A jubilee issue of the Problems of Desert Development Journal published in Turkmenistan for 40 years appeared in print. The specialized periodical published by the National Desert, Plant and Animal Life Research Institute of the Ministry of Nature Protection of Turkmenistan is of particular interest to the international scientific community. The journal presents the articles of the famous scientists from Central Asia and the countries of the continent. The jubilee issue includes the reports and articles about the new experiments, research activity and innovations in Turkmenistan.

The Karakum Desert is a special theme of the issue. The tasks set to Turkmen ecologists include preserving the unique ecosystems of one of the world’s largest deserts for the future generations. Our scientists successfully tackle the problems of desertification and their research experience is remarkable. Their recent achievements are a page of the modern history of Turkmenistan. In recent years over 570 hectares of lands were developed and the total area of irrigated land is 1,800.000 ha. In the nearest future the area will be expanded. The addresses of the newly-ploughed virgin soil are etraps Serdar and Bereket, the territories nearby Atamurat town, the Zeyid water storage reservoir, the tracts of land Shimansur, Diyarbekir and, of course, Shahsenem known all of the country for the grandiose projects initiated by President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov.

Nowadays, the scientists are engaged in the search for the most effective methods of supplying water in the arid areas along with the use of water wells in the Karakum Desert. The specialists of the Institute conducted the unique experiment to create the artificial reserves of fresh underground water. The special hydraulic complex creates the fresh water lenses at the depth of 15 metres, which are preserved on the surface of salt underground waters for a long time. According to scientists, such underground water storages can create for 3-4 years the fresh water reserves sufficient to satisfy the needs of outrun livestock farming and oasis farming.

On the pages of the journal the specialists of the Turkmensuvylymtaslama Research and Design Institute of the Ministry of Water Industry share their experience in recovering drain water to develop the lands located nearby the collecting pipe of the Turkmen Lake. Designing the practices of integrated development of the desert areas the scientists study advanced trickle irrigation technologies. The polygon for applying the innovative technologies is Ruhabat Etrap, where the scientists designed and assigned trickle irrigation in the 1,480-hectrare area to the construction organisations.

Speaking about the research conducted by Turkmen scientists we should mention the success of the grandiose project on the air registration of water birds in the Turkmen sector of the Caspian Sea. The information provided to the journal by the Turkmen scientists will be of particular interest to ornithologists as well as those who love the nature, the native land. Collaborating in the project Protection and Sustainable Use of the Biological Diversity of Universal Value in the Khazar Reserve on the Caspian Sea Coast implemented by the Ministry of Nature Protection of Turkmenistan, the UN Development Programme and the Ecological Global Fund the ornithologists flied about over 30 focus areas – the bays, creeks, lagoons and sea coast inhabited with birds in 2007. The scientists registered over 440 bird units belonging to 41 species.

Thus, the journal celebrated its 40th jubilee with the publications reflecting the panorama of the work the scientists and ecological specialists carry on in the interests of the people. The ultimate aim of this work is to preserve the property of the Turkmen people and mankind – the unique nature of Turkmenistan.