Stakeholders

The Aral Sea disaster is an environmental issue on a vary large scale, affecting millions of people. As such, there are many stakeholders involved in the issue. Presented here is an analysis of the three largest stakeholders in the issue.

Stakeholder Analysis: The Communities of the Aral Sea

Thousands of years ago the Aral Sea was a resting point along the Great Silk Road (Whish-Wilson, 2002). The area had an abundant ecology, many species of fish and different wildlife, including fertile land to support crops many populations. Fishing and hunting, business and crafts, and agriculture were flourishing trades (Whish-Wilson, 2002) and many of these remained important to the people of the Aral Sea since then.

In the 1950’s, however, the Soviet Union seized the opportunity to utilize the lands and water of the Aral Sea for mass irrigation and agricultural projects for cotton and then rice, both of which are high in water need (Whish-Wilson, 2002) (Kitamura, Y., Yano, T., Honna, T., Yamamoto, S., Inosoko, K., 2006). The increasing demand for these crops and other agricultural products put a huge strain on the Aral Sea, and the Amu Darya and Syr Darya Rivers. Dams and canals, like the Karakum Canal, were implemented to divert waters to increase production. Each decade the sea dropped more and more and today, about 80% is gone, with little to no water coming into the system (Whish-Wilson, 2002). The increased agricultural practices brought along the extensive use of fertilizers and pesticides to further increase the crop demands, but this contributed to contaminated areas unproductive today. Due to the use of dams and canals, crop productions are still yielding mass amounts.

The fishing industry, which previously brought in close to 50,000 tons of fish each year fell greatly (Zmijewski, K. and Becker, R., 2014). Around the 1980’s, most of the fish populations were gone (National Geographic, 2010). The shrinking sea also left areas empty and dry, fisherman could no longer keep their ships and today many are stranded on grasslands that have replaced harbors. The fishing industry’s fishing industry remains bleak; however, some places have seen signs of an increasing potential to a returned fishing industry, many places are lost to this chance (National Geographic, 2010).

(National Geographic, 2010)

Drinking water and water for urban development growth are continued strains on the Aral Sea system. This, along with the heavy demand on agricultural products are adding to the increased struggles of the people and environment enduring and recovering from the crisis.

Stakeholder Analysis: Uzbek Government.

Uzbekistan is a fairly young country, formed after the fall of the Soviet Union. Under Soviet management the country was designated as the Union’s main source of cotton. While the country is now independent, agriculture is still much the same. Due to the arid climate of the country (85% is considered desert or semi-desert) the majority of agriculture is irrigated (CACILM). The countries irrigation infrastructure draws heavily on the surface water resources in Central Asia. This use of surface water dramatically increases evapotranspiration in the region and is the main cause of the desiccation of the Aral Sea. The goal of the Uzbek government, like those of most national governments around the world, is to advance the economy and quality of life in their country. While the drying of the seabed of the former Aral sea has caused widespread health problems in the western part of the country, the majority of the population including the capital of Tashkent, are far removed from the area (Figure 1). This disconnect results in the government accepting that the desiccation of the Aral Sea is necessary in order to support the main Uzbek population in the east.

Figure 1

(UNOCHA, 2009)

Agriculture accounts for 20% of GDP in Uzbekistan and supports a rural population of ~14 million people (Amu Darya Basin Network, CACILM). Cotton is Uzbekistan’s single largest export, constituting 12% of the country’s total exports. In recent years Uzbekistan has made an effort to move away from cotton, farming crops such as winter wheat that are much less water intensive. Between 1990 and 1998 water withdrawals in the Aral Sea basin dropped 16%, while irrigated acreage grew 10% (Micklin, 2007). While this is encouraging, the Uzbek government has no plans to lower irrigation withdrawals. The country has a growing population, and a need to feed that population. This impasse results in the current state of the Aral Sea Disaster.

 

Stakeholder Analysis: Kazakhstan Government

                      Kazakhstan is the ninth largest country by size in the entire world.  Despite its size, it only has a relatively small population of 17,948,816. The Aral sea has long been an integral part of the livelihood for a large part of Kazakhstan’s population.  Throughout the years the Aral sea has shrunk to an incredibly small size.  This has greatly affected the lives of many locals who relied on its waters for sustenance and income.  In an effort to restore a portion of the Aral sea, the Kazakhstan government, in collaboration with the World Bank, initiated a large scale dam project.  The dam is nearly eight miles long and cost roughly 68 million dollars.  Although the dam was built a relatively short time ago, it has already raised the level of the Aral sea by several feet.  While this amount may not seem like an incredible amount, the additional water height has greatly lowered the salinity and allowed native fish populations to return.  Recently the Kazakhstan government acquired an additional $126 million loan from the World Bank with plans to create a second dam in the same area.  While the Aral sea is still a long way from being fully restored, organizations and governments are attempting to bring back as much as possible and restore the livelihood of the Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan people. 

 

 

 References

Amu Darya Basin Network. 2013. Amu Darya River Info-Graphic. EastWest Institute. https://www.flickr.com/photos/ewinstitute/8412961705/sizes/h/in/photostream/ 
Antelava, Natalya. "Dam Project Aims to save Aral Sea." BBC News. BBC, 04 Sept. 2007. Web. 24 May 2014.
 
Central Asian Countries Initiative for Land Management  (CACILM). Land Resources- Uzbekistan. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Web Accessed May 22, 2014. http://www.fao.org/nr/land/projects-programmes/cacilm-initiative/cacilm-project/uzbekistan/en/ 
 
"Kazakhstan." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 23 May 2014. Web. 24 May 2014.
 
Kitamura, Y., Yano, T., Honna, T., Yamamoto, S., Inosoko, K. (2006). Causes of Farmland Salination and Remedial Measures in the Aral Sea Basin - Research on Watershed Management to Prevent Secondary Salination in Rice-Based Cropping Systems in Arid Land. Agricultural Water Management, 85(1-2), 1-14.

Micklin, P. 2007. The Aral Sea Disaster. Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences. 35, 47-72.
 
National Geographic. (2010, April 2010). Aral Sea Recovery? Retrieved from Daily News: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/04/100402-aral-sea-story/

Peneva, E.l., E.v. Stanev, S.v. Stanychni, A. Salokhiddinov, and G. Stulina. "The Recent Evolution of the Aral Sea Level and Water Properties: Analysis of Satellite, Gauge and Hydrometeorological Data." Journal of Marine Systems 47.1-4 (2004): 11-24. ScienceDirect. Web. 30 Apr. 2014.
 
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA). 2009. Uzbekistan- population density. United Nations. Web accessed May 23, 2014. http://css.static.reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/2CF906816BDCDE53852577420067AB1D-map.pdf

Walters, Pat. "Aral Sea Recovery?" National Geographic. National Geographic Society, 02 Apr. 2010. Web. 24 May 2014.

Whish-Wilson, P. (2002). The Aral Sea Environmental Health Crisis. Journal of Rural and Environment Remote Health, 1(2), 29-34.

Zmijewski, K. and Becker, R. (2014). Estimating the Effects of Anthropogenic Modifications on Water Balance in the Aral Sea Watershed Using GRACE: 2003-12. Earth Interactions, 18(3), 1-17.