DISAPPEARING WETLANDS IN NORTHERN KAZAKHSTAN. THE CASE OF THE TALDYKOL LAKE.

Abstract

Wetlands play a crucial role in the ecosystem by providing shelter and food for various species and contributing to groundwater replenishment, water retention, and detention. They also prevent flooding in nearby ecosystems and maintain high water tables. However, wetlands have been significantly reduced, with an approximately 70% decrease from the previous century, particularly for inland natural wetlands. Anthropogenic activity and climate change have caused the Central Asian wetlands to be severely impacted globally. However, there is still a lack of precise data on the amount, area, and coverage of wetlands in Kazakhstan. Therefore, this research project focuses on assessing the impact of climate change and human activity on wetlands in Kazakhstan, with Taldykol Lake in Astana as a case study. The study will investigate Taldykol Lake’s changes over the last three decades, from 1992 to 2022.