The Ural River, part of the geographical border between Europe and Asia, flows in the northern part of the Caspian Sea and its delta is a peculiar example of “delta of coastal systems and wetland environments”. It is characterized by the existence of a first structure of lobed delta geometry, developed from about 18° century until the first half of 1900. Following the construction of the "Ural-Caspian Sea Canal", fundamental for the economy as transportation water way of local, interregional and international significance, a modern "elongated" or "bird-foot" delta formed and gradually developed. Due to the water supply at variable and low salinity, the seasonal and middle-term variation of the sea level, the area has a variable range of marine and freshwater habitats and supports a considerable number of species, notably 13 IUCN of threatened bird species. In the area live more than 460 species of vertebrate animals, including 76 species of fish (as valuable species of sturgeon), 20 species of reptile, 292 species of bird and 48 species of mammal. At present day the intensive fishing and navigation threat the ecological character of the environment. At the same time, in the last decades the economic and anthropic pressure increased due to the large exploitation of the off-shore oil reserves and the related activities (maritime transport, supporting infrastructures, industries, etc) that only now begin to be fully developed In 2009 the government of Kazakhstan designated the “Ural River Delta and the adjacent Caspian Sea coast” as Wetland of International Importance (Ramsar and State Nature Reserve “Akzhayik”). To contribute to the progress of the area the URPP, under the high patronage of the Ministry of Environment Protection of Kazakhstan supported by ENI, developed researches and studies necessary to start-up the "Ural River Delta - UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve". Interdisciplinary and collaborative whole-of-system approaches have been adopted to resolve environmental problems, including causes and conditions, and the researches included geo-ecological, socio-cultural, political and economic aspects.

Ural River Delta Project (URPP): Start-Up of the “UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve “ (Caspian Sea- Kazakhstan)

GABBIANELLI, GIOVANNI;CANTELLI, LUIGI;CERASETTI, BARBARA
2011

Abstract

The Ural River, part of the geographical border between Europe and Asia, flows in the northern part of the Caspian Sea and its delta is a peculiar example of “delta of coastal systems and wetland environments”. It is characterized by the existence of a first structure of lobed delta geometry, developed from about 18° century until the first half of 1900. Following the construction of the "Ural-Caspian Sea Canal", fundamental for the economy as transportation water way of local, interregional and international significance, a modern "elongated" or "bird-foot" delta formed and gradually developed. Due to the water supply at variable and low salinity, the seasonal and middle-term variation of the sea level, the area has a variable range of marine and freshwater habitats and supports a considerable number of species, notably 13 IUCN of threatened bird species. In the area live more than 460 species of vertebrate animals, including 76 species of fish (as valuable species of sturgeon), 20 species of reptile, 292 species of bird and 48 species of mammal. At present day the intensive fishing and navigation threat the ecological character of the environment. At the same time, in the last decades the economic and anthropic pressure increased due to the large exploitation of the off-shore oil reserves and the related activities (maritime transport, supporting infrastructures, industries, etc) that only now begin to be fully developed In 2009 the government of Kazakhstan designated the “Ural River Delta and the adjacent Caspian Sea coast” as Wetland of International Importance (Ramsar and State Nature Reserve “Akzhayik”). To contribute to the progress of the area the URPP, under the high patronage of the Ministry of Environment Protection of Kazakhstan supported by ENI, developed researches and studies necessary to start-up the "Ural River Delta - UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve". Interdisciplinary and collaborative whole-of-system approaches have been adopted to resolve environmental problems, including causes and conditions, and the researches included geo-ecological, socio-cultural, political and economic aspects.
2011
World Delta Summit 2011: the pulse of Deltas and the fate of our civilization
122
122
T. Kerteshev; G.Gabbianelli; L. Cantelli; B. Cerasetti
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11585/114178
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