Aral Sea: the hope of an ecological awareness

Cotton is a gold mine for many Asian countries. In the 50's, it was even considered as the White Gold of the USSR. But its cultivation is not without consequences on the environment .... The Aral Sea, an ecological disaster, is a good example. Can we finally talk about ecological awareness?

Intensive cotton cultivation upsets the ecological balance

During the Stalinist era, intensive cotton cultivation turned an entire region of the world upside down, resulting in an ecological catastrophe that is still taking its toll today: the Aral Sea shrank from 67,000km² in 1960 to 21,000km² in 2010.

According to the latest satellite photos, the Aral Sea is not in very good shape. In any case, still far from its initial shape. Divided between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, it was the 4th largest inland sea in the world. Two rivers ensured its continuity: the Amu Darya in the South, and the Sir Darya in the North.

Originally two and a half times the size of Brittany, it has lost 2/3 of its surface area and 3/4 of its volume!

In addition, since 1987, the sea has gradually divided into two parts; a large one in the south called the large sea, and a smaller one in the north called the small sea. Aralsk, which was the main port in the north, is now more than 80 km from the coast. Muniak, the southern one, is more than 120 km away. These two ports are now orphans: the woman who allowed their economic and social development has left, abandoning against her will the fishermen who were once her pride.

Why such an ecological disaster?

In the middle of the last century, Soviet planners assigned Central Asia the leading role in cotton production (as the main supplier of this raw material). The regions concerned were the semi-arid steppes of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. To grow cotton, you need heat, but also water...lots of water. This water is found in the two rivers that feed the Aral Sea: the Sir Daria in the north (Kazakhstan), and the Amu Daria in the south (Uzbekistan). But given the climate, irrigation is essential. The Aral Sea and its tributaries seem an inexhaustible source. Hundreds of irrigation canals were built, accompanied by massive use of fertilizers and pesticides to develop and intensify this highly profitable crop: between 1960 and 1990, the irrigated area in Central Asia rose from 3.5 to 7.5 million hectares, and the region became the world's fourth largest cotton producer.

For this same period, the volume of water taken from the rivers will simply double; but in the end, the Aral Sea will receive 10 times less fresh water than in the 1950s. The disruption of the "established water balance" is immediately manifested by two major phenomena: a threefold increase in water salinity and a drop in sea level of about 15 m. At the beginning of the 90s, it is the consternation:

• The increase in salinity has decimated almost all of the 30 species of fish (only 2 will survive including the Cambala, imported from the Sea of Azov in 1979).
• The decrease in sea level, which began in 1960, has caused thecoastline to move several tens of kilometers away.

The international community is then leaning towards what will be called one of the greatest ecological disasters of this century. But beyond these consequences on the environment, it is an economic and social upheaval for nearly 5 million people whose daily life was regulated by the Aral.

The Aral Sea: human, ecological and economic disaster

With the retreat of the sea, a vast open-air seabed laden with salt and toxic dust is raised by the wind. The water tables have gradually dried up and the few springs still available have become too salty and polluted... Kidney diseases have then exploded. Similarly, anemia, cancers, liver diseases and childhood diseases are constantly increasing in the region. Tuberculosis has reached epidemic proportions: in some cities, there were 400 cases per 100,000 inhabitants according to a UNESCO report in 2000.

In Aralsk, the plague center has resumed its activity to detect some isolated cases. The rodents of the steppes have gained ground to the benefit of the retreat of the sea; their fleas carry germs which they transmit to the animals and the cattle... then to the man. "Nothing alarming, only worrying... We must be on the alert, and analyze the evolution of these rodents..." underlines Maltay Nétalin, Director of the anti-plague center of Aralsk.

And then, the new climatic conditions do not arrange anything: with the departure of the Aral, they changed a lot. The refreshing spray of the sea has been replaced by the incessant sweeping of the sand and the wind. Rainfall is scarce and the summer heat has become unbearable. The population's immune defenses have weakened considerably.

From their prosperous past, Aralsk and Muniak have kept only ruins and rubble, leaving old rusty carcasses to dress the sea-less port with a new decor. The fishing and shipbuilding economy is destroyed. In the almost total indifference, men and women were ruined, deceived by the politicians who promised for 40 years the return of their sea. The richest have left, the others are trying to reconvert, but it is often in alcoholism that they take refuge. In these two cities, the unemployment rate is estimated at around 60%... In Aralsk, the population has plummeted... from 65,000 to 32,000 inhabitants.

... A ray of hope for men

Today, the great ecological and economic disruption of this region is unanimous. However, we must add a downside to the catastrophism that the media like to announce: If the southern part, called "the big sea", is doomed to a definitive drying up according to the scientific community, the northern part, "the little sea", knows on the other hand a slight reprieve. The reason is simple: unlike the south where the Amu Darya River is still diverted for cotton cultivation, the Sir Darya in the north now flows into the Aral in a consistent and regular manner. For the last three years, the level of the small sea has stabilized and the salinity is not increasing anymore (let's remember that the strong increase of the salinity in 20 years has decimated almost all the 30 species of fish living in the Aral).

With this inauguration, it is a whole region that hopes: The return of the sea means a possible improvement of the climatic and ecological conditions, but not only; also the insurance of a perennial fishing activity. Because if all the media spotlights are turned towards the construction of the dam, we must not forget the background work and patience led by the corporation of fishermen...

