The Alamedin River is one of the main inflows of the transboundary Chu River. The critical environmental situation in the area gave rise to the idea of organizing a community work day with young scientists and experts in the field of water and natural resources management with the aim of cleaning the coastal area from garbage left by tourists, as well as increasing the level of environmental education and promotion of a rational attitude to natural and water resources.
On October 19, 2019, the youth of Bishkek went to the Alamedin gorge for an eco-picnic. The event was attended by young specialists from government bodies (Agency for Water Resources Management, Kyrgyzhydromet), reclamation students, hydraulic structures from the Agrarian, Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic universities, Kyrgyz State University of Construction, Transport and Architecture, environmental students from the Kyrgyz-Turkish University, graduates of the Kazakh-German University, undergraduates from the OSCE Academy, as well as an eco-act whist and journalists. Among the students there were also representatives of the environmental movements of Zhana Muun and the Biot eco-club. The mayor of Tash-Moynok aiyl okmotu provided a truck for the removal of collected garbage.
In addition to cleaning the territory, the picnic included a theoretical part from representatives of Blue Peace, the Kazakh-German University and the National Coordinator of CAY4W for Kyrgyzstan, as well as a subsequent discussion where participants had the opportunity to exchange views and experience on water and the environment. Both experts and young professionals shared their opinion on the need to raise environmental awareness in society through youth and youth initiatives.
Results
Participants collected more than 70 120-liter garbage bags (including: glass, plastic bottles, disposable tableware, tin cans etc), and packages were also handed out to tourists resting in the area.
Here is how one of the participants Mirsaid Uzakov spoke about the event: "There have gathered young people of different backgrounds and activities, students, young researchers and people who are not indifferent to environmental issues.
The nature in the gorge along the river is very beautiful, the whispers of water, cool breeze and beauty. People like to go there and relax, but after many people the water is filled with plastic bottles, glass, bags and other garbage. After an active holiday, few people think about the need to clean up and keep the place clean… Not everyone suspects how long plastic decomposes and how dangerous it is for the local flora and fauna. Some people bury garbage in the place where they rested, some hide in the bushes, some throw it into the river, some just leave it scattered. The activists found garbage everywhere. And even the designated place for garbage was so terrible that they could not pass by, and collected the garbage neatly in one pile and threw it into a trash can in the Parking lot.
Here is one of the activists wearily rises with a bag full of garbage and paused to rest, a family is located nearby, they have a holiday today… A little family member approached the eco-activist, who looked at him with a tired look and smiled, the boy asked his parents "Who is this?", - the mother replied: "these people are good guys they clean up garbage and protect nature." “Not everything is lost yet," the young eco-activist thought, slung the bag over his back and went on”.