Ashgabat, 1 October 2010 – Residents of the Caspian settlements of Chekishlyar, Garagel, Belek and Gyzylsuw of Balkan province enlarged their knowledge and get professional consultation on duck and fish breeding in local conditions in the course of the seminar in Garagel settlement. This seminar is a part of activities organized by the joint project of the UN Development Program, Global Environment Facility and the Ministry of Nature Protection of Turkmenistan with the objective to support alternative activities among local people to reduce anthropogenic pressure on biological resources of the Caspian Sea.

Ashgabat, 28 September 2010 – Residents of Caspian settlements of Chekishlyar, Garagel, Belek and Gyzylsuw of Balkan province who started small oazis farming activities had an opportunity to enlarge their knowledge and get professional consultancy in the course of a seminar in Etrek village of Balkan province organized by the by the joint project of the UN Development Program, Global Environment Facility and the Ministry of Nature Protection of Turkmenistan.

Ashgabat, 25 August 2010 - Residents of the Caspian coastal villages of Chekishlyar, Garagel, Belek and Gyzylsuv of Balkan province, who started breeding poultry and cattle as an alternative method of income generation with a view of preserving the biological diversity of the Caspian Sea, enhanced their knowledge and got professional advice in the course of a one day seminar in the city of Balkanabad organized by the joint project of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Global Environment Facility(GEF) and the Ministry of Nature Protection of Turkmenistan.

On 12 of August 2010 the UN Development Program, Global Environment Facility and Ministry of Nature Protection project “Conservation and Sustainable Use of Globally Significant Biological Diversity in Hazar Nature Reserve on the Caspian Sea Coast” jointly with the Caspian Environment Program has organized event devoted to celebration of the Caspian Day at Awaza national tourist zone.

Ashgabat, 5 July 2010. From 28 June to 3 July the UN Development Program and Global Environment Facility’ project “Conservation and Sustainable Use of Globally Significant Biological Diversity in Hazar Nature Reserve on the Caspian Sea Coast” implemented jointly with the Ministry of Nature Protection of Turkmenistan organized internship for the 4-th year students of Turkmen State University named after Makhtumkuli at the Hazar Nature Reserve.

Ashgabat, 24 June 2010 - The Hazar Nature Reserve conducted a survey of nested fauna from 14 to 18 June 2010 in the northern section of the Turkmen sector of the Caspian Sea to identify the species composition and number of nesting birds. As a result of survey, there have been identified nesting of 32 species of birds belonging to 10 different orders. Among these species there are birds the hunting for which should be strictly regulated.

Ashgabat, 14 June 2010 – The UNDP project «Conservation and Sustainable Use of Globally Significant Biological Diversity in Hazar State Reserve on the Caspian Sea Coast», implemented jointly with the Global Environment Facility and the Ministry of Nature protection of Turkmenistan held a seminar on «International experience in developing training programs for specialists of protected areas of Turkmenistan». The seminar was held by Michael Appleton, International consultant of the project at the training center established within the project implementation at the National Institute of Deserts, Flora and Fauna.

Ashgabat, 3 June 2010. On 3rd of June in anticipation of the World Environment Day which is widely celebrated on 5th of June in many countries of the world a scientific and practical conference for the teachers of biology of Balkan province took place at the Museum of the Hazar reserve, Turkmenbashi city. The conference was organized with the help of the Global Environment Facility project “Conservation and Sustainable Use of Globally Significant Biological Diversity in Hazar Nature Reserve on the Caspian Sea Coast” implemented jointly with the UN Development Program and the Ministry of Nature Protection of Turkmenistan.

The main objective of the conference was to increase awareness about the current state of environment in the Turkmen part of the Caspian sea, it’s flora and fauna as well as involvement of schoolchildren via teachers to the activities of the Hazar reserve on protection of environment. 
The conference gathered around 40 participants, including the representatives of UNDP, Hazar project and specialists of Hazar reserve.