1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Approach

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

Central Asian Countries Initiative for Land Management (CACILM I)

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

Kazakh Institute of Soil Science and Agrochemistry - Kazakhstan

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

UNDP/GEF Project Uzbekistan (UNDP/GEF Uzbekistan) - Uzbekistan

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

Katon-Karagay National Park - Kazakhstan

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

2.1 Short description of the Approach

Establishment and activity of educational ranger stations on the basis of forestry units and secondary schools to involve youth in nature protection activity to conserve, restore and study unique natural features of the Kazakh Altai (in the frame of CACILM).

2.2 Detailed description of the Approach

Detailed description of the Approach:

Aims / objectives: Environmental education and involvement of coming generations in the conservation of forest ecosystems and reforestation of target areas through creation of nurseries and initial training of forestry specialists. Improved study of nature and deepened knowledge in Biology, Geography, Ecology

Methods: Forestry Schools are a tradition of the Soviet period. Relevant factors of negative impact on the fragile forest ecosystems in East Kazakhstan (fires, pests, illegal cutting) have necessitated the involvement of young people in forest protection activities. In the Katon-Karagay district 4 school ranger stations were created based on five secondary schools. The scholars are the members them. School ranger stations are self-governing organizations and the responsibilities are distributed among its members as it is distributed in any other establishments of forestry. One elected scholar-forester and a council which consists of 6-8 of the most active and experienced pupils, lead all activities. School teachers and foresters supervise their work but they are not members of School ranger stations. The most active school ranger station is the 'Cedar' in Uryl villlage. The main activity is to educate school children with the basics of forestry, monitoring, the practices of tree nurseries and protection of trees in the forests, the participation of school children in the state program 'Green Country’ and in national and international conferences and gatherings. The legal framework of land ownership ensures the sustainability of the approach on the state level and facilitates the implementation of this approach

Stages of implementation: 1.The initiative was taken by the administration of Berel Forestry Unit, the department on environmental awareness raising and education of Katon-Karagay national park and the director of the Uryl Secondary School. 2. Cooperation to discuss and agree on the role of the parties. 3. Agreement on Cooperation between the Office of the Katon-Karagay national park, Uryl secondary school and youth social organization 'Eco-tourism center'. 4. Training seminars for coaches and pupils of 'Cedar' school. 5. Distribution of approach and creation of 3 similiar schools in Katon-Karagay distric

Role of stakeholders: Secondary school: environmental education, methodical gathering, information on Forestry and Earth sciences, preparing school children for national and international competitions and conferences. Katon-Karagay national park and forestry: tools, vehicles, plants, theoretical and practical work with school professionals, the cost of participation in competitions and conferences. Local authorities: institutional support. 'Forest Conservation and Reforestation' project: additional information, laboratory&reagents, tools, uniform for scholars, trainings. 'Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan part of Altai-Sayan Ecoregion'project: information support, seminars and assistance in the production of Conference Proceedings. Local community: all kinds of support

2.3 Photos of the Approach

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Approach has been applied

2.6 Dates of initiation and termination of the Approach

2.7 Type of Approach

• успешное восстановление проSuccessful restoration of the program of the Soviet period

2.8 Main aims/ objectives of the Approach

The Approach focused mainly on other activities than SLM (training, monitoring and evaluation of the ecological state of forests, forest protection, environmental education)

Conservation of forest ecosystems, environmental education, training in basic forestry issues, professional orientation of youth in the field of forestry

The SLM Approach addressed the following problems: Increase in the number of wildfires; Diseases and pests of forest plants; Illegal wood cutting; Lack of theoretical and practical technical knowledge; Lack of young skilled specialists;

