MINISTRY OF NATURE PROTECTION OF TURKMENISTAN COUNTRY STUDY ON THE STATUS OF BIODIVERSITY OF TURKMENISTAN ASHGABAT 2002 The wonderful beauty of our beloved Fatherland’s nature has been preserved until today. To pass on this beauty, such a pleasure to the eye, to succeeding generations is the task of those living at present. Saparmurat TURKMENBASHI Published by: Ministry of Nature Protection, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan Citation: Ministry of Nature Protection (2002). Country Study on the Status of Biodiversity of Turkmenistan. MNP, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. Note about the English version The English version of the Country Study was translated from the original Russian version. Compilation and editing was carried out by Fauna & Flora International. In case of any discrepancy between this document and the Russian Country Study, readers are referred to the Russian version, which is the officially approved text. 4 CONTENT FOREWORD ............................................................................................................................. 8 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 11 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..................................................................................................... 12 1. COUNTRY CONTEXT ...................................................................................................... 13 1.1. Geographical Location and Borders ................................................................................. 13 1.2. Physical Geography .......................................................................................................... 13 1.3. Climate ............................................................................................................................. 14 1.4. Population and Demographic Characteristics................................................................... 15 1.5. Culture .............................................................................................................................. 16 1.6. Political and Legal Framework......................................................................................... 17 1.7. Infrastructure .................................................................................................................... 17 1.8. Land Tenure and Property Rights..................................................................................... 19 1.9. Land Use ........................................................................................................................... 19 1.10. Agriculture ...................................................................................................................... 20 1.11. Fisheries .......................................................................................................................... 21 1.12. Industry ........................................................................................................................... 22 1.13. Tourism........................................................................................................................... 23 1.14. Socio-Economic Situation .............................................................................................. 24 1.14.1. Healthcare System .......................................................................................................24 1.14.2. Education ..................................................................................................................... 24 1.15. Forestry ........................................................................................................................... 25 1.16. Importance of Biodiversity for the Country ................................................................... 26 2. STATUS OF TURKMENISTAN’S BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY .................................... 27 2.1. Description of Biodiversity .............................................................................................. 27 2.2. Historical Perspective on Biodiversity ............................................................................. 28 2.3. Ecosystems / Habitat Diversity ........................................................................................ 29 2.3.1. Deserts ...................................................................................................................... 29 2.3.2. Mountains ................................................................................................................. 31 2.3.3. Rivers ........................................................................................................................ 32 2.3.4. Lakes ......................................................................................................................... 33 2.3.5. Sea and Coastal Ecosystems ..................................................................................... 34 2.3.6. Man-made Ecosystems ............................................................................................. 35 2.4. Key Ecosystems / Habitats ............................................................................................... 36 2.5. Threatened Ecosystems / Habitats .................................................................................... 37 2.6. Species Diversity .............................................................................................................. 38 2.6.1. Flora .......................................................................................................................... 38 2.6.2. Fauna ......................................................................................................................... 40 5 2.7. Species of Key Importance ............................................................................................... 40 2.8. Invasive / Alien Species ...................................................................................................42 2.8.1. Alien Species in the Caspian Sea .................................................................................. 42 2.9. Agrobiodiversity ............................................................................................................... 43 2.9.1. Wild Relatives of Cultivated Plants .......................................................................... 43 2.9.2. Wild Relatives of Domestic Animals ....................................................................... 44 2.9.3. Local Breeds of Domestic Animals .......................................................................... 45 2.9.4. Traditional Cultivated Plant Varieties ...................................................................... 47 2.9.5. Modern Locally Selected Plant Varieties ................................................................. 48 2.10. Threatened Species ......................................................................................................... 49 2.11. Access to Information Sources on Biodiversity ............................................................. 50 3. STATUS OF BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES ...................................................................... 51 3.1. Consumers of Biological Resources ................................................................................. 51 3.2. Economically Important Species and Habitats ................................................................. 51 3.2.1. Game Species ............................................................................................................ 51 3.2.2. Fishery Species ......................................................................................................... 53 3.2.3. Forest Resources ....................................................................................................... 53 3.2.4. Valuable Plants ......................................................................................................... 53 3.3. Extent of Use of Biological Resources ............................................................................. 56 3.3.1. Fisheries .................................................................................................................... 56 3.3.2. Hunting ..................................................................................................................... 56 3.3.4. Valuable Plants ......................................................................................................... 57 3.4. Sustainability Assessment ................................................................................................ 57 3.5. Application of Biotechnology and Access to Genetic Resources .................................... 58 4. VALUES OF BIODIVERSITY .......................................................................................... 59 4.1. Economic Values: Direct and Indirect.............................................................................. 59 4.1.1. Hunting and Fishing.................................................................................................. 59 4.1.2. Plant Species of Economic Importance .................................................................... 59 4.2. Non-Economic Values of Biodiversity............................................................................. 60 4.3. Cultural and Traditional Values of Biodiversity .............................................................. 61 5. EXISTING AGENCIES FOR BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION ...............................