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Ecosystem based Land Use and Ecosystems conservation along the lower reaches of Amu Darya

Background of the project Project name Ecosystem based Land Use and Ecosystems conservation along the lower reaches of Amu Darya Global processes in climate change, changes in water Commissioned The Federal Ministry for the Environment, flow regimes in , more use of water in the Amu by Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Darya downstream section for irrigation and changes in Safety of (BMU) seasonal water availability potentially result in massive Project region Turkmenistan, economic losses for the population and progressive de- Lead execu- Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental struction of the remaining Tugai forests. ting agency protection of Turkmenistan, State Commit- tee on Forestry of the Republic of Uzbeki- There is a need to use the full potential of existing eco- stan system approaches in this region related to land use and Duration 2018-2020 conservation of biological diversity, in particular, tugai for- ests, as well as to raise awareness of these ecosystem ser- Assistance in the development of EbA vices and ways to strengthen or improve their use, in a models countering land degradation sustainable maner. Based on past studies and pilot measures further anal- ysis will be carried out to describe ecosystem services, best Our objectives practices and use of comparative and other methods of The Regional Programme supports the national analysis. Environmental and socio-economic analysis results partners in Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan in the (level of degradation established through GIS maps 1:100 development of Ecosystem based Approaches in Land use 000, environmental, economic and costs analysis of land and biodiversity conservation in the lower reaches of Amu use, economic valuation of ecosystem services) of degraded Darya, as well as in the conservation of forests in the land will be provided to national partners in both countries. riparian Tugai zone, with special climate change aspects. Ecosystem based adaptation measures will be identified and implementation initiated.

Tugai Forests in Turkmenistan

Noble deer in Tugai forest in Uzbekistan

Photo: © GIZ

Tugai forest / biosphere reserve Expected Results strengthening The land use opportunity cost of Forest Ecosystems in In Uzbekistan the Lower Amu Darya State Biosphere comparison to agriculture will be analyzed and relevant Reserve (LABR), formed in 2011 at the initiative of the information to national partners provided. To reduce the Government, is still pending international recognition. pressure on Tugai ecosystems support will be provided Employees from the Lower Amu Darya Biosphere reserve through the development of appropriate action plans, and other relevant stakeholders will be supported by contributing to their sustainability. The capacity-building of allowing simultaneously preserving valuable ecosystems, local and national project participants and the achieved thus contributing to the region sustainable development results will raise the commitment to introduce and spread and international recognition of the reserve. Ecosystem based Approaches and adaptation practices. An adapted management plan for the LABR and the The partners will be able to independently identify and preparation of the nomination dossier for the recognition implement the cost-efficient and climate-smart land use by UNESCO Program “Man and the Biosphere” (MAB) will and biodiversity conservation measures and to incorporate be elaborated. them into national climate change adaptation strategies as In Turkmenistan, advice will be provided in the form well as in regional and international platforms. of recommendations on land use and pasture management based on the protection of natural resources along the Amu Darya.

Published by Deutsche Gesellschaft für In cooperation with State Committee on Forestry of the Republic of Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH Uzbekistan, Michael Succow Fondation, KRASS Registered offices in Bonn and Eschborn, Germany

Regional Programme “Ecosystem based land use On behalf of The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature and Ecosystems conservation along the lower Conservation and Nuclear Safety of Germany (BMU) reaches of Amu Darya”

Dr. Caroline Milow, Regional Programme Director [email protected]

7A, Chimkentskaya str. 100029, Tashkent, Uzbekistan T + 998 71 280 67 51 F + 998 71 280 67 52 www.giz.de

Author Project team

As at August 2019

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