TY - JOUR T1 - Kazakhstan JF - Journal of Soil and Water Conservation SP - 34A LP - 35A VL - 59 IS - 2 AU - T. D. Djalankuzov AU - M. I. Rubinshtejn AU - B. U. Sulejmenov AU - Z. O. Oshakbaeva AU - W. J. Busscher Y1 - 2004/03/01 UR - http://www.jswconline.org/content/59/2/34A.abstract N2 - The Republic of Kazakhstan is a unitary state with the presidential form of government and a parliamentary legislative body. A former member of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic, Kazakhstan became independent on December 21, 1991. In 1997, its capital moved from Almaty to Astana. Kazakhstan is the ninth largest country in the world. Because the country is so large, it has a wide variety of climate, terrain, soil parent material and type, and vegetation. Kazakhstan is a country of vast socioeconomic diversity ranging from rustic camp to cosmopolitan city. It also has a wide variety of religions; the majority of the population is either Muslim or Russian Orthodox. Kazakhstan has important resources of oil, coal, iron ore, manganese, chromite, lead, zinc, copper, titanium, bauxite, phosphate, sulfur, gold, and silver. However, because of years of neglect, its industrial base is undergoing much-needed repair and updating. Recently, Kazakhstan's economy has had double-digit or near double-digit growth as a result of its energy sector, aided by economic reforms, good harvests, and foreign investments. Kazakhstan's agriculture is also diverse, ranging from small farms to large cooperatives raising crops and livestock. The agricultural base is another important … ER -