Green Central Asia: transboundary dialogue on climate, environment and security in Central Asia
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Green Central Asia, phase II
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Climate Risk Management in Central Asia
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Climate-Sensitive Water Resources Management in Central Asia
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EU for a Green Turkmenistan: “Policy Dialogue and Climate Action 2024-2028”
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Green Central Asia:

Transboundary dialogue on climate, environment and security in Central Asia

The goal of the Green Central Asia Initiative is to promote policy dialogue and therefore improve access to information and data so that countries can more accurately assess the impacts of climate change and develop joint preventive measures. The target group of the initiative is the ministries of foreign affairs (and through them the relevant institutions responsible for climate and natural resources, including educational and research institutes) of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
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Regional strategy for adaptation to climate change in Central Asia

The Regional Climate Change Adaptation Strategy for Central Asia is an important regional document developed and agreed upon by the countries of the region. It reflects common goals and priorities in the field of climate change adaptation, taking into account the specificities of each of the participating countries – the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan. This document aims to coordinate the efforts of the countries of the region in combating the effects of climate change. The adoption of this strategy underlines the importance of solidarity and co-operation in addressing global challenges, as well as the readiness of the Central Asian countries to make joint efforts to overcome the challenges posed by climate change.

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38th Balkhash-Alakol Basin Council Meeting in Kazakhstan

June 27, 2024

Water conference in Dushanbe: the regional GIZ team was actively involved

June 14, 2024

Welcome to the 7th Tashkent Water Security Lectures

June 13, 2024
We ourselves must become the changes we want. see in the world

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Interactive online training for crop modeling in the Central Asian region

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Interactive online training on analysis of climate data in the Central Asian region

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Kazakhstan


  • Area: 2,724,900 km²
  • Population: 18,711,200 people. (January 1, 2020)
  • Capital: Nur-Sultan – permanent population at the beginning of 2020 – 1,136,008 people.
  • The official languages are Kazakh and Russian.
  • Most of the country lies at between 200–300 m (660–980 ft) above sea level, but Kazakhstan’s Caspian shore includes some of the lowest elevations on Earth.
  • There are 48,262 lakes in total in Kazakhstan. The republic has one of the largest lakes in the world – Balkhash (16 400 square km). Lake Tengiz, Kazakh Tengiz Köli, salt lake in the northern part of the Kazakh Uplands (Saryarqa).
  • The largest lake in northern Kazakhstan, it has an area of 614 square miles (1,590 square km)
    Largest rivers are Irtysh, Yesil, Tobol, Ural, Syr Darya, Ili, Chu. The length of each of them is more than 1 000 km. Ural carries its waters to the basin of the Caspian Sea, Syrdarya flows into the Aral Sea, and Irtysh, Tobol and Yesil are waterways that feed the Arctic Ocean
    Climate Kazakhstan has an “extreme” continental climate, with warm summers and very cold winters. Indeed, Nursultan is the second coldest capital city in the world after Ulaanbaatar. Precipitation varies between arid and semi-arid conditions, the winter being particularly dry.
  • Forests areas account for a mere 4% of Kazakhstan’s territory. However, the 11.5 million hectares of forest (according to national definition) cover still make Kazakhstan the third largest forest country in the ECA region, after Russia and Turkey.
  • In Kazakhstan there are 321 protected natural areas of various status: state natural conservations; state national nature parks; state nature reserves; state zoological parks; state botanical gardens.
  • The total area is 24 700 000 ha, or 247 000 km² (9 % of the area of the republic):
    10 nature reserves (16 137, 19 km²);
  • 13 state national nature parks (27 667 km²)
  • 3 state zoological parks in Kazakhstan
  • 5 state botanical gardens;
  • 6 state nature reserves
Uzbekistan

