The specialists of the Hazar State Reserve flew around the Turkmen sector of the Caspian Sea to register wintering birds. The specialists of the National Desert, Plant and Animal Life Research Institute took part in the expedition carried out under the Project Conservation and Sustainable Use of Globally Significant Biological Diversity in Hazar Nature Reserve on the Caspian Sea implemented by the Ministry of Nature Protection of Turkmenistan with the assistance of the Global Environmental Fund and the UN Development Programme

While inspecting the southeastern sea coast from Garabogaz to Esenguly, wetlands and islands the ornithologists counted over 100,000 birds including such rare species as European white pelicans, flamingos, swans. The flocks of ducks –mallards, coots, red-crested pochards are numerous. These actions are carried out overland in autumn to ‘inventory’ migrating birds. Sometimes these actions are carried out across the borders. In the autumn and winter 2007-2008 the Iranian colleagues joined the Turkmen ornithologists who registered birds inhabiting the coastal area in the Mazandaran and Gulistan Provinces. The information is collected to compile the database on the quantity, habitats, places of nesting, migration, hibernation of numerous ‘feathered’ which can be found in the protected areas of the Turkmen sector of the Caspian Sea.

At present in the framework of the Project Conservation and Sustainable Use of Globally Significant Biological Diversity in Hazar Nature Reserve on the Caspian Sea the specialists prepare the new map of the Hazar Reserve using the special computer programmes and GPS technologies, cosmic survey data. In particular, the map will help to register the seasonal and yearly variations of sea level, the changes in the coast line, depth of the bays and littoral landscape. Thus, birds change their habitats.

Several expeditions were carried out to define the borders of the Reserve more precisely, to study the conditions of the landscapes, to identify the impact of the anthropogenic factors on the littoral environment. As is known the plans on Turkmenistan’s social and economic development prioritize the development of the Caspian region. The Conception on integrated management of protected area including the ecological wellbeing indicators and standards is drafted and will be replicated nationwide in the near future. The Conception is aimed at harmonizing interests, concerting efforts of all those dealing with the protected territories – the ministries and departments, research and nature-conservative organisations, local population and administrations, business structures.

Along with the special seminars, workshops, trainings the working trip to Sweden to study the international practice of the coastal zone integrated management was carried out. The group of the Turkmen specialists representing the Ministry of Nature Protection, the Hazar Reserve, khyakimliks of the towns and etraps of the Balkan Velayat, the State Committee for Fish Industry visited Stockholm and the studied the practice of the establishment of an ecologically pure residential area which used the environmentally friendly technologies. Special attention was paid to the use of the alternative energy sources – the sun, wind, bioenergy produced while processing domestic waste for electric lighting and heating of the buildings.

The project on the establishment of Avaza national tourism zone will have a positive impact on the Caspian environment, enhance the role and status of the Hazar Reserve. The excursions, souvenirs with the emblem of the Hazar Reserve and the pictures of the natural sites – all of these can be practiced by the Reserve in close collaboration with the local administrations and population, tourist companies.

In the framework of the project economic assessment of biological diversity and benefit that a protected area can bring to the state will be conducted, the proposals on where economic activity can be partially allowed without causing any damage to the environment, which territories can be used as game preserves and which territories must be preserved as wildlife areas are drafted to attract ecological tourists from all over the word to Turkmenistan. For this purpose the expedition were carried out to explore tourism potential of the Balkan Velayat, to study Mashat-Misrian, other hsitociral, cultural, natural monuments of Southwestern Turkmenistan. The collected information is used to arrange new expositions at the Hazar Nature Museum and to develop tourist routes.