#DroughtRiskManagement #UNCCD #CAREC #DroughtandSDS #CentralAsia
On September 9, Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) jointly with the Secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) organized an online meeting dedicated to the discussion of the “Regional Approaches for Combating Sand and Dust Storms and Drought” project’s implementation and climate related data visualization. 17 project experts from all five Central Asian countries participated in the meeting and shared their ideas and knowledge.
During the meeting participants of the project discussed approaches to information and data formatting and styling. Among other things, experts shared their views on drought and sand and dust storms related data visualization used within the scope of the Project, as well as other climate and natural events related statistical data.
Jamal Annagylyjova, UNCCD Regional Liaison Officer for Central and Eastern Europe, noted the progress achieved in both components of the Project. She underlined the importance of National Focal Points in each Central Asian country in in achieving the ultimate goal of the Project. She also noted the need for unified approach to data visualisation and expressed hope for successful use of the international approaches within the scope of the Project.
Ludmila Kiktenko, programme manager at CAREC thanked UNCCD Secretariat and experts of the Project for close cooperation and mutual assistance in reaching the stated goals of the Project. Rustam Issakhojayev, manager of the Project, noted that all countries are advancing in their work on formulation of the National Action Plans. He highlighted that special attention should be given to gender and social issues in every document developed within the framework of the Project. “It is vital to ensure that we follow a multisectoral approach when implementing the Project,” said Mr. Issakhojayev. “I am confident that jointly we will develop strong and much needed strategic recommendations on mitigating the negative impacts of drought and SDS in Central Asia.”
Sultan Veysov, Regional SDS Expert, commented on the progress of compiling National Action Plans in each of the five Central Asian countries and gave his advice on possible further improvement. Viktor Lagutov, Regional GIS Advisor, shared his knowledge about geospatial information systems, data mapping and visualisation.
This was the first of a series of regional meetings dedicated to the technical elements of the Project implementation. This format allows to have open discussion among the Project experts and find best suitable approach to address challenges in the Project implementation.
Info:
In January 2020, a pilot project “Regional Approaches for Combating Sand and Dust Storms and Drought” has been launched in all five Central Asian countries. The project is supported by the Secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and implemented by the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC), which works in close cooperation with the Appointed National Institutions and UNCCD National Focal Points in each of the five CA countries.
Countries in Central Asia are highly vulnerable to drought and sand and dust storms (SDS), particularly outside of high-elevation areas where the climate is mostly semi-arid to arid.
In order to assist the participating countries to effectively enhance preparedness and resilience against drought and SDS, the UNCCD Secretariat in collaboration with various partners has developed drought and SDS policy advocacy frameworks. The secretariat has supported the countries in developing national drought plans, methodology frameworks, and tools needed to effectively deal with drought and SDS. Amongst other things, the secretariat has helped develop a set of measures to combat droughts and compiled the SDS Compendium and developed SDS source base-map.
You can find out more about the project by following the links below.
· http://carececo.org/main/activity/projects/droughtSDS/