  • Area: 448,970 km²
  • Population: 34 036 800 people. (April 1, 2020) Capital: Tashkent – permanent population at the beginning of 2020 – 2622700 people.
  • The state language is Uzbek; official languages are Karakalpak and Russian.
  • The greatest part of the territory (about four fifth) is covered by plains.
  • One of the main plains is the Turan Plain. In the east and northeast are situated the spurs of Tyan-Shan and Pamir with the highest point of the country at 4643 meters above sea level.
  • To the north and the central part of the territory of Uzbekistan situated is one of the largest deserts in the world — the Kyzylkoum.
  • The largest rivers are Amudarya and Syrdarya. The total length of Amudarya is 1437 km, that of Syrdarya — 2137 km.
  • Climate is sharply continental with high amplitude of day and night, summer and winter temperatures.
  • Average temperature in January falls below -6 0 °C, while the average temperature in July may rise above +32 0 °C. Average annual atmospheric precipitation on the plains is 120–200 mm, in mountainous areas — 1000 mm.
  • Mountain system: Mountains and foothills comprise 1/5 of the territory of the Republic. Within the boundaries of the Republic, there are flanks of hills and verges of mountain ridges of the Western Tyan-Shan (ridges Ugam, Pskem, Chatkal, Kuramin) and Pamir-Alay (ridges Zeravshan, Turkestan, Hissar, Kougitangtau, Baysuntau). The largest intermountain trough is the Ferghana Valley (370 km in length and 190 km in width). The valley is surrounded by mountain ridges on three sides and is open only in the West. Forests cover 7,5 % of the total area of the country (32 088 km² as of 2016) In Uzbekistan, there are 40 protected natural areas of various status: nature reserves, natural parks, nurseries, biosphere reserves. The total area is 3 801,828 (8,5%): 6 strict nature reserves
  • 1 complex (landscape) reserve
  • 6 National Natural Parks
  • 11 Natural monuments
  • Territories for conservation, reproduction/breeding and rehabilitation, some natural complexes and objects: 12 Zakazniks (type of protected area in former Soviet republics), 1 natural nursery
  • 1 national park
  • 2 biosphere reserves
Turkmenistan

    • Area: 491,21 km²
    • Population: 6,2 mln.
    • Capital: Ashgabat
    • The state language is Turkmen; official languages are English and Russian.
    • Turkmenistan’s average elevation is approx. 100 to 220 meters above sea level, with its highest point located on the Kugitangtau ridge- Ayrybaba Peak (3139 m above sea level), and its lowest point in Akdzhakaya depression in the Zaunguz Karakum (81 m below sea level).
    • The territory of Turkmenistan is washed by the waters of the largest lake on the planet – the Caspian. Due to the size and composition of the water, the Caspian is called sea. Most of the lakes are saline. Freshwater lakes Yaskhan and Topiatan stand out in the Uzboy Valley. In the mountains, there are lakes of karst origin Kov-ata (in the Bakharden cave) and Khorzhunli (in Kugitangtau).
    • All main rivers flowing through the territory of Turkmenistan are formed outside the country. The longest rivers on Turkmen territory: the Amu-Darya (1000 km, part of which is taken by the Karakum River), Murgab (350 km), Atrek (the total length of the river is 530 km, less than a third passes through the territory of Turkmenistan) and Tejen (appox 374 km).
    • Turkmenistan has a subtropical desert climate that is severely continental. Summers are long (from May through September), hot and dry, while winters generally are mild and dry, although occasionally cold and damp in the north. Most precipitation falls between January and May; precipitation is slight throughout the country, with annual averages ranging from 300 millimeters in the Kopet-dag to eighty millimeters in the northwest. Average annual temperatures range from highs of 16.8°C in Ashgabat to lows of -5.5°C in Dashoguz in north-central Turkmenistan.
    • The total area of protected natural areas in all categories is 1,978,300 ha. Protected areas of Turkmenistan include 9 state reserves (one of which has the status of a biosphere reserve), 16 wildlife preserves and 17 state natural monuments.
  • Kyrgyz Republic


