NATURAL SCIENCES
“Sustaining livelihoods affected by the Aral Sea disaster”
The improvement of living standards in Aral Sea Basin region is ensured by enhancement of innovative practice in agriculture and water management in desert and salination area. Capacities of specialists from three regions of the Republic of Karakalpakstan – Beruniy, Ellikkala and Turtkul as well as the Academy of State and Social Construction have strengthened in the areas of sustainable development and sustainable agriculture, salt-resistant cash crops, innovations and modern technologies for growing crops on degraded and marginal lands, and the efficient water management. In addition, local journalists were trained in ecological journalism and sustainable development. Moreover, set up a training and resource center for farmers and rural inhabitants of Karakalpakstan at the Urgench State University.
“Awareness-building activities for promoting knowledge and innovation for sustainable management and conservation of freshwater recourses, strengthening institutional capacities for water security in Uzbekistan”
The publication “Central Asia: traditional and modern practices of water use and management” was prepared in Russian and Uzbek. This book presents an overview of traditions; science and education on water use from a social perspective, and identifies the challenges and strategies for improving the situation with fresh water supplies in urban and rural areas of Uzbekistan. It also introduces the traditional and modern water-saving and water-protection technologies and approaches. A new generation of scientists and practitioners benefits from learning the practices described in the book.
“Towards sustainable development through a biosphere reserve concept”
Uzbekistan has so far one Biosphere Reserve (BR): Mount Chatkal established in 1978 and covering the southwestern end of the Chatkal’skiy Range in the western Tien-Shan Mountains. Local communities in settlements close to the area, making their living mainly from agriculture, cattle raising and gardening. The BR is devoted to conservation and research and provides a research station, several field stations, museum facilities and a meteorological station. The authorities of Uzbekistan have been encouraged to identify and propose new sites for biosphere reserve designation, which would allow better participation of Uzbekistan in Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme’s related cooperation in research and environmental conservation for sustainable development. UNESCO stands ready to provide its assistance on capacity development of authorities in charge of biodiversity conservation, such as government officials concerned, BR managers, as well as MAB national committee members. Increasing a number of BRs will also help Uzbekistan to have more active role in the regional and international cooperation in biodiversity and ecosystem management, through networks such as the South and Central Asia (SACAM) MAB sub-regional Network and overarching network as the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) where Uzbekistan has been a member since 1978. UNESCO through its MAB Programme supports development of new BRs as the model sites for sustainable development contributing to implement SDGs.
“Understanding the risk of landslides and landslide risk reduction in Central Asia”
The number of landslide disasters in Central Asia (CA) that is considered as one of the global landslide hotspots has grown in the past few decades. Landslide monitoring and research has declined in the region since 1990’s. Thus, the available hazard analysis in CA countries including Uzbekistan is outdated and in need of increased support. The need is particularly acute, given the increased anthropogenic pressures and likely impact of climate change. Urgent and serious attention is needed for initiating landslide research and risk reduction in Uzbekistan in a regional perspective. UNESCO stands ready to contribute to understand the current state of landslide risks in the region and their potential impacts, including in a longer term on how to advance the dialogue on landslide risk reduction initiatives with policy makers and practitioners in Uzbekistan.