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Seminars on GLOFs: The GLOFCA Project in Action in Issyk and Talgar
Organized by UNESCO Regional office in Almaty in collaboration with the Center for Sustainable Development (CSD), these events are part of the "Reducing vulnerabilities of populations in the Central Asia region from glacier lake outburst floods in a changing climate" project (GLOFCA).
Why Focus on Issyk and Talgar?
Issyk and Talgar are high-risk zones for floods from glacier lake outbursts. According to data from the State agency “Kazselezashchita”, the Talgar River basin contains 21 moraine-dammed glacial lakes, with seven posing significant threats. Mudflows are nearly an annual occurrence, often causing damage to infrastructure and endangering lives. Similarly, the Issyk River basin holds 25 moraine-dammed glacial lakes, with five considered highly hazardous.
Given these risks, Issyk and Talgar were chosen as pilot sites for the GLOFCA project in Kazakhstan. The project plans to implement early warning systems in Talgar and introduce low-cost adaptation measures in Issyk. A key objective of the seminars was to gather input from locals on current conditions and proposed solutions.
Expert Contributions
Experts from Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (KazNU), SA “Kazselezashchita,” the University of Zurich, and emergency services of the Yenbekshikazakh and Talgar districts shared their knowledge during the seminars:
- Ainur Mussina, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology at KazNU, explained the mechanisms behind mudflows and their consequences.
- Baurzhan Abishev, Head of the Emergency Prevention Department at “Kazselezashchita,” shared insights on preventing floods caused by glacial lake outbursts in the region.
- In Issyk, Zhanar Raimbekova, a senior researcher from the University of Zurich, presented accessible, low-cost adaptation measures to minimize damage from GLOFs.
- In Talgar, Amirkhan Temirbayev, Director of KazNU’s Earth Remote Sensing Center, introduced the concept of an early warning system to be implemented under the project.
Community Engagement and Practical Sessions
Local residents actively participated in discussions, sharing their observations and providing feedback on the proposed solutions. The seminars also included a hands-on activity, “Pack Your Emergency Kit,” which helped participants better understand how to prepare for emergencies. At the end of the events, all participants received certificates.
The seminars marked an important step in raising awareness and involving local communities in efforts to build resilience against GLOFs. Feedback and suggestions from residents will play a key role in shaping the next steps of the GLOFCA project in Kazakhstan.
