1/3 of the earth's surface is subject to degradation and desertification!
On June 17, 2014, Tashkent celebrated the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought.
Representatives of ministries, heads of departments, as well as representatives of public organizations, scientists and experts in the field of climate, land use, ecology and environmental protection, journalists were invited to the roundtable.
The meeting was organized by the Center of Hydrometeorological Service under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan (Uzhydromet) in cooperation with the State Committee for Nature Protection of the Republic of Uzbekistan "FLERMONECA" , Implemented by the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ).
The event was organized to bring together stakeholders and partners to reduce the effects of land degradation and drought in Uzbekistan and to improve the quality of life in areas prone to desertification and low water levels.
This year's theme for World Desertification Day is "Earth is the future - let's protect it from climate change." There are many ecosystems on Earth that can operate in a variety of natural conditions, giving life to all living things, and the soil plays an important role in the process of adapting to its diversity.
Decreased biodiversity and habitat degradation, unsustainable management of land and water resources against the background of climate change can lead to land desertification, drought and ecosystem degradation. Successful solutions to the negative effects of climate change are effective steps to reduce these risks through sustainable management of natural resources. A healthy ecosystem makes it easier for soil and water to withstand the effects of climate change and help ensure the sustainable functioning of national economic mechanisms.
The participants of the meeting rightly noted that human activity is at the top of the list of reasons for the recent increase in desertification and drought in the world. Currently, this situation is one of the most serious environmental problems and requires full cooperation between states to combat these natural and man-made phenomena. In 1994, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and Drought (PROON) was signed. The 195 signatories to the treaty are committed to improving the living standards of people living in drought, maintaining and restoring land fertility, and mitigating the effects of drought.
In the Republic of Uzbekistan, a number of efforts are being made to effectively address the current environmental problems caused by the growing drought, land degradation and loss of productivity of natural ecosystems, as timely measures are needed to address these problems. Failure to do so is a threat to the livelihood of the population, respectively. rural population, environmental and food security of the country.
Since 2006, GEF and GIF have been assisting Central Asian countries in implementing the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and Drought - the Central Asian Initiative for Land Management (ISCAUZR). , World Bank, PROON, ADB and other donors. ISCAUZR is a ten-year program of cooperation between Central Asian countries and the donor community aimed at stabilizing / supporting the integrity of ecosystems and improving the living standards of the country's rural population.
Since 2013, Uzhydromet has been working closely with national and international partners, including the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources, the State Committee for Nature Protection, the State Committee for Geodesy and Cadastre, the Ministry of Economy, the Academy of Sciences, NGOs and other organizations. Stakeholders are implementing the NPD / UNEP / Uzbekistan project “Update and Report on the National Action Plan to Combat Desertification (NPA)”.
For Uzbekistan, which is largely in a drought zone, the issue of climate aridity is extremely relevant. And now you need to know that if the necessary measures are not taken, the climate drought will only intensify at the current rate of global warming. Adaptation measures are required to reduce the effects of adverse climates. In order to improve land use technologies in the country, it is necessary to introduce new technologies and approaches to agricultural practice, taking into account the characteristics of the availability of crops, soil, climate and water resources.
Roundtable during the event participants shared information, experiences, and lessons learned from land and water use, desertification, and drought mitigation activities. Examples of successful innovations in land use, energy production, renewable energy and other technologies that allow for efficient use of available water resources and adaptation to water scarcity conditions and the effects of climate change were cited.
