#CAREC #UNCCD #droughtandSDS #Uzbekistan
On September 2nd, CAREC Country office representatives in Uzbekistan held a working meeting with the UNCCD National Focal Point. During the meeting parties discussed current results and further steps in the implementation of the project "Regional approaches to combat sand and dust storms and drought".
Shahnoza Umarova, CAREC Country office Director in Uzbekistan, told participants about the Project implementation, including the reported thematic results, which highlighted the first six months of the project implementation - from January to June this year - in all five Central Asian countries. The tasks and achievements of the national expert group in Uzbekistan were discussed additionally, and also expressed expectations for further cooperation.
The importance of disseminating news about the project to a wide audience in various interactive formats to raise awareness of existing problems related to drought and sand and dust storms in the country and the region were noted. Abduvokhid Zakhadullayev, UNCCD National Focal Point in Uzbekistan National and Sobirjon Umarov, national drought expert in the Republic of Uzbekistan agreed on the importance of informing the population and expressed readiness to cooperate both on this project and other initiatives of CAREC.
Among other things, the meeting participants discussed the impact of the pandemic and quarantine on project implementation. Despite the increased role of online solutions, planned work is in full swing. The parties emphasized that the national working groups of both components of the project are actively and continuously cooperating. “Green World Future” NGO representatives and experts and regularly provide information for reports and recommendations for the "Regional Strategy for Drought Risk Management" (Component 1) and "Regional Framework and Strategy for Sand and Dust Storm Management" (Component 2).
According to Abduvokhid Zakhadullayev, in implementing the environmental agenda, special attention should be paid to working with young people and students. Skill development, knowledge acquisition, youth participation in management processes and trainings with participation of international specialists will help strengthen the potential of the young generation for further sustainable development and resource efficiency. One such tool for young specialists of the State Forestry Committee could in the future become CAREC's annual initiative - the Central Asian Environmental Leadership Programme for Sustainable Development (CAPL).
The parties agreed to continue bilateral cooperation and work within the framework of the project "Regional approaches to sand and dust storms and drought control" and other important programmes and initiatives.
Remark.
In January 2020 in all five countries of Central Asia with the financial support of the Secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) the project "Regional approaches in combating sand and dust storms and drought" was launched. The project is implemented by the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC), which works in close cooperation with appointed national institutions and UNCCD National Focal Points in each of five countries.
The Central Asian countries are highly vulnerable to drought and sand and dust storms (SDS). This problem is particularly relevant in areas outside the highlands, where semi-arid and arid climates predominate.
To assist member countries to improve their readiness and resilience to drought and SDS, the UNCCD secretariat in collaboration with a number of partners, has developed mechanisms to promote policies on these issues. The secretariat has supported states in developing national plans, methodologies and tools for dealing with these environmental disasters. Specifically, a set of drought management measures has been developed and a complete list and basic source map of the SDS has been compiled.
More details about the project and its activities can be found here:
http://carececo.org/main/activity/projects/droughtSDS/