Tashkent, Uzbekistan – On November 28-30, 2023, representatives of the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) and the Ramsar Regional Initiative of Central Asia (RRI-CA) participated in the Regional Dialogue on Transboundary Conservation in Central Asia. The dialogue aims to identify priorities and initiatives for cross-border environmental initiatives and cooperation for sustainable landscape management and nature conservation.
«In Central Asia, 22 wetlands, which occupy more than 4 million hectares of territory, are included in the list of Ramsar lands. They are the basis of the ecosystem of the region and cannot be limited by administrative borders», stressed Maxim Mitropolsky, Chairman of the Coordinating Committee of the RRI-CA.
Ludmila Kiktenko, Manager of the Environmental Management program of CAREC, spoke about the efforts to introduce innovative, economic approaches for sustainable and reasonable use of wetlands in Central Asia. «In order to moderate the growing human encroachment on wetlands and the loss of wetlands’ resources, it is necessary to look for economic solutions that break stereotypes and behavior of local residents», noted Ludmila Kiktenko.
This strategic dialogue is organized jointly by the World Bank (WB), the IUCN Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (ECARO), the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH within the framework of the Resilient Landscape Central Asia Program (RESILAND CA+) of the WB.
It should be noted that the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) contributes to the implementation of the Ramsar Convention. With the support of GIZ and the Ramsar Convention Secretariat, CAREC supports the Ramsar Regional Initiative of Central Asia (RRI-CA). The RRI-CA’s objectives:
· Support for the implementation of the Strategic Plan of the Ramsar Convention in Central Asia;
· Promoting the effective conservation and sustainable use of existing and potential Ramsar wetlands in the region;
· Raising awareness of the importance of wetland ecosystems;
· Inclusion of wetlands issues in the programs of national and regional nature protection activities;
· Ensuring the transfer of knowledge and experience in Central Asia and other regions of the world.
Additional information: Ludmila Kiktenko – Programme Manage, Environmental Management Programme, CAREC, lkiktenko@carececo.org
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