With the near loss of the Aral Sea, Lake Balkhash is now the country’s largest inland water body now critically threatened by climate change causing variability of river flow, increased evapotranspiration, and fire risk all exacerbated by poor land and water management diminishing key water regulating functions. This adversely affects water quantity and salinity, agricultural productivity, fisheries, and human health for over 2 million people in the Almaty Region. This project will restore the forests in the Ili River Delta to recover its critical water regulating functions for Lake Balkhash. The project will be executed by WWF Russia.