The human decency will save Aral Sea
May 05, 2018 | 23:59 |1566
The expert community gives recommendations on the solution of the Aral Sea problem. According to the Kazakh News Agency “Khabar”, at the workshop on environmental protection in Astana, experts propose to introduce drip irrigation in agriculture in the coastal areas of the Aral Sea as a first-aid measure. This will make possible to use water resources rationally and reduce their losses significantly. As a second measure, a cut in cotton crops areas, which require a lot of water, is proposed. The less water-loving crops can be grown on areas left vacant. It should be mentioned that the implementation of these recommendations will be require certain investments, but seems, there is no alternative. As the Uzbek Ambassador to Kazakhstan Saidikram Niyazhodzhaev said on the sidelines of the briefing on environmental cooperation in CA, more than 60 million people live in Central Asia, and ecology is among main directions in the today’s agenda.Nury AMANOV
According to the Ambassador, about $36 million for five projects that aimed at regulating watercourses and improving the ecological situation in Central Asia is allocated. This sum was allocated by all the Central Asian states, the European Union and USAID.
The Uzbek Ambassador also touched upon the biodiversity issue of the Aral Sea. According to him, certain results have already been achieved to preserve the biodiversity of this region.
“The main issue is preservation of the Aral Sea biodiversity. The sea level has fallen dramatically over the past fifty years. Already, we have achieved certain results in the biodiversity conservation, for example, the bird migration has resumed, an oasis has appeared there, in which certain species of birds stop during long flights. Of course, the water does not fill up as we would like, but the drying was halted, and we are taking measures to revitalize the entire ecosystem,” he said.
That is really good news, inspiring hope that someday the Aral Sea will revive, and the fishing vessels of coastal fisheries and boats of local residents will be seen their again.
I wrote this phrase, and at first, I did not believe myself. Will the Aral will be revived? I admit, a year or two ago I was “disreputable” skeptic on this issue. I read from time to time that somewhere, not for the first time, respected and famous people meet to discuss about revival of the Aral Sea. In addition, in parallel with this there were reports with photo illustrations that the ecological situation in the sea zone is getting worse and worse. There were even reports that the Aral Sea had perished irrevocably.
However, in fact, the migratory birds began to stop for rest during long flights. A migratory bird is the most accurate test. Ecologists say that at any tiredness they will never stop at rest where there is desolation.
I cannot explain why, but I believe more to these birds that driven by the great instincts of life, than to the most representative and important meetings and discussions. I confess that while preparing this material, I changed my position from a strong skeptic to a shy optimist regarding the fate of the Aral Sea.
So, what should we do in the short term perspective, how to consolidate these very first signs of the Aral's return to life? Can we still listen to experts and introduce drip irrigation in this area, as well as cut cotton crops?
Of course, this will require significant financial funds at first, but after all they will pay back a hundredfold after. We have money, our states are not poor. Another thing is that it will be necessary to spend huge money at once, and the sea, maybe, will need decades to be restored. From the point of view of elementary accounting, the project is not very profitable. However, from the point of view of long-term strategic development, there is no alternative to this. Especially if we believe that, the Aral Sea can be brought back to life.
Here it is important to understand that for the revival of the Aral Sea we need to consume less water, so that the saved moisture can be returned to the sea. We should return the one that have been taken out once thoughtlessly. We should pay a debt.
Perhaps, the Aral Sea will teach people that they should be decent and accurate in debts related both to each other and to nature.
