In the city of Seydi in Lebap velayat, events were held to raise awareness about the conservation of biodiversity and the effectiveness of management of specially protected areas (SPNA).

The event was held by the UNDP Project “Conservation and sustainable management of land resources and ecosystems of high natural value in the Aral Sea basin to achieve multiple benefits”, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented jointly with the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan.

Thus, on June 13, a seminar was held aimed at improving methods of environmental control and management of protected areas, introducing biodiversity-friendly sustainable land use regimes in buffer zones and ecological corridors based on agreements with the local community. The seminar was attended by representatives of central and local authorities. Participants were also introduced to the legal framework governing the management of protected areas in Turkmenistan. The seminar was organized in collaboration with experts from the National Institute of Deserts, Flora and Fauna of the Ministry of Nature Protection of Turkmenistan.

On June 14, a round table was held for employees of the Amudarya and Gaplangyr nature reserves and key experts on biodiversity. Participants discussed the analysis of mid-term project evaluation indicators using the Management Effectiveness Assessment Tool (METT) and the experience of developing a five-year development plan for the Amudarya nature reserve and its Kelif sanctuary.

In addition, based on the results of the inventory of the Amudarya reserve and as part of the creation of the Pyatnak sanctuary, basic numbers of key species of animals and plants that need to be monitored to assess the general condition of the ecosystem were established, and the species that need to be focused on when analyzing numbers were identified, it is reported in a UNDP press release.