In a heartfelt speech during the ceremony honoring employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations on June 14, President Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan passionately discussed the ecological challenges faced by Lake Issyk-Kul, Sputnik reports.
Addressing the audience, President Japarov revealed, "This year, divers have been diligently working to clean the lake of garbage and fishing nets left behind by poachers. They have successfully retrieved a staggering 6 tons of garbage and 96 kilometers of nets. This critical work is an ongoing endeavor. Today, I wish to appeal directly to the residents of the Issyk-Kul region, and particularly to the poachers. What a disgrace it is! The lake's bed is covered in nets. We are all humans, and we must provide a peaceful existence for the fish for the next 3-5 years. It won't hurt if you abstain from eating fish during this period. Instead, buy fish from other sources where it is sustainably bred."
Expressing his concern, the president emphasized that it's not just the lake bed that is suffering but the entire surrounding area as well.
He questioned, "Is it truly difficult to clean up after outdoor recreational activities and dispose of the waste in designated containers? It's not a challenging task! This responsibility applies not only to the residents of Issyk-Kul but to all citizens of Kyrgyzstan. We have numerous small lakes across the country, and unfortunately, they too are burdened with litter. We often talk about developing our nation through tourism, but we fail to adhere to the basic principles of responsible tourism ourselves. Let us educate and remind each other. If someone leaves litter behind, we must have the courage to speak up and address the issue. It won't harm you to clean up after someone else."
President Japarov also highlighted that Kyrgyzstan anticipates the arrival of 10 million tourists this year. This number emphasizes the urgency to preserve the natural beauty of the country and maintain a clean environment for visitors to enjoy.
On June 9 Daryo reported that Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan are both experiencing water shortages, and water scarcity is increasingly becoming a regional threat.
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