On 26th September 2023, facilitated by ACBK the meeting between Raptor MoU Secretariat’s representative Umberto Galo Orsi and a Vice-Minister of Ecology & Natural Resources was held. On 11th February 2024, the Government of Kazakhstan has signed the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa and Eurasia (Raptors MOU) at the occasion of the 14th Meeting of the Conference of Parties to CMS (CMS COP14) in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
ACBK and RSPB have also been instrumental in the creation of a new intergovernmental instrument of cooperation that was also launched at CMS COP14 – the Central Asian Flyway Initiative. The aim of this Initiative is to unite the efforts of governments and public environmental organizations across 30 countries, to study and conserve migratory birds and their key habitats to maintain the integrity of this vast natural migratory pathway.
Work was carried out to exchange knowledge, best practices, and methodologies in addressing the accidental electrocution of raptors during the Third International Scientific and Practical Conference of Eagles of the Palearctic, co-hosted by ACBK in Almaty. This helped to establish new contacts in the research field, as well as with manufacturers of bird protection devices for possible further work and informing power line owners about the possibilities and cost of power line protection.
From 13–18 October 2023, ACBK and Bokey Orda Rangers surveyed all power lines within the Bokey Orda State Protected Area for bird mortality and powerline design. As a result of these surveys, the remains of 319 individuals of 16 bird species were found, all of which are believed to have been electrocuted.
Kazakh and Russian language versions of the Survey123 App were developed for the first time. This enables surveying of bird mortality by systematic data gathering. After practical testing of this survey methods’ data gathering during a field trip in Bokey Orda, the structure and design were refined and improved and adapted for convenience and efficiency for future use across Kazakhstan and elsewhere in the region.
A Practical User Guide ‘Using the ArcGIS Survey123 app for gathering vital data on power lines’ was developed . This guide includes recommendations on planning and preparing for the inspection of power lines, working with the application itself, as well as the possibility of further analysis of the data gathered. This will be employed from 2024 onwards at priority locations and with existing and new users.
The first in person training in Kazakh to use Survey123 for gathering vital data (bird mortality and nest monitoring) was held in Bokey Orda in October. Online training in Russian for key stakeholders was held on the 1st March 2024, with specialists from protected areas and researchers from universities who are engaged in the monitoring and research of birds of prey were invited and trained.
Two working meetings are held with the Committee of forestry and wildlife as part of the work of the ACBK and partners to disscuss how legislation can be improved in the Environmental Code and other relevant laws. The process of developing recommendations on amendments to legislation is started and will be engaged with the process of general review of legislation on wildlife.
Were developed costed project concepts for Retrofitting dangerous power lines within Bokey Orda State Nature Reserve project concept, Surveying power lines within those State Protected Areas given highest priority for steppe eagle and large migratory birds, and
Sensitivity mapping of the wider landscapes for the danger of power lines at sites of greatest significance to migratory birds .
