Abstract
In the Caspian region environmental NGOs have played a key role not only in advancing environmental concerns,but also in the formation of civil discourse and democratic structures. This paper focuses on the role of environmental NGOs in the Caspian littoral countries of the former Soviet Union (Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan,Turkmenistan and Russia) as well as in Georgia. It describes the history of the region’s environmental sector, discusses how environmental NGOs are working to improve the environment and develop civil society, and provides a case study of one effort to bring together regional NGOs to work specifically on Caspian Sea-related issues.
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References
Memorandum: Perspectives on the Development of the Caspian Region: the NGO Position, Proceedings, ISAR Caspian Conference,Baku, Azerbaijan, April 20–23, 1999, p. 34.
Discussion between the author and staff of the Horizonti Foundation for the Third Sector in Georgia.
Correspondence with Horizonti Foundation for the Third Sector in Georgia, August 1999.
The project, “Oil-Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” was funded by ISAR-Georgia and the project, “Oil, Environment and Humans” was funded by the Open Society Georgia Fund.
See Maka Chichua (1997) Georgian NGO Monitors Environmental Impact of Oil Pipeline, Surviving Together,Summer 1997, pp. 21–22.
Ruzgar’s final report, “Support of Reform in the Social Sphere. Preparation and Publication of the Report About Ecological and Social Aspects of the Development of the Oil Industry of Azerbaijan,” Baku, 1997, p. 12.
For more information see Kate Watters (1996) Among the Living in Azerbaijan’s Dead Zone, Surviving Together, Summer 1996, pp. 16–18.
For more information see the full report, available at ISAR-Azerbaijan.
Dmitri Voitovich, (July 1999) Rezul’taty ekspeditsionnogo obsledovaniya otryadom “Yunnyi geolog Turkmenistana” Krasnovodskogo zaliva v lune ‘89, Caspinfo, http://www.ecoline.ru/caspinfo/caspinfo.
See Archil Kikodze (1997) Georgian NGOs Halt Army Training in Fragile David Gareji Desert, Surviving Together, Summer 1997, pp. 37–38.
Elchin Sultanov, (July 1999) “Rezul’taty povtomogo (cherez 40 dnei) obsledovaniya zagryaznenykh neft’yu ostrovov v Azerbaijzhanskom sektore Kaspiya (Iyul’, 99), Caspinfo, http://www.ecoline.ru/caspinfo/caspinfo.
Kazak Activists Accuse OKIOC of Violating Environmental Laws, Siberia Project from FSU Oil and Gas Monitor, October 12, 1999 (online).
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Gabriela Schwarz (1996) Turkmen NGOs: Off the Beaten Track, Surviving Together, Fall 1996: 40–41. and iSAR Cooperative Grant Files, Washington, DC.
See Tinatin Khidasheli (1997) Young Lawyers Group Pushes Legal Reform in Georgia, Surviving Together, Summer 1997, pp. 39–40.
For more information see Tamar Metreveli (1997) Innovations Introduced by the New Civil Code in Public Sector, Horizonti Magazine, Autumn 1997, pp. 3–5.
Author’s correspondence with Horizonti Foundation for the Third Sector, September 1999.
Tina Nelson (1999) Building Civil Society in Azerbaijan: Overview and Needs Assessment Survey of the Azeri Local NGO Sector 1999,unpublished report, p. 8.
Discussion between the author and Kim Perlow, director of ISAR-Azerbaijan, October 1999.
Author’s correspondence with Sergei Kuratov, Green Salvation, March 1998. For more information about Kazakh environmental protection laws, see Sergei Kuratov, Reform of Ecological Legislation in Kazakhstan, Almaty, 1999.
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The purpose of describing the program here is not to provide a detailed account of ISAR’s program implementation and goals, but rather to discuss the local NGO work that is taking place through this program.
In October 1998, the author traveled to Azerbaijan, Georgia and Kazakhstan to meet with environmental NGOs and learn from them their immediate priorities for more effective NGO coordination in the Caspian Basin.
The conference proceedings are available from iSAR’s Washington, DC office.
Appeal to the Governments of the Caspian Basin, Proceedings,“Strengthening Partnerships Among NGOs Working on Environmental Problems of the Caspian Basin,” p. 35.
A complete schedule of the topical seminars is available from ISAR-Washington.
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Watters, K. (2000). Environment and the Development of Civil Society in the Caspian Region: The Role of NGOs. In: Ascher, W., Mirovitskaya, N. (eds) The Caspian Sea: A Quest for Environmental Security. NATO Science Series, vol 67. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-4032-4_15
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-4032-4_15
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