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The transborder natural object "Turan deserts of the temperate zone", which runs through the territories of Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, is included in the UNESCO World Natural Heritage List. The corresponding decision was made at the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee in Riyadh.

According to the decision of the Committee, the desert ecosystems of the Bereketli-Garagum, Gaplankyr and Repetex reserves located on the territory of Turkmenistan were included in the World Heritage List.

The Turanian deserts of the temperate zone are a unique natural complex that includes a variety of desert landscapes, such as sand dunes, clay and salt plains, mountain ranges and oases. It became the first temperate desert site in the world to be included in the UNESCO World Natural Heritage List. The facility includes various nature reserves and national parks that protect rare natural resources.

The Turanian deserts of the temperate zone are of great importance for the conservation of biological diversity, as they are the habitat of many rare species of animals and plants. Some of them are endemic, that is, they are not found anywhere else in the world. Also, many medicinal and aromatic plants grow on the territory of the Turanian deserts.

The inclusion of the Turanian deserts of the temperate zone in the UNESCO World Natural Heritage List will contribute to raising awareness and public interest in the protection and study of this unique natural site. It will also contribute to the development of scientific cooperation and the exchange of experience between the participating countries of the project.

The package of documents for the inclusion of the site in the World Natural Heritage List was prepared within the framework of the joint project of the Michael Zukkov Foundation for Nature Protection (MSF, Germany) "Central Asian Desert Initiative" (CADI), funded by the International Climate Initiative (ICI). Its preparation was carried out jointly with partners in Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, as well as the University of Greifswald and the sub—regional office of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

Photo: whc.unesco.org