The Aiyr Bolotnyi (Acorus calamus l.) is included into Red Book not only Kyrgyzstan but many other counties too; the main reasons of its disappearance are marsh drain, reeds setting on the fire, its gathering for herbal and food needs by local people. The east Issyk-Kul is the only place in Kyrgyzstan, where on separate marsh we can meet this vegetation. It is supposed to demonstrate on several plots of possibility to preserve wetland and at the same time to provide economic interests of local people.
The main goal of the project is preservation wetlands habitat of Aiyr Bolotnyi and reeds through the organizing protected zones, community-based patrols, nursery and transplanting seeds, creation of community-based livelihood by organizing workshop producing goods from reeds. Raising public awareness about environmental problems, conducting information campaign.
During the project realization the follow outputs are expected:
Ecological
Stopping of wetland area reduction on east Shore of Issyk-Kul Lake.
Economic
Demonstration of wetlands using ways for receiving additional incomes, which comparable with incomes from using this plot after draining as a pasture.
Socio-cultural or political
At the end of 19th and beginning 20th centuries Russian and Ukraine migrants occupied by producing goods from reeds. In our days descendants of these migrants are minority in the settlements on the Issyk-Kul Lake that is why it is mostly forgotten handcraft. Handcraft preservation and impart knowledge to other ethnics let to support existing cultural variety.
Actions to be undertaken by Public Foundation «Russkiy Fond»:
1.Conducting seminars and round tables.
2.Collecting seeds of Aiyr Bolotnyi for nursery to transplanting later them.
3.Fencing territory of nursery.
4.Inventory of wet-lands of east coast of Issy-Kul lake, creation of map.
5.Organizing workshop producing goods from reeds.
6.Adopting resolution of local authority about protecting wet-lands.
7.Organizing patrols.
8.Publishing brochures, posters and map of wet-lands.
9.Information campaign
34 people will be involved to project realization (which main activities are plant cultivation and cattle-breeding). 55 people will take place in seminars.
Main activities will be undertaken between Uructu village in the northern shore of Issykkul lake and Lipenka in the southern shore of the same lake.
The main expected ecological and economic benefits of the project are:
Ecological benefit:
- raising public awareness about environmental problems and necessity of wetlands preservation
- suspending of disappearance of animals and plants included into Red Book through reproduction of wood-bushes vegetations
- nursery gives opportunity to for self-reproduction and raising of natural flora and fauna
- protection and increasing of habitat of animals and plants included into Red Book (Water Snake (Natrix), Green Toad (Bufo), Central Asian Frog (Rana), Aiyr Bolotnyi (Acorus calamus l.)
economic benefits
- additional incomes from Aiyr Bolotnyi plantations and its sale to pharmaceutical companies
- organizing workshops on reeds processing