Environmental issues in Kyrgyzstan
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Because it was not designated as a heavy industrial zone in the Soviet system, Kyrgyzstan has avoided the grave environmental problems encountered by the other Central Asian countries.
The main problems are inefficient use and pollution of water resources, land degradation, and improper agricultural practices. Gold and uranium mining operations have leached toxic chemicals into soil and water in the eastern half of the country, and salinization is a problem along the eastern stretches of the Naryn River. In the post-Soviet era, increased automobile use has made air pollution a problem in urban centers. Overuse of forest reserves also is an environmental issue. In 2004 an unusually high number of avalanches, floods, and landslides was attributed to the melting of glaciers in the eastern mountains. The Ministry of Ecology and Emergency Situations is the national enforcement agency for environmental policy, which is summarized in the National Environmental Action Plan. However, that plan is heavily subsidized and directed by international donors, and by law the president also plays a strong role in environmental policy.
[edit] The role of non-profit organizations
Environmental NGO's in Kyrgyzstan constantly assess the environmental problems, and keep track of it on EKOIS [1], a Kyrgyz Environmental News Service. The news is mainly in Russian, but English information is available as well.
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This article contains material from the Library of Congress Country Studies, which are United States government publications in the public domain.
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