Improving regional and/ or sectoral development plans based on strategic environmental assessments in the Aral Sea region (Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan)

GIZ, on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), is implementing the regional project "Ecologically oriented regional development in the Aral Sea region" (hereinafter: the project) in Uzbekistan (Karakalpakstan and Khorezm) and Kazakhstan (Kyzylorda and Mangistau). The project focuses on the rural population (about 2 million people). The Aral Sea region is affected by multiple environmental stresses (e.g. soil salinization, pollution of water bodies with agrochemicals, sand and salt storms). Pressures on resources, including soil and water, continue to increase, putting emphasis on the need for a more efficient use of resources. The project aims at promoting sustainable development of the region across borders. Political partners, regional administrations as well as micro, small and medium-sized enterprises will be provided with an improved advisory service across sectors to enable them to make investment decisions based on information on ecologically sustainable resource use. By doing so, earth observation-based spatial planning instruments and procedures for territorial planning processes are being developed and used. In order to create suitable framework conditions for sustainable development, policies and strategies relevant to the economic development of the Aral Sea region will be agreed among responsible regional administrations of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The key instrument for creating environmentally friendly territorial and sectoral development plans for the Aral Sea region are Strategic Environmental Assessments (hereinafter: SEA), which have recently been introduced into national law of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. To promote sustainable development in the Aral Sea region, the project plans to carry out four SEA. Project key actors include regional territorial administrations, planning managers and decision-makers in the public and private sectors, and resource users in both target countries, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.