OSCE Centre in Astana (Kazakhstan) presents best practices on combating land degradation and soil contamination

International instruments for combating land degradation and soil contamination in Kazakhstan are the focus of a workshop was held on 8 of December 2007 in Almaty with the support of the OSCE Centre in Astana.

The meeting, attended by municipal representatives from all regions of Kazakhstan ,  brings together interested stakeholders to discuss land degradation and soil contamination mitigation strategies and facilitate the implementation of best practices to stop desertification.

“Desertification and drought is a universal problem which affects all aspects of sustainable development, from poverty and poor health to environmentally-induced migration,” said Ambassador Ivar Vikki, Head of the OSCE Centre in Astana.

“It is a continuing process, which should be tackled by employing internationally sound instruments and mechanisms, as well as through the direct involvement of civil society organizations.”

The discussions build upon the results of an Asian Development Bank project to introduce monitoring tools for sustainable land management in South Kazakhstan . The workshop is organized with the Kazakhstan Agency for Land Management, the NGO Centre for Sustainable Production and Consumption (www.cspc-ca.kz) and the Asian Development Bank.

The discussions are in line with the 2007 OSCE Spanish Chairmanship priorities to promote better water management and combat land degradation and soil contamination.