Caspian Sea

The Environment Disaster Related to Caspian Sea

Women in the related governments, and NGOs as well
academia should raise the serious issues regarding
municipal waste disposal into the Caspian Sea and keep
the pressure on decision makers to address this
environment disaster. This issue has not been ranked
as critical among policy makers.

Regarding the level of fluctuation of the sea causing
most environmental damage in the region, it seems it
will only draw attentions if infrastructure related
disasters occur.

In addition women farmers using herbicides and
pesticides should be taught natural ways to reduce use
of these chemicals. (For instance: organic farming
methods, crop rotation, more appropriate crop
selection based on climate and soil, genetically
engineered crops, training education, other chemicals
or synthetics.)”

The Agriculture and Fishing Ministries of countries
around the Caspian Sea should be concerned about the
lack of Sufficient enforcement of current
environmental Laws as the most important root cause of
environmental issues. This is followed by “Regional
Poverty”, “Lack of Advanced Technologies”, and
“Undefined Legal Status ”.

Additionally “Regional Overpopulation”, “Abuse of
Power”, “Lack of Property Rights”, “Sea Level
Change”and specialy “Weakness of Civil Society”are
among other causes that have polluted the environment
around Caspian Sea.

The Agriculture and Fishing Ministries contribute to
the overall decline in environmental quality by
allowing the use of certain pesticides that flow into
the Caspian and harm certain species. Both the seal
die-offs and the kilka die-offs have been linked to
excessive pesticide residues in the Caspian waters.

Additionally, the Agriculture and Fishing Ministries
are faced with the issues affected by the decline in
overall environmental quality because this decline
reduces the reproductive and capacity to thrive.

The Energy Ministries should raise the issues about
lack of advanced technologies, Lack of sufficient
enforcement of current environmental laws , undefined
legal status, lack of public awareness of
environmental problems and weakness in the rule of
law.

Major issues of concern that Women Environment NGOs as
well as governments could raise are:

1)Decline in Certain Fishing Stocks: The hydroelectric
dams act as barriers to fish migration.

2)Degradation of Coastal Landscape: It would be
helpful to have coordinated coastal management plans
in the Caspian region to help preserve the
environment.

3)Decline in Overall Environmental Quality: better
manage agricultural run off and finding alternate
technologies for more environmentally sound
agricultural practices.

4)Potential Damage from Oil and Gas Development:
Energy Ministries wield strong economic powers in
national governments, and they also have closest
contact with those agencies charged with overseeing
infra structural issues.

5)Decline in Human Health: awareness that current
environmental practices in the region are causing
serious illness among humans as well as other species