge of the local people and the Aksu-Zhabagly National Park visitors will be raised through development of the information and propaganda concerning preservation of the Western Tyan-Shan biodiversity as the unique value of Kazakhstan.
2.There will be laid the foundation of the ecological tourism ? the most acceptable activity promoting preservation of the biodiversity and at the same time earning revenues for the local people - as the alternative to uncontrolled exploitation of the natural resources.
3.The role of the local NGOs in solving the ecological problems will strengthen resulting in further activization and consolidation of their activity.
4.Assistance will be rendered to the National Park in development and organization of the ecological paths, in propaganda of the biodiversity preservation and regulation of the recreational loading on the natural ecosystems. Two routes will be developed and furnished and two ecological paths will be furnished in Aksu-Zhabagly National Park. Animal observation desk will be constructed and equipped. Not less than 5 routes will be developed on the territory adjacent to the National Park. The tourist equipment will be bought and the tourist service center will be established.
5.The local residents will get the additional source of income. The Project assumes participation of 5 families as providing guest houses, 1 family supplying kumiss, 18 participants of the national music company, 1 souvenir- producing shop, 3 horse owners and 3 car owners, guides and attendants.

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