KAZNU RESEARCHERS CONDUCTED FIELD RESEARCH IN THE SOUTHERN REGION OF THE COUNTRY

As part of the research under the program "Scientific and applied justification of management of natural and agricultural systems (NSS) to prevent desertification in the southern regions of Kazakhstan, to ensure sustainable development of rural areas", researchers at al-Farabi Kazakh National University conducted field studies of the state of natural and agricultural systems of agricultural and pasture use.  

The field expedition was attended by teachers of the Departments of Geography, Land Management and Cadastre, cartography and Geoinformatics, Biodegradation and Bioresources, as well as employees of the Center for Space Technologies and Remote Sensing of the Earth. 
SDG 13, focused on combating climate change, and SDG 15, aimed at preserving terrestrial ecosystems, were included in the program for monitoring the development of desertification processes in key areas. 

The main tasks of the expedition included studying the current state of agricultural and pasture use, identifying the main factors contributing to desertification processes, as well as developing scientific and applied recommendations for sustainable management of territories. 
In total, a survey of 96 reference observation points was conducted, covering natural and anthropogenic complexes of agricultural and pasture use.  

During the field work, all planned sites were surveyed. Descriptions of soil pits were carried out at all observation points, soil samples, a natural and territorial complex (PTK) using a drone, and vegetation cover were selected. Natural and artificial (quarry) outcrops have been studied and described at some reference points.  
A field analysis of the leading physical, geographical and geomorphological processes was carried out at the observation sites to compare them with remote sensing data. Preliminary field data has been partially processed and a database has been created for further in-house research. Soil samples were also taken during the field stage.