Documents

The Caspian Environment Programme is a regional partnership between the five littoral states of the Caspian Sea (Azerbaijan, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation and Turkmenistan) and international organisations (the EU, UNDP, UNEP and the World Bank). The goal of the CEP is the environmentally sustainable development and management of the Caspian Environment. Part of the process in achieving this goal is identifying the priority environmental issues and developing a regional Strategic Action Programme and five National Caspian Action Plans , one for each of the  littoral countries.

The present report has been prepared by the regional legal expert – Irina Krasnova, professor of environmental law of the Russian Academy of Civil Service under the President of the Russian Federation, doctor of juridical science.

The report is prepared within the framework of the Caspian Environment Programme in accordance with the relevant UNEP project, the Terms of Reference for the Regional Legal Expert.

The Report is based on the National Briefs on Legislative and Institutional Frameworks for the Protection and Sustainable Management of the Caspian Sea Environment prepared by National Legal Experts of the five Contracting Parties to the Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea (further – Tehran Convention), on the materials provided by the UNEP/ROE, and obtained from various information and data base sources, advice and cooperation of the CEP/PCU.

Financial Rules for the Administration of the Trust Fund for the Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea.

Adopted at COP 1 in Baku, Azerbaijan, 23-25 May 2007.

The Convention on the legal status of the Caspian Sea is a treaty signed in Aktau, Kazakhstan, on 12 August 2018 by the presidents of Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkmenistan.

The data of long-term ecological studies (1999–2014) are used for assessing the impact of a new Caspian invader Mnemiopsis leidyi A. Agassiz, 1865 on marine and anadromous fish species. The introduction of the ctenophore and its massive development in the Caspian Sea have mainly affected planktophagous fish, especially the most abundant species anchovy sprat (Clupeonella engrauliformis Borodin, 1904) and sturgeons (Family Acipenseridae). Mnemiopsis leidyi is one of the main negative factors preventing the restoration of the populations of Caspian fishes, especially anchovy tyulka. The critical state of the resources of the spawning parts of sturgeon populations (Family Acipenseridae) has been reinforced as a result of the massive development of M. leidyi.

The CEP TDA Revisit was completed in December 2007 following an intensive desk study of materials collected from the second phase of the Caspian Environment Programme. The intention of the CEP TDA Revisit is to provide a follow on review of the priority transboundary issues, to assess the efforts conducted during the CEP Phase II implementation, and to extrapolate where additional efforts are warranted. The SAP and NСAPs are reviewed followed by an analysis of the priority areas of concern as identified in the SAP. The issues addressed in the TDA are: decline in biodiversity; decline in environmental quality (pollution); decline in bioresources (fisheries); decline in coastal infrastructure and habitat; and impacts of the oil industry in the region. This is supplemented by an analysis of governance mechanisms, socioeconomic conditions in the region, and stakeholder analysis and public involvement strategy.

The seal is the only marine mammal in the Caspian Sea, feeding on tulkas and other small fish, and preyed upon by land animals. It is an endemic species for the Caspian Sea and is vulnerable on that point of view. During its life history the Caspian seal migrates from the frozen North Caspian waters in the winter to the South Caspian in the summer timer and back to the North to give birth to the pups on the ice. During these migration time the seals can be found everywhere in the sea.

Active conservation efforts will be required to assure the Caspian seal does not eliminate from the Earth. As a major mammal, anchoring one end of the food web, it also plays an important role in the biodiversity of the Caspian Sea and is a remarkable indicator of the Caspian ecosystems health.

In the frame of the current Project the estimation on contents of nutrients, petroleum hydrocarbons, phenols and heavy metals in water and bottom sediments in the basins of rivers Terek, Sulak and Samur over the last years was carried out. Research was conducted within a framework of the State Monitoring Programme on Roshydromet in the central and lower parts of the Terek delta. The data of Roshydromet standard investigations was used to assess the concentration of pollutants, namely petroleum hydrocarbons, heavy metals, phenols, detergents, nutrients (nitrites, nitrates, ammonium and total nitrogen) and silicates, and also expenditure of river water during the estimation of their flows at hydrological Karagalinsky hydro system and
Alikazgan stations in the Terek delta. The Roshydromet data cover the period 2002-2005.

Average precipitation and evaporation in the Caspian Sea in 2000-2015.

Created by Manana Kurtabadze.

The tourist brochure describes interesting species of flora and fauna of the Ural River Delta and the adjacent coastal zone of the Caspian Sea.

Map of Sediments in the Caspian Sea Region produced by Manana Kurtrubadze. 

Map of Tourism provided by Manana Kurtrubadze for the SOE (2018).

Map of Population by Number and Cities in the Caspian Sea

Produced by Manana Kurtrubadze for the SOE 2018

Map of Oil Spill Accidents Since 2000

Produced by Manana Kurtrubadze for the SOE 2018

Oil Production & Consumption 2006-2016

Produced by Manana Kurtrubadze for the SOE 2018.

Natural Gas Production and Consumption.

Produced by Manana Kurtrubadze for the SOE 2018.

Map of the Caspian River Basin.

Produced by Manana Kurtrubadze

Produced by Manana Kurtrubadze for the SOE Report 2018