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A five-year program, "Conservation of Rare Animals and Unique Natural Areas in the Mountains of Central Asia", aimed at protecting the region's ecosystems, has concluded, reports DKnews.kz. The final meeting in Tashkent was attended by grantees, donors, and representatives of government agencies from five Central Asian countries, including Turkmenistan.

Since 2019, 96 projects totaling $7.45 million USD have been implemented under the program.

Turkmenistan: Conservation of Pistachio Forests and Ecotourism

Within the program, Turkmenistan paid particular attention to the conservation of pistachio and almond forests in Koytendag. During the project, approximately 400 people received training in planting and cultivating these trees, and nurseries were established for their propagation. Monitoring of endangered bird species and the Bukhara deer was conducted, and measures were developed for their protection. Three to four hundred years ago, extensive forests existed in Koytendag, but due to climate change, they have significantly decreased. The program took a step towards their restoration, which is important for preserving the region's biodiversity. Additionally, Turkmenistan is developing ecotourism in Koytendag, which contributes not only to nature protection but also to raising awareness of environmental issues among the local population and tourists.

Results in Other Countries of the Region

In Uzbekistan, two new species of relict reptiles were discovered during the program, which led to the creation of a natural park spanning 100,000 hectares. A project on reforestation and increasing public environmental awareness is also underway.

In Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, 8 micro-reserves and 12 nurseries for rare trees were established, while in Kazakhstan, an educational manual on the country's flora and fauna was prepared and distributed to schools.

The program demonstrated that the joint efforts of Central Asian countries play a key role in protecting natural ecosystems, and the projects implemented in Turkmenistan have made a significant contribution to the conservation of rare species and the restoration of forest areas.

Photo: newscentralasia.net