Ashgabat hosted an introductory seminar on the implementation of a new project to strengthen the resilience of Turkmenistan to the consequences of the Aral Sea crisis.

The project is called “Conservation and Sustainable Management of Land Resources and Natural Ecosystems of the Aral Sea Basin” and will be implemented on the territory of Turkmenistan by UNDP together with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection.

The project cost 4,6 million USD and is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

The new project aims to promote the reversal of land degradation through an initial investment in participatory integrated land-use planning to restore and improve the use of land and water resources, taking into account key biodiversity habitats to provide essential ecosystem services. Also, the project will eliminate the factors of degradation of flora and fauna in order to enhance the biodiversity of habitats and species by expanding the system of protected areas and improving management efficiency.

Rovshen Nurmuhamedov, Head of the UNDP Program Department in Turkmenistan, noted:

“This important project is expected to have an additional and supportive effect on the implementation of the National Aral Sea Program for 2021-2025. The project will assist the country in implementing appropriate adaptation planning mechanisms to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change”.

The introductory seminar brought together representatives of the ministries and departments of Turkmenistan involved in the implementation of the project, including from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection, the State Committee for Water Resources, Milli Gengesh, the Ministry of Finance and Economy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the State Committee for Statistics, the “Daihanbank”, hyakimliks of Lebap and Dashoguz velayats, the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan.

The participants discussed issues related to the implementation of the project, such as goals and objectives, implementation strategy, annual work plan for 2023, interaction with partners, stakeholders and beneficiaries, monitoring and evaluation procedures, as well as the effective functioning of project management mechanisms.