  • Area: 199,951 km²
  • Population: 6 523 529 people. (January 1, 2020)
  • Capital: Bishkek – permanent population at the beginning of 2020 – 1,053,900 people. The second city in terms of population is Osh – 270,000 people.
  • The state language is Kyrgyz; the official language is Russian.
  • Average height above sea level 2750 m, approx.
  • The highest point is Pobeda Peak (7439 m) in the Tien Shan mountains, the lowest point is 394 m (in the southwest).
  • There are about 2000 lakes in Kyrgyzstan with the total area of 6836 km². The largest are Issyk-Kul (6.2 thousand km2, depth up to 668 m), Son-Kul (0.3 thousand km2, depth up to 22 m), Chatyr-Kul (0.2 thousand km2, depth up to 20.4 m).
  • The longest rivers on Kyrgyz territory: Naryn (535 km), Chu (221 km), Kyzyl-Suu (210 km), Talas (210 km), Chatkal (205 km), Sary-Jaz (198 km).
  • The largest river in the republic – Naryn – is formed by the confluence of the Big and Small Naryn. It is the main tributary to the Syr-Darya River and belongs to the Aral Sea Basin.
  • The length within the republic is 535 km, the basin area is 53,700 km².
    Climate – continental, dry.
  • Temperature varies on average from −30°C in mountain valleys in winter to +27°C in summer in the Fergana Valley.
  • The highest measured temperature is +44°C, and the lowest is -53.6°C.
  • Glaciers of Kyrgyzstan constitute reserves of fresh water not only for the republic itself, but for the whole of Central Asia and are the main sources of river feeding. There are about 8000 glaciers in the republic, which occupy 4% (about 8000 km2) of the country’s territory, and together with eternal snows they occupy 40.5% of the country’s territory (about 81000 km2).
  • Forests cover 3.5% of the total area of the country (7041 km² as of January 1, 2017)
  • In Kyrgyzstan, there are 88 protected natural areas of various status: nature reserves, natural parks, wildlife sanctuaries, biosphere territories. The total area is 1 476 121.6 ha, or 14.761.21 km² (7.38% of the area of the republic):
    10 nature reserves (509,952.7 ha);
  • 13 natural parks (724 670.2 ha);
  • 64 wildlife sanctuaries (including 8 forest, 23 botanical, 2 complex and 12 hunting (zoological), 19 geological (the total area is 241,498.7 ha);
  • 1 Issyk-Kul biosphere territory (4 314 400 ha).
  • Tajikistan

     

  • Area: 142,550 km²
  • Population: 9 557 645 people. (January 1, 2021)
  • Capital: Dushanbe – permanent population at the beginning of 2021 – 820,600 people. The second city in terms of population is Khujand – 163,000 people.
    The state and official language is Tajik.
  • Tajikistan is home to some of the highest mountains in the world, including the Pamir and Alay ranges.
  • 93% of Tajikistan is mountainous with altitudes ranging from 300 m to almost 7,500 m, and nearly 50% of Tajikistan’s territory is above 3,000 m. The highest point is Ismoili Somoni Peak (7495 m) in the Pamir mountains, the lowest point is at 300 m above sea level is at the Syr Darya River that flows into the North Aral Sea.
  • There are more than 1400 lakes in Tajikistan with the total area of 1005 km². The biggest are Karakul (380 km2, depth up to 236 m), Sarez (79,64 km2, depth up to 505 m), Zorkul (38,9 km2, depth up to 5,5 m), Yashikul (38 km2, depth up to 52 m), Shorkul (16,3 km2, depth up to 2,5 m). The lakes are mainly located at a height of 3500 meters.
  • The longest rivers on
  • Tajik territory are : Panj (921 km), Amu Darya (65 km), Syr Darya (185 km), Zerafshan (306 km), Bartang-Murghab (491 km) Vaksh (524 km), Kofarnjhon (387 km) Gund (296 km).
  • The mountain ranges of Tajikistan divide the country’s territory into some hydrographic areas, based on two main river systems – Syr-Darya and Amu Darya Rivers. Northern areas of Tajikistan belong to the Syr-Darya River Basin, with the total area of 13.4 thousand km2. Nearly all the rest of the country territory is located in the Amu Darya River Basin.
    Climate – continental, dry. Temperature varies on average from −20°C lower valleys in winter to +30°C in summer. The highest measured temperature is +58°C, and the lowest is -63°C.
    Glaciers are a huge wealth of Tajikistan, because they are not only water storage facilities, but also regulators of river flow and climate.
  • Glaciers and eternal snows of Tajikistan are the main source of the rivers of the Aral Sea Basin. Glaciers occupy an area of 8,476 km², which is 6% of the country’s territory. The main masses of ice are concentrated in the mountains of the Western Pamir. There are over a thousand registered glaciers with a length of more than 1.5 km. Sixteen glaciers (such as Fedchenko and Grumm-Grzymailo glaciers) have a length of more than 16 km.
  • Forests of Tajikistan occupy an area of only 410 thousand ha. The bases of forests are juniper woodlands, common at altitudes of 1500-3200 m above sea level in the Gissar, Zeravshan and Turkestan ranges. junipers are good regulators of surface run off, preventing erosion processes in mountains and valleys, and also storage tanks of CO2. Aged juniper can reach 500 years or more.

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