Appraisal reports on priority ecological problems in Central Asia Ashgabat, 2006 Foreword The core of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) mandate is to monitor, assess and report on global, re- gional and sub-regional environmental issues. The UNEP pro- gramme in Central Asia started in 1999 with support to the development of Central Asian Regional Environment Action Plan (REAP). The REAP is the first strategic sub-regional docu- ment that aims at protecting environment for sustainable development in Central Asia. The sub-region is very diverse in its natural endowment varying from glaciers in mountains of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan and arid and harsh deserts in Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Based on this the Plan has identified the follow- ing sub-regional issues of common concern: Water Resources Pollution, Waste Management, Degradation of Mountain Ecosystems, Land Degradation and Air Pollution. The UNEP has been supporting the Central Asian states in addressing these issues by provid- ing technical support through best practices, case studies and pilot initiatives. This report presents the progress made and the state-of-affairs of the mentioned environmental issues in the sub-region and is aimed for decision makers to better address environmental issues of sub-regional concern. I would like to thank the Governments of the States, our partners such as, the Interstate Sustainable Development Commission, REAP Focal Points, the Scientific Information Center and Centers of Excellence for their efforts in preparing this report. Surendra Shrestha Regional Director and Representative United Nations Environment Programme for Asia and the Pacific Content Appraisal report on pollution Degradation of transboundary waters of mountain ecosystems in Central Asia 1. Introduction ............................................................................... 39 1. Introduction ..................................................................................7 2. Description of the problem. ............................................. 40 2. Description of the Problem .................................................9 Role of mountains .............................................................. 40 2.1. Pollution of surface water .......................................9 3. Assessment of situation in regional countries ...... 44 2.2. Pollution of groundwater ..................................... 12 3.1. Kazakhstan ................................................................... 44; 2.3. The sources of pollution ....................................... 13 3.2. Kyrgyzstan .................................................................... 46; 2.4. Drinking water supplies to the public and access 3.3. Tajikistan ........................................................................ 47; to sanitation. ................................................................. 18 3.4. Turkmenistan .............................................................. 50; 3. Indicators of the problem under assessment ....... 21 3.5. Uzbekistan ..................................................................... 53 3.1. Indicators of impact ............................................... 21; 4. Evaluation of the need of problem solution ......... 54; 3.2. Indicators of quality ................................................ 22; 5. Action plan for 2-3 years .................................................... 56; 3.3. Indicators of reciprocal actions ........................ 22 6. Consistent implementation of the proposed plan 57 4. National policies and strategies pursued i n Central Asia countries on solving the problems References: ...................................................................................... 58; of pollution of transboundary waters ........................ 22 APPENDIX ......................................................................................... 59 4.1. Kazakhstan ................................................................... 22; 4.2. Kyrgyzstan .................................................................... 23; 4.3. Tajikistan ........................................................................ 24; 4.4. Turkmenistan .............................................................. 25; 4.5. Uzbekistan ..................................................................... 26 5. Assessment of problems to be resolved ................. 28; 6. Action Plan for near-term outlook ............................... 29 References ........................................................................................ 30 Appendixes ..................................................................................... 32 Regional Appraisal report Lands degradation on industrial and residential waste management Introduction ................................................................................... 83; 1. Land resources ........................................................................ 84; Introduction .................................................................................... 63 2. Natural and anthropogenic factors 1. Analysis and assessment of lands degradation ........................................................... 85; of waste management problem ................................... 63 3. Processes of lands degradation ..................................... 87 1.1. The situation analysis and identification of the problems of environment 3.1. Basic forms of land degradation ...................... 90 pollution with solid industrial 3.2. Desertification............................................................ 90; and residential wastes ........................................... 63; 3.3. Deforestation ............................................................... 92 1.2. Waste management regulation at the state level ......................................................... 68 3.4. Soil erosion and deflation.........................................93; 2. Indicators of waste management ............................... 70; 3.5. Overgrazing .................................................................. 94 3. Financial provision ................................................................. 71 3.6. Monoculture ............................................................... 95; 4. Measures taken by the states to reduce 3.7. Salinization .................................................................... 95 industrial and residential wastes formation ........... 72 3.8. Waterlogging ............................................................... 97 4.1 Processing, secondary use of wastes ........... 72; 3.9. Pollution .......................................................................... 97 4.2 Introduction of “clean” technologies ............ 73; 3.10. Wastes storekeeping .............................................. 98; 4.3. Transboundary aspects of dangerous 3.11. Transboundary aspects of the problem .... 99; wastes management .............................................. 74 3.12. Estimation of damage ............................................ 99 5. Public awareness and ecological education of the population with regards 4. Legislation, policy and institutional base to wastes treatment ............................................................. 75; for land resources management ................................100; 6. Legislation, policy and institutional base 5. Capacity building needs for problem solving ....102 for the waste management .............................................. 77 6. Programs and projects on the rational use 6.1 Legal framework ........................................................ 78 of land resources ...................................................................105 Conclusions and recommendations ................................ 79 Indicators ......................................................................107 References ....................................................................................... 80; Actions and measures proposed to improve the degraded lands of Central Asia: ..........................................................108 References ......................................................................................109 Atmospheric air pollution in Central Asia countries Introduction ..................................................................................115 1. Environmental policy in CA countries .....................116 1.1. Ecological intensity and main characteristics of air basin pollution .............................................117 1.2. Impact of pollution sources of СA countries on the state of atmospheric air ..................................................117; 1.3. Problems of ozone layer depletion .............118; 1.4. Transboundary pollution of atmospheric air ..................................................119; 1.5. Ecological education ............................................120 2. State and protectionof atmospheric air in Uzbekistan ...........................................................................122 2.1. Quality of atmospheric air .................................122 2.2. Oil and gas industry ...............................................122 3. State and protectionof atmospheric air in Tajikistan ...............................................................................124; 4. State and protectionof atmospheric air in Kazakhstan ..........................................................................126; 5. State and protection of atmospheric air