In the last days of May, a high-level international conference on glacier preservation was held in Dushanbe, attended by a representative delegation from Turkmenistan. The event brought together representatives from government organizations, businesses, and sustainability experts to exchange experiences and seek solutions aimed at strengthening Central Asia’s resilience to climate change
The participants of the meeting discussed mechanisms for cross-sectoral and transboundary water partnerships, as well as adaptive approaches to studying and monitoring the state of glacier systems. Special attention was given to integrating the water-glacier agenda into the achievement of SDG 6 (clean water), 12 (responsible consumption), 13 (climate action), and 15 (ecosystem conservation). The discussions also focused on the melting of ice masses as a critical factor that could impact the sustainable water supply for the five countries, and on ways to mitigate this risk.
Representatives from Turkmenistan were invited to participate in this session — Batyr Mamedov, Head of the Secretariat of the Interstate Commission on Sustainable Development of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, and Pirli Kepbanov, Director of the National Institute of Deserts, Flora and Fauna and Candidate of Biological Sciences. Pirli Kepbanov gave a presentation in which he spoke about the climatic features and snow cover formation in the mountains of Turkmenistan.
There are no permanent glaciers in Turkmenistan, but in the winter months, snow can cover the mountain systems of Kugitangtau, Kopetdag and Balkhanov, which has a positive effect on hydrological processes and microclimate, and serves as a source of water for agriculture. The speaker stated that high temperatures and evaporation of moisture cause a decrease in precipitation, in winter - snowfall, increases drought, reduces river flows, drying out small rivers in summer, and affects the state of vegetation cover
As part of the dialogue, the conference considered ways to harmonize the interests of ecology, social needs and agro-industrial production in water: from introducing standards for sustainable water distribution, restoring degraded water bodies to strengthening partnerships between science, the state and local communities.
For Central Asia, glaciers are vital natural reserves of fresh water, the main river systems of the region - Syrdarya and Amudarya depend on the melting of compressed snow and ice in the upper Tien Shan and Pamirs.
