“Water is a key resource of Central Asia, on which the sustainability of ecosystems, food security, energy, economic development and good neighborly relations depend. In the context of climate change and growing needs, water resources are becoming a strategic factor that requires scientifically based management that takes into account the interests of all countries in the region,” Deputy Minister of Energy and Water Resources of Tajikistan Sharifa Khudobakhsh told a correspondent of NIAT “Khovar”.
According to her, Tajikistan forms more than half of the Aral Sea basin runoff — about 64 km³ per year, the main sources of which are glaciers. However, these sources are rapidly degrading and decreasing. If no measures are taken, the runoff of the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers could decrease by up to 40% in the long term.
“Additional challenges are created by population growth, agriculture, energy and industry, which also require water supply. All this requires a transition to integrated water resources management, where scientific expertise becomes the basis for decision-making. In this context, cryospheric sciences play a decisive role. Without accurate data on the state of glaciers, snow cover and permafrost, it is impossible to reliably forecast water flows, especially during the dry season, when the need is greatest. This is why cryospheric research should be integrated into national and regional water management systems. Tajikistan is actively promoting international initiatives in this area: 2025 has been declared the International Year of Glacier Conservation, World Glacier Day and the International Fund for Glacier Protection have been established. In partnership with France, an initiative has been put forward to hold a Decade of Action in Support of Cryospheric Sciences (2025-2034). This is a global mobilization of knowledge, technology and resources for the sake of preserving the foundations of water sustainability,” the interviewee believes.
In her opinion, it is necessary to strengthen scientific mechanisms: to create glacier monitoring centers, to train specialists, to integrate cryospheric data into strategies and this is a question of the development program. This is not a scientific abstraction of the survival of our rivers, communities and economies.
It should be noted that these days Tajikistan has become a key international platform for discussing current issues of climate change.
NIAT “Khovar”
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