The countries of Central Asia are united not only by a long and eventful history, but also by landscapes of significant ecological significance.
The region’s vast wetlands and river systems, arid plains, and towering mountain ranges are home to some of the planet’s rarest plants and animals and provide food, water, and income to 84 million people. However, the ability of these ecosystems to support the region’s natural, social, and economic well-being is under strain from decades of overexploitation, degradation, and the onset of long-term climate change.
Protecting and restoring these ecosystems requires collective action. That’s why Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan have joined forces through the Central Asia Water-Land Nexus (CAWLN) program , which is supported by $30 million from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) .
This collaborative initiative is based on a science-based approach and aims to strengthen water security, restore agricultural lands, curb deforestation, promote a landscape-based approach to integrated natural resource management from pastures to forests, integrate climate resilience and biodiversity conservation measures, and improve the livelihoods of rural populations in the Amu Darya and Syr Darya river basins.
The Amu Darya and Syr Darya—the word “Darya” means “river” in Persian—are the two major rivers of Central Asia and the region’s primary sources of water. Agriculture and energy depend on them, as do 80 percent of the region’s population.
A century and a half of high demand for agricultural irrigation water, and more recently, declining rainfall, have led to a significant reduction in the volume of water in both rivers. The Aral Sea, once the fourth-largest freshwater lake in the world and the body of water into which both rivers flow, is now only 10 percent of its original size.
The degradation of these watersheds has had a devastating impact on biodiversity. Many endemic species, such as the white-headed duck and the false shovelnose bat, are now threatened with extinction or are on the brink of extinction. Desertification is significant and accelerating, causing widespread impacts on agricultural productivity, rural livelihoods, and quality of life.
Environmental degradation also creates a heavy economic burden. According to recent estimates, pasture degradation, desertification, deforestation, and arable land abandonment collectively cost Central Asia approximately $6 billion annually.
To help contain this crisis, an initiative supported by the GEF and FAO will promote a nexus approach to land and water management, based on the premise that water, agriculture, and natural ecosystems are interrelated and should be considered and managed together, rather than in isolation.
The programme will promote dialogue and transboundary cooperation, strengthen watershed management and governance at national and regional levels, and provide support and training to all stakeholders on the methods and benefits of integrated land, water and biodiversity management.
Participating countries will also gain access to advanced detection and monitoring tools, including satellite-based monitoring systems and decision support systems, which will help them more effectively manage agricultural lands and watersheds. These include early warning systems designed to reduce the impact of natural disasters and other regional trends, such as long-term droughts.
The program includes several projects. Three regional initiatives will focus on restoring key aquatic and terrestrial habitats and ecosystems, protecting native species, and improving conditions in rural communities. Four country-level initiatives will address specific environmental priorities in Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan along river basins.
Activities include piloting new approaches, such as agroforestry and testing agroforestry systems in target sub-catchments of the Aral Sea Basin, demonstrating the benefits of sustainable land management. To enhance long-term impact, the program promotes transboundary dialogue and cooperation, supports policy harmonization, and the exchange of knowledge, technologies, and best practices across the region. This will include knowledge centers and other tools to raise public awareness of the program, with a particular focus on youth.
The Central Asia Water-Land Nexus (CAWLN) program has the potential to transform the region’s approach to managing its most vital natural resources. By restoring degraded landscapes, increasing water security by restoring ecosystem functions associated with water formation, reducing demand through water-efficient technologies, and strengthening cooperation, the initiative aims to ensure healthier ecosystems, more sustainable food systems, and better living conditions for millions of people across Central Asia.
This article was originally published on the GEF website .
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