Degradation of Soil in Kazakhstan: Problems and Challenges

Despite, agriculture in Kazakhstan has substantial potential with total agricultural land in 2005 accounting for 84.5 million hectares of which 20.5 hectares are arable Kazakhstan inherited to some environmental problems, affecting to health and living conditions of rural habitants. Unsustainable land practices, non-rational use of natural resources and environmental pollutions have led to varying degrees of land degradation and desertification in all regions of Kazakhstan. The process of land degradation and desertification occurs in high extend in regions with unfavourable ecological conditions such as the Aral and Caspian Sea, Lake Balhash regions. The deterioration of land quality also is caused by the process of soils contamination with oil and oil products, particles of heavy metals, radio nuclides and other pollutants. The national strategy for prevention and reduction of scales of land degradation and desertification is to be aimed to address a reversal of environmental degradation and loss of biodiversity, development of sustainable land use in marginal areas, which would contribute to increase of income and living conditions of rural habitants.