Degree of Master of

Environmental development: biodiversity conservation as the top

priority for the AALS
Among various environmental aspects of the Aydar-Arnasay lakes system development the present research considers biodiversity conservation which is high-priority direction for these lakes nowadays. Primarily, the present section examines the project at initiation of the Nuratau-Kyzylkum Biosphere Reserve which includes the Arnasay Ornithological Reserve on Lake Tuzkan as the bright example of the environmental model for biodiversity conservation. Secondly, the section analyzes the Aydar-Arnasay lakes in terms of Ramsar Convention, including consideration criteria for identifying wetlands of international importance and finding of the appropriate criteria for the AALS.
Considering the conservation measures taken, according to Project UNDP/GEF/ Government of Uzbekistan "Creation of Nuratau Kyzylkum Biosphere reserve as a model of preservation of a biodiversity of Uzbekistan", the most part of the Aydar-Arnasay lakes located in the territory is included into the Nuratau-Kyzylkum biosphere reserve those features will be described in the next section.

CEU eTD Collection
Furthermore, in 1983 under the decision of the Government, the Arnasay ornithological zakaznik¹⁶ (type of protected area) covering 63,000 hectares was created on the territory these lakes (Mahmudova 2004a). This zakaznik unites three reservoirs: Tuzkan, Arnasay, and Aydarkul. In accordance with IUCN list of protected areas category (2003), this zakaznik was treated as category IV, i.e. Habitat/Species Management Area: protected area managed mainly for conservation through management intervention. It means that the area of land and/or sea is subjected to active intervention for management purposes so as to ensure the maintenance of habitats and/or to meet the requirements of specific species (Chape, Blyth et al. 2003).
Recently, “Action Plan for maintenance of stability of ecological conditions and effective use of Aydar-Arnasay Lakes System for the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2008-2015 years” was developed in Governmental level and also approved by the government. The main idea of this plan is to preserve and maintain the stable conditions of Aydar-Arnasay water

¹⁶ Zakaznik - is a type of protected area in Russia and other former Soviet republics that meets World Conservation Union's (IUCN) category III, or more frequently category VII criteria. Zakazniks are the areas where temporary or permanent limitations are placed upon certain on-site economic activities, such as logging, mining, grazing, hunting, etc. They correspond to sanctuary in UNESCO World Heritage terminology Chape, S.,

S. Blyth, et al., Eds. (2003). United Nations List of Protected areas, UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Center.
ecosystem as an ecosystem carrying valuable ecological and socio-economic functions for Uzbekistan. Among proposed conservation measures, the wetland’s management plan for the Aydar-Arnasay lakes is being elaborated. These lakes are under the protection of the state bodies of nature protection (International 2008b).

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