On June 5, 2025, the first meeting of the Advisory Council of the Central Asian Countries on Ecology and Sustainable Development was held in Almaty on the basis of the Central-Asian Institute of Environmental Research (СAIER). Mergen Kepbanov, Director of the Project office of the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) in Turkmenistan, who is on a working trip to Kazakhstan, took part in the work of the council.
The Council aims to become a sustainable regional platform for uniting the efforts of the Central Asian countries in response to common environmental challenges that require coordinated and collective solutions. The meeting opened with a welcoming speech by CAIER founder Assel Tasmagambetova, who outlined the key objectives of the initiative and focused on water resources as the most important unifying factor for the entire region.
The meeting brought together a wide range of experts, scientists and representatives of relevant organizations from all five Central Asian countries. Aijan Chynybaeva, founder of the “Eco Demi” Public Foundation, Honorary Consul of the Kingdom of Norway and Ambassador of the World Cleanliness Day, took part in the event from Kyrgyzstan. Turkmenistan was represented by Mergen Kepbanov, Director of the CAREC Project Office. Vadim Sokolov, Candidate of Geographical Sciences and Head of Agency for implementation of IFAS projects as well as Oyture Anarbekov, Senior Technical Consultant at Caritas Switzerland, participated in the discussion from Uzbekistan. Kazakhstan was represented by Yerlan Zhumabayev, Director of the CAREC country Office. Tajikistan delegated Dalerjon Khodzhibayev, Candidate of Technical Sciences and Head of the Department of Ecology of the Mining and Metallurgical Institute of Tajikistan, and Bakhrom Uzakov, consultant to the World Bank on information systems and accounting of water resources. Viktoriya Krylova, Head of the CAIER Research Department, also made an important contribution to the meeting.
The Central-Asian Institute of Environmental Research, which organized the meeting, is rightfully considered a unique scientific and analytical platform in the region. The Institute conducts extensive research in key environmental areas: industrial waste, biodiversity, and water resources. CAIER has a unique scientific base formed as a result of field and analytical research on the Caspian Sea, Lake Balkhash, as well as the transboundary rivers Syr Darya, Amu Darya and Ila.
In addition, CAIER implements a number of practical solutions: from the installation of rainwater collection devices to the development of a master plan for integrated and rational water resources management in Almaty. In 2019, the Caspian Seal Research and Rehabilitation Center was established in Aktau on the basis of the Institute, another example of CAIER's systematic approach to sustainable development.
"This is an important initiative that provides an opportunity to openly discuss common environmental challenges and share practical approaches. Such dialogues allow us to better understand each other and work more harmoniously for the benefit of the entire region," Mergen Kepbanov noted, emphasizing the importance of holding such meetings for sustainable environmental cooperation in Central Asia.
During this meeting, a number of key issues were discussed for further cooperation in all areas of environmental protection, and it is also planned to sign a memorandum of understanding between the Institute (CAIER) and CAREC in the framework of future joint projects.
After the meeting, a tour of the Central - Asian Institute of Environmental Research was conducted, during which participants were introduced to the institute’s activities in the field of laboratory research and development (R&D LABORATORY). The types of work performed by these laboratories were also demonstrated, such as: assessment of physical parameters and indicators of microclimate, chemical control, geochemical research, consulting services in the field of ESG, climate management.
Representatives of the Institute spoke about completed and unique projects that have been successfully launched (the “Rainwater” project, the Project for the Conservation of Water management facilities in Almaty, the Project for the Study and Rehabilitation of the Caspian Seal. Within the framework of this project, 8 international scientific research expeditions were conducted to study the population of the Caspian seal).
This institute also has its own patented certificates in such areas as the composition for the production of building materials for oil-contaminated soils, a reagent for cleaning soils from oil and petroleum products, and a method for water purification.
Additional information:
Mergen Kepbanov, Director of the Project Office in Turkmenistan, turkmenistan@carececo.org