Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASHGABAT501
2009-04-20 10:39:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURMENISTAN: ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AT THE HAZAR
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHAH #0501/01 1101039 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 201039Z APR 09 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2687 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 5108 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2858 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2723 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 3352 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 3485
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 000501
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, OES FOR SCHENA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/17/2019
TAGS: PGOV EAID EPET ESTH SENV AORC TX
SUBJECT: TURMENISTAN: ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AT THE HAZAR
NATURE RESERVE
Classified By: Charge Richard Miles, reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 000501
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, OES FOR SCHENA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/17/2019
TAGS: PGOV EAID EPET ESTH SENV AORC TX
SUBJECT: TURMENISTAN: ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AT THE HAZAR
NATURE RESERVE
Classified By: Charge Richard Miles, reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: UNDP and the Global Environmental Fund
are sponsoring a project for community outreach in the Hazar
Nature Reserve, to reduce the amount of hunting and fishing
of endangered and unique species in the area. This involves
the delicate work of trying to change the habits of those who
are practicing ancestral hunting and fishing traditions. The
project sponsors grants for small businesses that can
generate income from alternate sources, and plans many
training programs for the youth. Construction of the Avaza
Free Tourism Zone and oil and gas drilling in the area have
made this work more critical than ever. This project is
doing important work by educating people about
environmentalism, in a place where there is little
understanding of it. END SUMMARY.
PROJECT COMPONENTS
2. (C) Public Relations Specialist, Dayanch Hojagyeldiyev
(please protect),has worked for the UNDP/Global
Environmental Fund Project "Conservation and sustainable use
of globally significant biological diversity in Hazar Nature
Reserve on the Caspian Sea Coast" since July 2008, and
discussed the project's goals and components in a meeting on
April 16. The Hazar area is home to flora and fauna such as
the Caspian seal, which is unique to the immediate area, and
the green toad, which is unique to Central Asia. Many other
species in the area are also unique to desertified areas.
According to Hojagyeldiyev, the current focus is on local
community outreach in order to raise awareness of the Reserve
and the importance of adhering to fishing and hunting
restrictions. The project organizes training programs on
alternative income-producing activities, such as a recent
program on producing handicrafts from sheep and camel wool.
The project also gives grants for small businesses, such as a
new tailor shop. In addition, the project is procuring
equipment used for scientific research. Hojagyeldiyev said
that his colleagues are in the process of developing a
relationship with the Government of Turkmenistan to
strengthen environmental governance over wildlife resources,
which is becoming more of a concern due to the construction
of the Avaza Free Tourism Zone and oil and gas drilling in
the area.
CHALLENGES AND SUCCESSES
3. (C) Hojagyeldiyev said that community outreach regarding
conservation is difficult in the Hazar area, because he and
his colleagues are essentially trying to change the habits of
locals that originated with their ancestors many generations
ago. NGO Association of Hunters and Fishermen monitors
hunting activity in the region and ensures that hunters are
not active during restricted seasons, and is cooperating with
the project. He said that training programs have been useful
in educating locals why they should change their traditions.
Whereas Border and Customs guards generally forbid them from
hunting or fishing, locals understand the reasons for it
after going through the training programs. As a result of
Hojagyeldiyev's public outreach, the official
Russian-language newspaper Neytralniy Turkmenistan covers the
project two times a month, and Turkmenistan TV has presented
stories on the unique and beautiful nature in the area.
Currently, the staff is very involved in the organization of
Earth Day events for students and biology teachers, as well
as Hazar Nature Reserve employees.
4. (C) COMMENT: Hojagyeldiyev is one example of a U.S.
program alumnus who is doing great things in Turkmenistan.
It appears that the program spends much of its resources on
education programs for young people, because the staff
understands the importance of influencing youth. This
project is doing valuable work by educating people about
environmentalism, in a place where there is little
understanding of it. END COMMENT.
MILES
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, OES FOR SCHENA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/17/2019
TAGS: PGOV EAID EPET ESTH SENV AORC TX
SUBJECT: TURMENISTAN: ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AT THE HAZAR
NATURE RESERVE
Classified By: Charge Richard Miles, reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: UNDP and the Global Environmental Fund
are sponsoring a project for community outreach in the Hazar
Nature Reserve, to reduce the amount of hunting and fishing
of endangered and unique species in the area. This involves
the delicate work of trying to change the habits of those who
are practicing ancestral hunting and fishing traditions. The
project sponsors grants for small businesses that can
generate income from alternate sources, and plans many
training programs for the youth. Construction of the Avaza
Free Tourism Zone and oil and gas drilling in the area have
made this work more critical than ever. This project is
doing important work by educating people about
environmentalism, in a place where there is little
understanding of it. END SUMMARY.
PROJECT COMPONENTS
2. (C) Public Relations Specialist, Dayanch Hojagyeldiyev
(please protect),has worked for the UNDP/Global
Environmental Fund Project "Conservation and sustainable use
of globally significant biological diversity in Hazar Nature
Reserve on the Caspian Sea Coast" since July 2008, and
discussed the project's goals and components in a meeting on
April 16. The Hazar area is home to flora and fauna such as
the Caspian seal, which is unique to the immediate area, and
the green toad, which is unique to Central Asia. Many other
species in the area are also unique to desertified areas.
According to Hojagyeldiyev, the current focus is on local
community outreach in order to raise awareness of the Reserve
and the importance of adhering to fishing and hunting
restrictions. The project organizes training programs on
alternative income-producing activities, such as a recent
program on producing handicrafts from sheep and camel wool.
The project also gives grants for small businesses, such as a
new tailor shop. In addition, the project is procuring
equipment used for scientific research. Hojagyeldiyev said
that his colleagues are in the process of developing a
relationship with the Government of Turkmenistan to
strengthen environmental governance over wildlife resources,
which is becoming more of a concern due to the construction
of the Avaza Free Tourism Zone and oil and gas drilling in
the area.
CHALLENGES AND SUCCESSES
3. (C) Hojagyeldiyev said that community outreach regarding
conservation is difficult in the Hazar area, because he and
his colleagues are essentially trying to change the habits of
locals that originated with their ancestors many generations
ago. NGO Association of Hunters and Fishermen monitors
hunting activity in the region and ensures that hunters are
not active during restricted seasons, and is cooperating with
the project. He said that training programs have been useful
in educating locals why they should change their traditions.
Whereas Border and Customs guards generally forbid them from
hunting or fishing, locals understand the reasons for it
after going through the training programs. As a result of
Hojagyeldiyev's public outreach, the official
Russian-language newspaper Neytralniy Turkmenistan covers the
project two times a month, and Turkmenistan TV has presented
stories on the unique and beautiful nature in the area.
Currently, the staff is very involved in the organization of
Earth Day events for students and biology teachers, as well
as Hazar Nature Reserve employees.
4. (C) COMMENT: Hojagyeldiyev is one example of a U.S.
program alumnus who is doing great things in Turkmenistan.
It appears that the program spends much of its resources on
education programs for young people, because the staff
understands the importance of influencing youth. This
project is doing valuable work by educating people about
environmentalism, in a place where there is little
understanding of it. END COMMENT.
MILES