UNDP and GEF Support the Conservation of Aquatic Biodiversity in the Amu Darya River Basin
A practical workshop on assessing fish populations and strengthening aquatic biodiversity monitoring in the Amu Darya River Basin was held at the Amu Darya State Nature Reserve.
The workshop was held under a project implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan, with financial support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), entitled “Conservation and Sustainable Management of Land Resources and High Nature Value Ecosystems in the Aral Sea Basin for Multiple Benefits.”
Participants reviewed the findings of ichthyological surveys conducted along the middle reaches of the Amu Darya River, presented by an international expert with the financial (and technical) support of the Russian Federation. The presentation covered data on fish species diversity, the status of rare and endemic species, and their key habitats and migration routes. Participants also discussed major threats to aquatic ecosystems, including reduced river flow, changes in the hydrological regime, and the impact of collector-drainage waters.
“Conserving the biodiversity and freshwater ecosystems of the Amu Darya River requires modern, science-based approaches. Together with our Turkmen colleagues, we are piloting non-invasive fish monitoring methods, assessing climate risks and human-induced impacts, and providing practical training to national specialists. This work lays the foundation for the long-term conservation of rare and endemic fish species in the region,” said Dr. Jörg Freyhof, international ichthyology expert, researcher at the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin (Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science) and an expert on the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Particular attention was given to developing a methodology for assessing the status of fish populations, adapted to the specific conditions of the aquatic ecosystems in the Amu Darya and Gaplangyr State Nature Reserves.
The workshop concluded a series of field studies and practical training sessions held in Lebap velayat from 28 October to 9 November. During the fieldwork, specialists from the Amu Darya State Nature Reserve and representatives of fisheries authorities learned non-invasive fish monitoring techniques, field data collection methods and approaches to identifying key fish habitats.
The findings and methodological approaches will help strengthen national expertise in Turkmenistan, improve aquatic biodiversity monitoring and support science-based decision-making to conserve biodiversity in the Amu Darya River Basin.
