The conflict of mining and water resources in Kyrgyzstan
Publisher: CEE Bankwatch Network
Volume: 3 pages, pdf
Description:
Kyrgyzstan is a mountainous country rich in water and natural resources. The country hosts one of the planet’s two thousand priority ecological regions with unique ecosystems and biodiversity and is considered the “water tower” of Central Asia due to its Tien Shan glacier reserves. At the same time, mining is threatening Kyrgyzstan through the challenges posed by climate change, pollution and the mismanagement of these resources. Currently revenues from mining account for 9.2 per cent of Kyrgyz GDP and approximately 10 per cent of tax revenues, and the government has done little to support other aspects of the economy. With 32 per cent of the population living below the poverty line and 3 per cent in extreme poverty, Kyrgyzstan has prioritised economic development based on activities that seriously threaten the environment and the management of water, land and natural resources that are crucial for the country’s long-term sustainability. Gold is the country’s main export, estimated at around 40 per cent of total exports and 50 per cent of industrial production in 20101.