Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Over 70 experts from Central Asian countries have gathered in Tashkent for a two-day seminar focused on land restoration, biodiversity protection, and climate change mitigation.

The event is organized by the International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas for Central Asia and the Caucasus (ICARDA-CAC) in collaboration with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), and the Initiative on Land Degradation Economics (ELD), aiming to find common solutions to these pressing environmental issues in the region.

The seminar addresses key challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and land degradation, which have caused an estimated $18 billion in damage to the region from 2001 to 2020. Participants will discuss integrated approaches to land restoration.

"Land restoration in Central Asia is essential for both the environment and the economies of the region," said Akmal Akramkhanov, regional manager of ICARDA for Central Asia and the Caucasus. "By working together on these issues, we can create a sustainable future for our ecosystems and the people who depend on them."

Vibke Ferch, deputy head of the ILUCA program at GIZ, emphasized the interconnectedness of land degradation, climate change, and biodiversity loss. "Therefore, cooperation and integrated approaches that link land, climate, biodiversity, and agriculture hold the potential for more effective support for sustainable land resource management and for achieving national goals under all three Rio conventions."

The seminar aims to present and discuss key findings from research and collaboratively develop recommendations for integrated actions on land, climate, and biodiversity in Central Asian countries. A central theme is to rely on economic data to guide collaborative work on these issues and to identify specific mechanisms for leveraging this synergy within the region.

Expected outcomes include recommendations for improving monitoring and investment strategies that support sustainable land use practices in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

These collaborative efforts underscore the commitment of Central Asian countries to address these interrelated issues through joint actions and innovative solutions.