Well-known Turkmen ecologist, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor Eldar Rustamov took part in the opening ceremony of the Central Asian office of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which took place at the Green University of Tashkent on the eve of International Nature Conservation Day - June 2.

This event attracted the attention of the scientific community of all five Central Asian countries. The opening was personally attended by IUCN Director General Dr. Gretel Aguilar, who pays great attention to regional cooperation.

In a conversation with a correspondent of Turkmenportal, E.A. Rustamov said the following:

- For Turkmenistan, the opening of this office is of great importance, because Turkmenistan's cooperation with IUCN has a long history. Back in 1978, the 14th General Assembly of IUCN was held in Ashgabat, and what is important is that at this forum the Turkmen Society for the Conservation of Nature was elected as a full member of IUCN. At that time, only two organizations from the USSR were represented in IUCN: the All-Russian Society and the Turkmen Society for Nature Conservation. After 1978, IUCN actively collaborated with Turkmen scientists for a long time.

The opening of the Central Asian office can be called the second wind of this cooperation. At present, IUCN and the Ministry of Environmental Protection are linked by a memorandum of intent, within the framework of which a number of projects are supported. Turkmenistan is ready to expand this cooperation, because thanks to the open door policy actively promoted by the country's leadership, we strive to cooperate with all international organizations, especially such important ones as IUCN. I hope that cooperation will expand in the direction of the Red Book species of flora and fauna. By the way, the emergence of the Red Book in the world is the merit of the IUCN - in 1966 the first Red Book list was compiled, after which this initiative was picked up by many countries, including Turkmenistan, and in 1985 the first edition of the Red Book of the TSSR was published.

The IUCN Central Asian Office's primary plans include establishing cooperation with environmental organizations in all countries of the region within the framework of the large project "Health of All Central Asia". A very important emphasis will be placed on transboundary projects to improve the environmental situation, protect rare species, and promote environmental conservation ideas, the Turkmen ecologist noted.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources is an international non-profit organization that was founded in 1948. IUCN is engaged in highlighting the problems of preserving the planet's biodiversity. The organization has observer status at the UN General Assembly.