From August 4 to 8, a regional seminar on cryosphere issues took place in Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan. The event was organized as part of the "Strengthening the Resilience of Central Asian Countries by Supporting Regional Cooperation on Snow-Ice Systems to Develop Integrated Approaches for Sustainable Development and Climate Change Adaptation" project (the "Central Asian Cryosphere" Project), funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and UNESCO. Scientists and specialists from Central Asian countries attended the seminar to discuss the impact of climate change on glaciers and water resources.
The delegation from Turkmenistan actively participated in the seminar. Representatives from the country emphasized that the effective use of water resources is a priority of state policy. They shared their experience with the implementation of the "Altyn Asyr" Turkmen Lake project and spoke about the training of young environmental specialists in universities and schools, which was highly praised by the participants.
The main work of the seminar began on August 6, when experts discussed a "Roadmap" project to strengthen higher education in the field of cryosphere studies. The participants noted a severe shortage of young specialists and a gap between academic training and market demands.
The following day, August 7, participants worked in small groups on the "Cryosphere Vision-2050" regional program draft, which has five main goals:
• Adapt and use a unified system of methods for studying and monitoring the cryosphere.
• Expand and improve the cryosphere monitoring system.
• Develop partnerships for collaborative research.
• Ensure that the public and specialists are informed about the influence of the cryosphere.
• Improve specialist training programs.
The seminar concluded on August 8 with a technical trip to the "Tien-Shan Khalkhara" mountain station, where participants learned about international research on the Earth's cryospheric layer. The organization of such meetings underscores the importance of regional cooperation in developing joint measures to adapt to climate change.
ORIENT
