Abstract
This article presents a comprehensive ecological and geographical assessment of the current state of the Zhambyl Region, aimed at identifying the characteristics of its natural resource potential, environmental problems and factors contributing to the region’s sustainable development. The aim of the study is to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the natural conditions, natural resources and environmental situation in the Zhambyl Region, identifying the main factors of human impact and the prospects for rational use of natural resources. The research methods are based on systemic, comparative-geographical, statistical, analytical and cartographic approaches.The research was based on data from the National Statistics Bureau of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the State Enterprise ‘Kazhydromet’, as well as the findings of recent domestic and international scientific studies.The findings of the study showed that the Zhambyl Region possesses significant natural resource potential, including water, land and biological resources, which support the development of agriculture, industry and other sectors of the economy. At the same time, pressing environmental problems have been identified, relating to water scarcity, land degradation, air pollution, high anthropogenic pressure and the impact of climate change. An assessment has been carried out of the current state of surface and groundwater, biodiversity, land resources and air quality, and the main sources of environmental risks and the characteristics of their geographical distribution have been identified. The need for further improvement of the environmental monitoring system, the rational use of natural resources, the introduction of resource-saving technologies and the implementation of environmental protection measures has been substantiated.