The International Conference on Environmental Cooperation of Turkmenistan with the International Organisations: Achievements and Successes closed in Ashgabat. The large-scale forum brought together the ecologists, specialists and experts representing over 20 leading international structures, including the UN, organisations and research centres from 17 countries of the world, including Turkmenistan. Reflecting Turkmenistan’s outstanding achievements in the nature conservation sector against a broad spectrum of fields of international environmental cooperation, the forum marked a new stage of fruitful cooperation to address global challenges of modern time.
The forum agenda covered the important aspects of the environmental strategy of Turkmenistan and provided an opportunity to learn about the profound positive experience of Turkmen ecologists, the outcomes of the multipurpose programmes and projects implemented in the country in collaboration with international partners and identify new options for cooperation on regional and global scale.
Those speaking underlined an outstanding contribution that the Turkmen leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov had made to promote the ideas of global energy and environmental security in the world arena and noted that modern Turkmenistan served as a vivid example of steady economic growth and high environmental standards.
Forum participants presented the overview of the ambitious environmental programmes and projects implemented in Turkmenistan in close collaboration with UNDP, UNECE, UNEP, EU, GEF, GIZ, the Zukkov Foundation and other international structures.
The ongoing successful projects in our country include the Caspian Environment Programme. Under this project the additional Protocol Concerning Regional Preparedness, Response and Cooperation in Combating Oil Pollution Incidents to the Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea has been signed this year. The Turkmen coast of the Caspian Sea is recognized as cleanest and safest. Listing the Hazar Reserve located on the coastal territory as a key ornithological territory is essential for the protection of migratory bird populations.
Another important project is the national programme of specially protected territories and wildlife which is aimed at conserving unique biological and landscape diversity in particular. Under this programme the integrated study of all reserves in Turkmenistan has been conducted to identify the possibilities to establish national parks that will facilitate developing ecotourism and popularizing the beauty and wealth of the Turkmen nature. The results of the joint work of Turkmen and foreign ecologists are impressive. They were used to prepare the ecological and economic feasibility study to create the first national park at the foothills of the Kopetdag Mountains.
Excluding such rare and threatened species as desert monitor, Central Asia cobra, Indian porcupine, Afghan fox and some bird species from the Red Data Book of Turkmenistan vividly evidences the effectiveness of the measures taken by the Government to create the favourable habitat and conserve biodiversity of Turkmen nature.
The afforestation projects have been launched within the framework of the large-scale tree planting programme aimed at creating the favourable microclimate and healthier environment in the country. These projects are aimed at expanding the areas planted particularly with endemic species such as saxaul plantations in the desert, juniper woodlands in the mountains and tugai forests in the river valleys. These projects significantly contribute to addressing the challenges of desertification and land degradation.
The international significance of the man-made Altyn Asyr Turkmen Lake as a factor in promoting sustainable development of the Central Asian region and conserving abundant natural resources was underlined as an example of Turkmenistan’s initiative and active approach to promote cooperation and tackle global challenges. The network of supply manifolds and ingress of water to the Turkmen Lake has created the conditions conducive to forming water ecosystems and their biodiversity which in their turn prevent desertification.
It was noted that only an integrated approach combined with concerted efforts of the world community to address such global issues as environmental quality, efficient nature management, preservation of the unique natural heritage, mitigation of the impact of human activities and climate changes on the environment had yielded positive results in the name and for the benefit of living things on the planet.
The forum agenda covered the important aspects of the environmental strategy of Turkmenistan and provided an opportunity to learn about the profound positive experience of Turkmen ecologists, the outcomes of the multipurpose programmes and projects implemented in the country in collaboration with international partners and identify new options for cooperation on regional and global scale.
Those speaking underlined an outstanding contribution that the Turkmen leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov had made to promote the ideas of global energy and environmental security in the world arena and noted that modern Turkmenistan served as a vivid example of steady economic growth and high environmental standards.
Forum participants presented the overview of the ambitious environmental programmes and projects implemented in Turkmenistan in close collaboration with UNDP, UNECE, UNEP, EU, GEF, GIZ, the Zukkov Foundation and other international structures.
The ongoing successful projects in our country include the Caspian Environment Programme. Under this project the additional Protocol Concerning Regional Preparedness, Response and Cooperation in Combating Oil Pollution Incidents to the Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea has been signed this year. The Turkmen coast of the Caspian Sea is recognized as cleanest and safest. Listing the Hazar Reserve located on the coastal territory as a key ornithological territory is essential for the protection of migratory bird populations.
Another important project is the national programme of specially protected territories and wildlife which is aimed at conserving unique biological and landscape diversity in particular. Under this programme the integrated study of all reserves in Turkmenistan has been conducted to identify the possibilities to establish national parks that will facilitate developing ecotourism and popularizing the beauty and wealth of the Turkmen nature. The results of the joint work of Turkmen and foreign ecologists are impressive. They were used to prepare the ecological and economic feasibility study to create the first national park at the foothills of the Kopetdag Mountains.
Excluding such rare and threatened species as desert monitor, Central Asia cobra, Indian porcupine, Afghan fox and some bird species from the Red Data Book of Turkmenistan vividly evidences the effectiveness of the measures taken by the Government to create the favourable habitat and conserve biodiversity of Turkmen nature.
The afforestation projects have been launched within the framework of the large-scale tree planting programme aimed at creating the favourable microclimate and healthier environment in the country. These projects are aimed at expanding the areas planted particularly with endemic species such as saxaul plantations in the desert, juniper woodlands in the mountains and tugai forests in the river valleys. These projects significantly contribute to addressing the challenges of desertification and land degradation.
The international significance of the man-made Altyn Asyr Turkmen Lake as a factor in promoting sustainable development of the Central Asian region and conserving abundant natural resources was underlined as an example of Turkmenistan’s initiative and active approach to promote cooperation and tackle global challenges. The network of supply manifolds and ingress of water to the Turkmen Lake has created the conditions conducive to forming water ecosystems and their biodiversity which in their turn prevent desertification.
It was noted that only an integrated approach combined with concerted efforts of the world community to address such global issues as environmental quality, efficient nature management, preservation of the unique natural heritage, mitigation of the impact of human activities and climate changes on the environment had yielded positive results in the name and for the benefit of living things on the planet.
