Assessment of the water resource potential for creating small water storage facilities involves a comprehensive analysis of natural and socio-economic systems, with a focus on geographic and species composition in the herbarium fund. This analysis helps assess the impact of climate change on the species diversity, condition, and dynamics of the region’s flora, alongside the digitalization of the herbarium fund. Geoinformation analysis is used to assess the functioning of geosystems, including thematic and atlas mapping of natural, socio-demographic, and economic aspects. The landscape-biotic structure of steppe ecosystems, desert, and semi-desert zones is identified, with an emphasis on their stability in the context of natural and anthropogenic changes.

A qualitative and quantitative analysis of the development of these ecosystems helps understand the biodiversity dynamics in the region. The history of the relationship between humans and nature is also studied, with attention to the impact of agrarian and social megaprojects on modern landscapes. Innovative approaches to historical periodization and assessments of such projects are considered. Geographic information systems (GIS) play a role in creating dynamic models to assess water resource changes due to climate factors. Environmental monitoring helps identify environmental risk zones and informs the development of a forecasting and management system for natural resources based on GIS.

The creation of infrastructure for genetic, bio, and geoecological monitoring supports sustainable regional development and environmental object management. Scientific and innovative methods are used for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use, including cataloging biological diversity and conducting metagenomic studies of rare and endemic species. An electronic wildlife database integrated with GIS is created, including data on both current and fossil species in the region. Taxonomic assessments are conducted for fossil reptiles and mammals, as well as studies on amphibians, reptiles, and birds in terms of their biodiversity and protection status.

The development of measures to raise regional birds and aquatic organisms in artificial conditions is part of the conservation efforts. A molecular genetic research laboratory is organized, alongside the collection of flora and fauna samples for DNA barcoding and biobank formation. Biodiversity monitoring includes identifying rare and endemic species’ habitats. Research infrastructure is developed for hydrobiology and arachnology.

Paleogeographic, historical, and archaeological research is conducted to gather data and samples for paleo-geoecological studies. Maps of paleo-geoecological dynamics are created based on historical and cultural heritage sites, with a paleontological laboratory established to study materials from the Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras. Fundamental research is undertaken on the morphology, systematics, and phylogeny of fossil organisms, alongside ecological reconstruction of ancient landscapes.

At the time of submission TRL 1, at the time of completion TRL 3.

An electronic data bank for maintaining the cadastre of fauna of the region, integrated with GIS and including data on reccent and fossil species of wild animals of the region, has been created. Work was carried out to study the distribution of rare, threatened and endangered species, as well as numerous species of economic importance in herpetofauna and avifauna. Information on the current state of amphibia, reptiles and birds in arid and semi-arid ecosystems was obtained. Recommendations on preservation of separate populations of reptiles were developed. Ringing of birds was carried out. Distribution was studied and forecasts on future changes of fauna under the influence of anthropogenic factors were given. Current threats were identified and specific measures for the conservation, reproduction and sustainable use of the fauna of the region were proposed. A taxonomic assessment of the fauna of fossil animals of the region has been carried out, and an annotated list of extinct taxa of reptiles and mammals has been compiled. A new paleontological material, previously unknown in the studied region, will be introduced into scientific discourse. Paleontological remains discovered in the region will be studied, and the history of the formation of faunal diversity in modern ecosystems will be examined based on this data. Molecular studies will be implemented, enabling accurate identification of the genetic diversity of flora and fauna. A database of the herbarium collection, containing detailed information on each specimen, will be created. Thematic geographic atlases characterizing the geoecological, socio-demographic, and socio-economic aspects of the functioning of geosystems in Western Kazakhstan will be developed. The ecological state of the region will be assessed for different historical periods ranging from the settlement of ancient humans to the Middle Ages and from the late 19th century to the present.

A center for Academic and research excellence, digital hydrological and meteorological posts, a bird banding station, a nursery for birds of prey and a wildlife rehabilitation center, a laboratory for growing native fish and aquatic organisms in artificial conditions, and a nursery for wild and rare flora for the introduction of various plant species will be created. It is planned to graduate 10 PhD doctors, publish 10 articles in WoS and Scopus, 20 articles in CQASES, 5 national patents, 1 license agreement, laboratory accreditation, 3 start-up companies.