Rural Sustainability and Management of Natural Resources in Tian Shan Region, Central Asia

The research examines aspects of natural and cultural heritage and environmental management in Tian Shan region, Central Asia. This region is outstanding for the richness of natural resources, landscapes and ecosystems. Natural resources of Tian Shan are exceptional: the ecosystems include numerous protected and rare species, endemics, unique coniferous forests, rich biodiversity. However, nowadays the ecosystems experience environmental and anthropogenic impacts. After the disintegration of the Soviet Union (1990s), there is a clear shift of the Central Asian society back to the subsistence agriculture with recovered traditional style of life: private land use and cattle grazing on mountain pastures. Therefore, the anthropogenic impacts are presented by the livestock husbandry and nomadic pastures, since the majority of the local population now maintain traditional style of life. The livestock is increased, and strong grazing pressure become transform to overgrazing. This leads to unsustainable agriculture and overgrazing caused by cattle herds, and affects sustainability in mountainous landscapes. Given the unique ecology of the region, special measures should be taken to maintain ecosystems’ sustainability. The sustainable management of natural resources in this unique region needs stimulating balanced co-existence of man and nature, and requires quality insights and acquaintanceship. Nevertheless, the information about Tian Shan environment is the least available comparing to other Eurasian mountains, and there is lack of regular environmental monitoring programmes cooperated at the cross-country level. This research contributes to regional monitoring of Tian Shan, providing analysis of its environmental situation and examining ways for the sustainable use of natural resources