On December 12, 2024, the fourth meeting of the Kazakh-Russian Commission for the Conservation of the Ecosystem of the Transboundary Zhaiyk River Basin (Ural) (hereinafter referred to as the Commission), established in accordance with the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of the Russian Federation on the Conservation of the Ecosystem of the Transboundary Zhaiyk River Basin (Ural) dated October 4, 2016, took place in a videoconference format.
The Kazakh side was headed by J.S. Aliyev, Vice Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The Russian side was headed by S.M. Anoprienko, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Russian Federation.
The meeting was also attended by representatives of the central state, local executive and representative bodies of the two sides and the public.
The parties heard and accepted information on the implementation of the Kazakh-Russian Cooperation Program for the conservation and Restoration of the ecosystem of the transboundary Zhaiyk River basin (Ural) for 2021-2024.
The Kazakh side informed the Russian side about the ongoing research work, which is scheduled to be completed in 2025, reconstruction of canals and irrigation systems, shore protection, dredging, cleaning, stocking of the river basin with young sturgeon and cyprinid fish species, reforestation, elimination of unauthorized landfills and other measures.
The Russian side, in turn, informed about the completion of research work in 2023, the construction and reconstruction of sewage treatment plants, the clearing of riverbeds, ponds and reservoirs, the elimination of unauthorized landfills, the stocking of water bodies, and environmental actions involving volunteers.
In addition, the issue of the results of monitoring the water quality of the Zhaiyk River basin (Ural) in the transboundary areas of the territories of Kazakhstan and Russia was considered. The parties stressed that water quality monitoring activities are carried out by each party in accordance with the Program for Monitoring Transboundary Water Bodies of the Zhaiyk River Basin (Ural) for 2021-2025 in full.
The parties informed each other about the work done on the conservation and restoration of floodplain forests in the basin of the Zhaiyk River (Ural) and the conservation and reproduction of sturgeon in the Zhaiyk River (Ural).
The parties highly appreciated the work done on the formation of social and environmental awareness and a culture of respect for the basin of the transboundary Zhaiyk River (Ural) and agreed to continue cooperation with the involvement of young specialists and students to increase attention to the problem of preserving the ecosystem of the basin of the transboundary Zhaiyk River (Ural).
The Russian side proposed to hold a joint environmental event in 2025 within the framework of the Kazakh-Russian campaign "To the basin of the Zhaiyk (Urals) – clean shores and good neighborliness". The Kazakh side supported this proposal.
Following the meeting, the Parties agreed to continue work on the conservation of the ecosystem of the transboundary Zhaiyk River basin (Ural) through the development and approval of a new program for a five-year period.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/ecogeo/press/news/details/902514