2.9 Conditions enabling or hindering implementation of the Technology/ Technologies applied under the Approach

3.1 Stakeholders involved in the Approach and their roles

3.2 Involvement of local land users/ local communities in the different phases of the Approach

	Involvement of local land users/ local communities	Specify who was involved and describe activities
initiation/ motivation	interactive	Katon-Karagay National Park and forestry units – all kinds of support and introduction of the tradition of forest schools. Secondary schools teachers - motivation of scholars to participate actively in basic forestry issues and educational issues on the forests careful treatment and protection.
planning	interactive	Katon-Karagay National Park and forestry units - introducing of forest schools’ activity in the national park budgetary plan and workplan. Secondary schools teachers – inclusion of activities to be implemented jointly with forest school in the extracurricular workplan, methodical developments.
implementation	interactive	Technical and financial support, practical training of scholars in forest nurseries and on the territory of the national park; environmental education, training for participation in international and national conferences, workshops and additional literature on forestry and forest management.
monitoring/ evaluation	interactive	Katon-Karagay National Park and forestry units specialists, “Forest Conservation and Expansion of Forest Area on the Territory of the Republic“ Project of the Forestry and Hunting Committee of MA RK with the support of the World Bank, specialists of East-Kazakhstan University
Research	interactive	Workshops on selection of sowing material, methods in the accelerated growing of small coniferous standard seedlings, technologies and skills in the maintenance of the germaplasma viability of seeds, training and methodological literature on forestry and forest management.

3.3 Flow chart (if available)

3.4 Decision-making on the selection of SLM Technology/ Technologies

Specify who decided on the selection of the Technology/ Technologies to be implemented:

• mainly land users, supported by SLM specialists

Explain:

The administration of the Katon-Karagay National Park jointly with the Department on Primary and Secondary Education of the district and the region has made a decision to revive and support the successful tradition of the Soviet period for forest conservation, environmental education of schoolchildren and training of forestry specialists, the lack of which has become obvious in the last years.

Decisions on the method of implementing the SLM Technology were made by mainly by SLM specialists with consultation of land users. Organizational and methodical activity on environmental aspects were implemented by the director and teachers of the secondary school of Uryl village, the training of schoolchildren in technical issues was organized by specialists of the forestry economic unit

4.1 Capacity building/ training

Was training provided to land users/ other stakeholders?

Yes

• The approach is applicable to involve schoolchildren in nature conservation activity and ecological education in various regions both with forest areas and for the protection of other ecosystems.

If relevant, specify gender, age, status, ethnicity, etc.

Schoolchildren (12-16 years old) are involved in extracurricular training (lectures, debates, workshops) in basic forestry issues and forest management, practical basic issues of forest monitoring and protection, as well as in the studies in nurseries and in the forest areas of Katon-Karagay SNNP, and in participation in the 'Zhasyl Yel' state program and in various national and international con

Form of training:

• on-the-job
• demonstration areas

4.2 Advisory service

Do land users have access to an advisory service?

Yes

• in schools

Describe/ comments:

Name of method used for advisory service: Support of the distribution of new approaches and technologies through studies related to forests; Key elements: 1.Training of Uryl ranger station members (schoolchildren, teachers and employees of the forestry economic unit) in the methods of the accelerated growing of standard seedlings of small coniferous trees (spruce, larch, pine and fir trees), 2.Delivery of new knowledge, transfer of technologies and practical skills to instructors on training Uryl educational ranger station and the Berel Branch of Katon-Karagay State National Natural Park on the maintenance of the germaplasma viability of seeds collected from forest genetic reserves; Name: Support of the distribution of new approaches and technologies through studies related to forests, through expansion of training to achieve forestry profitability, forest conservation and wood product market management

Advisory service is very adequate to ensure the continuation of land conservation activities; There is no state consultation service, but research and production facilities can provide consultation services. E.g. Kondratovskiy Research and Show Forest Nursery, Ltd. deals with the growing and realization of planting material of fruit and wood-shrubbery and coniferous tree sorts of high quality, seed collecting, testing of scientific studies and introducing into production.

4.3 Institution strengthening (organizational development)

Have institutions been established or strengthened through the Approach?

• yes, moderately

Specify the level(s) at which institutions have been strengthened or established:

• local

Specify type of support:

• capacity building/ training

• Seedlings

Give further details:

Training on the method of accelerated growing of standard seedlings of small coniferous trees, as well as knowledge, technologies and practical skills in the conservation of the germaplasma viability of seeds; support in the creation of areas for forest crops, cedar, fir and pine trees.

4.4 Monitoring and evaluation

Is monitoring and evaluation part of the Approach?

Yes

Comments:

Bio-physical aspects were regular monitored by land users, other through observations; indicators: The specialists of the forestry economic unit, the specialists of “Forest Conservation and Expansion
There were no changes in the Approach as a result of monitoring and evaluation
There were no changes in the Technology as a result of monitoring and evaluation

4.5 Research

Was research part of the Approach?

