The government of Kyrgyzstan has announced plans to build a road through the Besh-Aral Reserve in the Chatlak district of the Dzhalal-Abad region, Aidai Bedelbekova shared via CabarAsia. This road construction project, slated to pave the way for the establishment of a hydroelectric power plant (HPP) and gold mining operations, has ignited a clash between development aspirations and conservation imperatives.
The Cabinet of Ministers passed a decree in 2023 approving the transformation of 200 hectares of the Besh-Aral Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage site, to accommodate the ambitious project. While some locals are rallying behind the initiative, citing potential economic benefits and improved infrastructure, others are vehemently opposing it, citing irreparable harm to the fragile ecosystem.
Supporters of the project argue that the road construction is a precursor to the establishment of the HPP, which could bring about much-needed economic development to the region. However, opponents fear that the impending gold mining activities could irreversibly damage the biodiversity of the reserve, which is home to numerous endangered species.
Local authorities have assured that gold mining within the Besh-Aral Reserve will be conducted with state participation, but environmentalists remain skeptical, warning of dire consequences for the delicate ecosystem. The reserve, nestled in the Chatkal district of the Dzhalal-Abad region, spans over 100,000 hectares and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2016.
The decision to transform a portion of the reserve's land from "special protection natural areas" to "lands used for industry, transport, communications, power engineering, defense, and other purposes" has drawn criticism from conservationists and environmental organizations. The decree paves the way for the construction of a road linking Chatkal district to Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, across the reserve.
Altynbek Senirbaev, the head of the Chatkal district, defended the project, emphasizing its potential to spur tourism and bolster economic growth. However, ecologist Gamal Sooronkulov raised concerns about the adverse impact of gold mining and questioned the necessity of road construction, pointing out existing routes to Tashkent.
Ergen Koshonbaev, a local resident, voiced support for the HPP construction and advocated for the allocation of reserve lands to locals for pastoral use. He argued that the project would harness the region's natural resources for the benefit of Kyrgyzstan and enhance border security.
Environmentalists, including Ysabek Amatov from the Nature Conservation Union of Germany (NABU-Kyrgyzstan), cautioned against the irreversible damage posed by deforestation and hydroelectric development. They emphasized the importance of preserving the biodiversity of the reserve, particularly species listed as endangered.
Critics of the project argue that HPPs, often touted as sources of green energy, have significant environmental costs, including the disruption of freshwater ecosystems and the displacement of local communities. Representatives of the international environmental coalition "Rivers Without Borders" have called on Kyrgyzstan's parliament to reassess the ecological impact of the proposed HPP construction at Chatkal and have urged UNESCO to intervene.
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