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A regional dialogue on cross-border nature protection in Central Asia is taking place in Tashkent. The event is attended by representatives of the state environmental agencies of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, as well as international organizations.

The regional Dialogue, which began on Tuesday, September 28, was organized by the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan jointly with the International Union for Nature Conservation, the World Bank and the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) in order to strengthen regional cooperation between the countries of Central Asia.

The dialogue is part of the activities supported by the World Bank's Program "Sustainable Landscapes of Central Asia" (RESILAND CA+) and three regional programs implemented by GIZ: "Green Central Asia", "Integrated and Climate-sensitive Land Use in Central Asia" and "Environmentally Oriented Regional Development of the Aral Sea region".

Ecosystems separated by borders are often subject to different policies and governance structures. Cross–border protection is a way to overcome these differences by developing cooperation between the relevant parties of the participating countries. The dialogue offers many benefits, ranging from environmental, such as the prosperity of wildlife and an increase in ecosystem services, to political cooperation that promotes friendly relations between countries with a common border, economic cooperation and social development.

Cross-border protection contributes to the long-term survival of migratory species by increasing the area under conservation management, reducing fragmentation and improving connectivity. This is of great importance for Central Asia, where there are critical migration corridors that give shelter to unique species, such as wild herds of gazelle and saiga, and these are just some of them.

"Shared vision, political leadership and broad community involvement are the key to successful cross-border conservation. The inclusion of the Turanian deserts of the temperate zone in the list of transnational UNESCO World Natural Heritage Sites this year is a clear sign of the increased potential for nature conservation in Central Asia. IUCN will continue to assist partners at all levels in promoting regional and cross–border initiatives in the region," said Boris Erg, Director of the IUCN Regional European Office.

During the IUCN Regional Dialogue, a training on cross-border protection was organized for national authorities, regional experts and managers of protected natural areas. It presents a diagnostic tool for cross-border conservation planners developed by the IUCN Cross-Border Conservation Specialist Group.

Through this tool, participants will learn how to assess the feasibility of creating a cross-border initiative and develop strategies for managing the interests of stakeholders, mitigate risks that may hinder the process, reach consensus on joint management goals and approaches, and develop a common vision.

The event will last until November 30.

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