Following the proposal of the State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan for nature protection, a new complex (landscape) preserve “Saigachiy” is to be formed on the territory of Muynak and Kungrad districts of the Republic of Karakalpakstan.
The establishment of the preserve is provided by the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan from July 22, 2016 “On measures to streamline the issues related to the creation and organization of complex (landscape) preserves”.
It is planned to allocate 628,3 thousand hectares of land for permanent use for the institution to be established. The land is divided into five sections. These sites are chosen as the most appropriate natural conditions for the habitat of the saiga antelope and other rare species. Here there are traditional places for reproduction of saiga, good pastures and watering holes. In addition, in accordance with article 47 of the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On protected natural territories” in order to reduce the negative impact of economic and other activities on the territory of the preserve, it is planned to establish a protected zone with a square of 219,8 thousand ha. Land areas belonging to legal and physical persons located in the protection zone can not be confiscated.
Financing of the activities of the integrated preserve will be at the expense of budgetary funds of the Republican state inspection on protection and rational use of fauna and flora of the State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan for nature protection.
The establishment of the new integrated preserve will raise the size of the saiga population, other rare and endangered species of plants and animals. It will become part of the obligations of the Convention “On biological diversity” and “Conservation of migratory species of wild animals”, as well as the Plan of joint activities to the “Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan on protection, reproduction and sustainable use of saiga livestock (Saiga tatarika tatarika)”.