Who could have believed that the Aral Sea would one day give back work to fishermen?

It is however done! Since a few years, from November to March, the shores of the small Aral Sea take on an incredible scenery: fishermen's camps are set up and a vast camping site is organized. The Aral Sea has withdrawn several tens of kilometers from the coasts, so it is the fishermen who join it. They take leave of their family for a few months, the time to accomplish a fishing campaign still unthinkable 10 years ago .... Cabins made of hovels, earthen yurts, truck trailers... these are the main components of this seasonal setting. In the past, we used to travel on camelback, nowadays we ride our motorcycle or sidecar.

Would there then be fish again in the Aral Sea?

In fact, that was never the problem," says a fisheries official. Seeing the retreat of the sea and especially the salinity increase, the Russians introduced a substitute species at the end of the 70s, the Cambala...". This flatfish, which is similar to the flounder, has a tremendous capacity to adapt. For 30 years it has reproduced considerably without being fished! The Kazakhs did not have the right nets and were wary of this unknown species. So, to allow the fishing activity to start again, it was necessary to give back strength and confidence to all these disillusioned and ... ruined fishermen. At this stage, the help could only come from outside; the local economy being disorganized and the Kazakh government bewildered: With its independence declared in 1991, Kazakhstan must face "other priorities...". Denmark was this patron. In collaboration with the local fishermen, Danish fishermen set up an aid allowing to provide adequate material (nets adapted for the fishing of Cambala, outboard motors, clothes...), a training to the new techniques of fishing and,... gasoline. Thus the fishermen were able to develop new fishing campaigns and organize their travel to the sea and then the transportation of the fish to the places of sale.

Today, the fresh water brought by the Sir Daria contributes to the regeneration of the aquatic environment. In addition to the Cambala, new species that were thought to be extinct are once again being caught in the net: carp, pike-perch, pike.

The fishermen's organization can allow itself new hopes: Its consistent action carried out for a few years seems to be rewarded; a final link comes to finish the chain: The construction of a fish factory in Aralsk! The works started in 2004; their end is planned for September 2006, but already the factory has accomplished its first mission...last winter. The fish recovered from the fishing area is cleaned and frozen to be exported to different places and to follow the processes of transformation suitable for its marketing. Economic opportunities are emerging.

The circle is complete and the horizon is finally clear for all these men and women who have taken their destiny in hand.

The hope of an ecological awareness

To save the Aral Sea is impossible today. Nevertheless, we can be pleased to see the partial rescue of the northern part.

Did Man want to make up for his mistakes?
The case is complex: Could we have acted earlier? In what way? Are we heading towards an ecological awareness?

There were projects to save the Aral... enough to write a whole fiction novel! Getting everyone to agree was another problem altogether. It was a question of big money, as always, but also of politics. The Amu Darya and Sir Darya rivers are shared by the five Central Asian republics created by Stalin in the 1930s: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. And the water needs of each are unevenly distributed, as well as economic orientations ... Factors that have compromised the restoration of normal flows of rivers. The Aral was not made to wait to begin its decline.

Preserving the Little Sea to give oneself a good conscience, abandoning the Big Sea to ensure the economy of cotton: Such could be the analysis brought today to this situation. It is obviously too late... the industrial machine is launched. Cotton represents today 40% of the textiles and makes thousands of Uzbeks live upstream of the Amu Darya... what does it matter then what happens to the poor inhabitants downstream of the river? They have lost everything. The work offered by the cotton culture will never dry their tears. They do not have the means to leave or to organize their reconversion or to exchange their boat for a cotton field. They appease their anger by the announcement of important gas resources discovered for some time in the Aral basin. Would the climate have suddenly become salutary? One can always put people to sleep with the hope of money and make them suddenly forget that they live in one of the most harmful regions of the world. How can we pretend that there will be work and money for everyone? The economy and national interests may once again win out. No interest in bailing out the Aral, then. Unless the money from cotton and gas is used to finance sectors as diverse as health, education, housing... and improve social welfare.

More than 50 years ago, the water of cotton and the water of fish flowed fearlessly in the same bed. This harmony, now destroyed, should make us aware of the ways in which development should be conducted. The ecological disaster of the Aral is an extraordinary example of a forced nature, unbalanced, for the benefit of an agricultural and economic maneuver not measured.

The intensive cultivation of cotton has broken the established order: the populations adjoining the two rivers upstream of the Aral have abandoned their quiet lives as fishermen and market gardeners to embark on a more promising business set up and encouraged by the politicians. But to pump water excessively without knowing if its downstream neighbor is going to suffer consequences, here is a thoughtless attitude, unworthy, and against all morals.

The example of the Aral should convince us that there is no choice between economy and environment; we now have the necessary distance to admit that we must organize our society taking into account all aspects of nature, taking advantage of this awakening to a general ecological awareness. UNESCO has published an article on the influence of humans and the example of the Aral Sea

This rule is therefore simple; at a time when the fashion of "Bio" has the wind in its sails and when sustainable development seems to ask the right questions about our way of making our economies evolve, let's repeat this rule, let's repeat this fate of the Aral, let's repeat all this to the politicians, to the industrialists, to the consumers: "Is the path taken always the right one?

In the context of the Aral Sea, wasn't the solution to organize the transition from conventional cotton cultivation methods to an organic method? This organic cotton cultivation so dear to the Green Seagulls and which we talked about in the article Organic cotton, naturally!