#DroughtRiskManagement #UNCCD #CAREC #DroughtandSDS #Central Asia
On September 17, a video conference on the topic of drought, sand and dust storms was organized by the State Committee for Forestry of the Republic of Uzbekistan with partner ministries and relevant stakeholders. During the conference, the draft National Action Plan to reduce risks of sand and dust storms in Uzbekistan was reviewed and discussed.
Representatives of the following ministries and agencies took part in the conference:
- State Committee for Forestry of the Republic of Uzbekistan;
- State Committee on Ecology and Environment Protection of the Republic of Uzbekistan;
- Center of Hydrometeorological Service of the Republic of Uzbekistan;
- Ministry of Water Resources of the Republic of Uzbekistan;
- State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Land Resources, Geodesy, Cartography and State Cadaster;
- Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Uzbekistan;
- Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Main remarks:
Akhmedov F. (Ministry of Emergency Situations) noted the need for an inventory of regulations relating to the issues of sand and dust storms, and if they are available, they can be reviewed and improved.
Rizaeva D. (Center for Hydrometeorological Service) noted that the State Committee is currently being reorganized and part of the authority has been transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture and the State Tax Committee. The main tasks, functions and authorities on monitoring of agricultural lands and crops, agricultural crop placement, state supervision over the protection of agricultural land, soil booting, determining the normative value of agricultural lands, increasing soil fertility, conducting research in the field of soil science and geobotany have been transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture.
Urazkeldiev A. (Ministry of Water Industry) noted that in recent years, in the Aral region, especially in Bukhara and Khorezm regions, irrigated oases, infrastructures, water facilities are filled with sand. Therefore, we support the adoption of the draft Action Plan to combat sand and dust storms and the development of regulatory documents aimed at reducing the negative impact of sand and dust storms in Uzbekistan.
M. Faizullaeva (State Committee on Ecology and Environmental Protection) noted the need to develop a draft law on soils. In the place of adoption of the law "On measures to combat sand and dust storms" it was proposed to adopt a resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers, also it was proposed to correct the mechanisms of action to combat sand and dust storms and some items of the draft Action Plan (for example, 3.1 and 3.2) to unite and include among the executors the State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Forestry; State Committee on Ecology and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Uzbekistan; Center of Hydrometeorological Service of the Republic of Uzbekistan; Ministry of Water Resources of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Particularly important point:
All participants expressed their interest in adopting the Action Plan on capacity building for management and reduction of negative impact of sand and dust storms in the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Outcome of the meeting:
As a result of the meeting, a protocol decision was made to receive additionally a written conclusion to the draft Action Plan from the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Academy of Sciences, as well as taking into account comments and suggestions of partners during the discussion to make additions and changes to the draft document.
Information about the Project:
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 designated national institutions and UNCCD National Focal Points in each of five countries.
Central Asian countries are highly exposed to drought and sand and dust storms (SDS). This problem is especially relevant for areas outside the highlands, where semi-arid and arid climate prevails.
To assist member countries in improving their preparedness and resilience to drought and SDS, the UNCCD Secretariat, in collaboration with a number of partners, has developed mechanisms to promote policies to combat these hazards. The Secretariat has supported countries in developing national plans, methodologies and tools for dealing with these natural events. In particular, a set of drought management measures has been developed, an SDS compendium and a global SDS sources base-map have been compiled.
You can learn more about the Project and its activities here:
− http://carececo.org/main/activity/projects/droughtSDS/