Yes

Specify topics:

• sociology
• ecology
• technology

Give further details and indicate who did the research:

Dr.Yermek Zhumabayev - training of teachers of Uryl forest school on accelerated growing of standard seedlings trees (spruce, larch, pine and fir trees); A.Dzhumagulova - pedagogical studies on environmental education; Renat Yeskazyuly - study of opportunities for tourism development and raising of awareness of environmental issues in the region.

Research was carried out both on station and on-farm

5.1 Annual budget for the SLM component of the Approach

If precise annual budget is not known, indicate range:

• < 2,000

Comments (e.g. main sources of funding/ major donors):

Approach costs were met by the following donors: other (“Forest Conservation and Expansion of Forest Area on the Territory of the Republic“ Project): 50.0%; government (Katon-Karagay National Natural Park of MA RK - tools, consumables (seedlings, fertilizers, stationаr): 50.0%

5.2 Financial/ material support provided to land users

Did land users receive financial/ material support for implementing the Technology/ Technologies?

No

5.3 Subsidies for specific inputs (including labour)

• equipment

• agricultural

If labour by land users was a substantial input, was it:

• voluntary

Comments:

The activity is implemented in planned or free time beyond work and curricular activities.

5.4 Credit

Was credit provided under the Approach for SLM activities?

No

6.1 Impacts of the Approach

6.2 Main motivation of land users to implement SLM

6.3 Sustainability of Approach activities

Can the land users sustain what has been implemented through the Approach (without external support)?

• no

If no or uncertain, specify and comment:

At present, the whole training, monitoring and research activity is conducted solely on the basis and with the support of the state (Katon-Karagay National Park)

6.4 Strengths/ advantages of the Approach

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view

1) Improving the knowledge and horizons of schoolchildren 2) Involving young people in useful work and preventing crime 3) Reducing the outflow of youth to cities 4) Training local staff for leshozes with in-depth knowledge of local natural features. (How to sustain / enhance this strength: 1) Attracting new knowledge, specialists, organizing conferences, trips, meetings 2) Informatization, propaganda, interest increase 3) Provision with housing, jobs 4) Comprehensive assistance in choosing a profession and entering universities)

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view

1) Support for environmental education and research 2) Relatively strong material and technical basis 3) Training forestry specialists for the future of sustainable forestry development and the protection of forests. (How to sustain / enhance this strength: 1) Attraction of environmental specialists, engineers, diversify information, conduct seminars, meetings, etc. 2) It is ensured and will continue to be provided by the state 3) To promote the possibility of entering higher and secondary special educational institutions in the specialty "Forestry" or "Plant protection" by issuing a confirmed document on active participation in the ranks of school forestry and practical experience in forest conservation activities . )

6.5 Weaknesses/ disadvantages of the Approach and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view	How can they be overcome?
1. There is no material incentive for teachers 2. There is no official document confirming studies in the school forestry, helping with admission to universities 3. Legal insecurity (alleged use of child labor)	1.Preview in the local budget or in the distribution of the workload in the school 2. Achieve the Ministry of Education and Science on the development of such an amendment to the legislative base 3. Amendments to the Labor Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view

How can they be overcome?

1. In the absence of material support, this initiative can be completed. 2. Not always schoolchildren after graduation can enter the universities of the appropriate profile 3. A not too large percentage of school forestry members go on an ecological profile.

1. Constantly take care of allocating funds from the state budget 2. To seek allocation of special quotas for schoolchildren-activists of school forestries, to strengthen highly specialized training, to provide material support to children from low-income families (travel, accommodation in the city, etc.) 3. Strengthen the environmental And patriotic education, to guarantee the provision of work, housing

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

The materials of the national scientific and practical conference „Organization of the Work of Educational Ranger Stations as One of the Forms of Profession Orientation Activity to Train Specialists in Forestry“. October 4-5, 2010.

Available from where? Costs?

Katon-Karagay National Park, the Government of RK/GEF/UNDP Project “Conservation and Sustainable Use

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Administration of Katon-Karagay National Park reports

Available from where? Costs?

115 Bokeyev str, Katon-Karagay vil., East-Kazakhstan Region, Kazakhstan, 070908. Deputy Director

7.3 Links to relevant information which is available online

Title/ description:

Information of the implementation of “Forest Conservation and Expansion of Forest Area on the Territory of the Republic“ Project on the website of the Forestry and Hunting Committee of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan

URL:

http://www.fhc.kz/pkg/4712/