An interagency meeting was held in Ashgabat—in a hybrid format combining in-person and remote participation—to mark the 30th anniversary of the entry into force of the UNECE Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes, according to the website of the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan.

This convention was originally conceived as a regional legal instrument but subsequently acquired a global character. In Central Asia, its provisions are applied in conjunction with the activities of IFAS and SPECA, as well as bilateral agreements on water issues.

The meeting was attended by specialists from agencies and institutions working in the fields of drinking water supply, irrigated agriculture, wastewater treatment, the protection of natural aquatic ecosystems, and the operation of hydraulic structures.

The primary objective of the meeting was to discuss a cross-sectoral approach to integrated water resources management in Turkmenistan. Particular attention was paid to practical recommendations for developing irrigation, ensuring the rational use of water resources, and implementing modern approaches to managing the water management sector.

The participants exchanged views on issues of regional cooperation, digitalization of the water sector, and adaptation to climate change.

Representatives of the UNECE Water Convention expressed their appreciation to Turkmenistan for organizing the meeting, highlighting the importance of continuing the regional dialogue on improving legal and technical mechanisms for water use, the source notes.