In Central Asia, the "Unified Health" approach to nature protection is being strengthened
Five Central Asian countries have jointly confirmed their interest in reducing the risk of zoonoses (infections that are transmitted to humans from animals) in the region by increasing the overall sustainability of the landscape using the "Unified Health" approach. The intentions were presented on Wednesday at the closing of a three-day regional seminar in Tashkent, organized jointly by the Ministry of Natural Resources of Uzbekistan and the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
The natural processes that regulate the occurrence and transmission of diseases are negatively affected by climate change, disturbance and fragmentation of habitats, as well as increased contacts between people, wildlife and domestic species – participants from all five Central Asian countries agreed, emphasizing the need for more effective and equitable territorial conservation of nature.
Loss of biodiversity, degradation of ecosystems and climatic factors together increase the risks of outbreaks of zoonotic diseases. Representatives of the environmental agencies of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan agreed to support coordinated efforts between the countries of the region to eliminate these risks by raising awareness of the relationship between nature protection, ecosystem health and human well-being.
With the support of the IUCN and international partners, national administrative authorities and experts are ready to take steps to improve the management and management of protected natural areas and increase the resilience of both ecosystems and society in the face of these crises. Countries are ready to apply the "One Health" approach together with the IUCN Green List Standard for Protected and Protected Areas for Nature Conservation, best practices related to species management, and the latest knowledge in zoonosis research and technology.
The "One Health" approach is relatively new within the framework of the International Climate Initiative and emphasizes the interdependence of nature conservation and biodiversity, climate, human health and livelihood.
"The regional commitment to strengthen the One Health approach in Central Asia is an important step towards building a society more resistant to zoonoses. Untouched nature and well—managed protected areas serve people and allow natural processes to proceed without interruption, and they can be considered as a way to solve social problems," concluded Trevor Sandwith, director of the IUCN Conservation Action Center.
These first steps were taken within the framework of cooperation between the relevant departments of all five Central Asian countries with the assistance of the IUCN with the participation of the Michael Zukkov Foundation, the Secretariat of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Center and the London Zoological Society.
The initial events related to the "Unified Health" in nature protection in Central Asia, including the above-mentioned seminar, were held within the framework of a project that is part of the International Climate Initiative. The Federal Ministry of the Environment, Nature Protection, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection of Germany supports this initiative on the basis of a decision of the Bundestag.
ORIENT news
