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Environmental Advocate Vadim Ni Warns of Impending Disaster for Caspian Sea and Calls for Global Action to Prevent Ecological Collapse

Vadim Ni is an environmental law attorney and climate expert. He has served on compliance committees for the Aarhus Convention and the Protocol of the Eurasian Economic Commission on Water and Health. Additionally, he was part of the Republic of Kazakhstan's delegation in climate change negotiations. He is also the founder of the Save the Caspian Sea movement, which seeks to raise public awareness of the environmental issues facing the Caspian Sea and promote sustainable solutions for its preservation. TCA: Could you tell us why the Caspian Sea is so important and why it requires our urgent attention? Vadim: The Caspian Sea is the world's largest enclosed body of water, spanning five countries, including Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. Its significance extends far beyond geographical borders. It is home to unique species, including the endangered Caspian seal and several sturgeon species, which play a crucial role in the ecosystem and local economy. Unfortunately, the sea is on the brink of an environmental disaster due to climate change, pollution, and industrial exploitation. If action is not taken now, the world will face global consequences, from biodiversity loss to the destabilization of regional economies. Without immediate and decisive measures, this will lead to catastrophe not only in the region but globally. TCA: What inspired you to create Save the Caspian Sea? Vadim: I have been involved in environmental protection for a long time and have seen how fragmented efforts to save the Caspian have failed to yield significant results. The mass deaths of thousands of Caspian seals and the rapid shallowing of the coastline were alarming signals for me. It became clear that without a unified and coordinated initiative, we simply wouldn’t be able to save the sea in time. This led to the creation of Save the Caspian Sea, a movement that brings together the efforts of governments, businesses, environmentalists, and ordinary people. Its goal is to mobilize all possible resources to protect this vital body of water before it is too late. TCA: What are the main threats currently facing the Caspian Sea? Vadim: There are three major issues. The first is shrinking water levels. Due to climate change and the mismanagement of water resources, the sea level is rapidly declining. In Kazakhstan, some areas have already seen the shoreline retreat by dozens of kilometers. This is destroying ecosystems and causing severe damage to fisheries and tourism. The second problem is pollution. Industrial waste and heavy metals, mainly from oil extraction and processing, are being discharged into the water. This not only worsens water quality but also devastates marine flora and fauna, putting many species at risk of extinction. Additionally, large oil fields release toxic substances into the air, poisoning the environment. In the village of Berezovka, 25 toxic compounds have been detected in the air, causing residents to suffer from migraines, dizziness, hair loss, and deteriorating vision. The third threat is ecosystem destruction. The Caspian seal population has plummeted from one million in the early 20th century to just 70,000 today....

Kazakhstan to Establish Healthy Seed Center to Boost Crop Yields

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Agriculture has announced plans to establish a Healthy Seed Center aimed at reducing plant diseases and increasing crop productivity. The center will be created in 2026 at the Zhiembaev Kazakh Research Institute of Plant Protection and Quarantine and will be equipped with state-of-the-art technology and staffed by highly qualified specialists. Its primary goal is to combat pathogens that threaten crop yields and environmental safety. The new center will collaborate with seed farms across Kazakhstan, analyzing seed samples from various crops. A key objective of the project is to increase the share of domestically produced seeds to 80% by 2030. Experts emphasize that improving seed quality is crucial in preventing plant diseases, as up to 70% of crop infections are transmitted through seeds. The center is expected to boost crop yields by at least 40%. As Central Asia’s leading agricultural producer and exporter, Kazakhstan plays a key role in the regional supply of grain, wheat, and oilseeds. In 2025, the country plans to cultivate 23.8 million hectares, an increase of 518,000 hectares compared to 2024, reflecting ongoing efforts to expand agricultural production.

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Kazakhstan to Plant Nearly Half of Its Dried Aral Seabed with Saxaul

By the end of 2025, saxaul forests will cover approximately 40% of Kazakhstan's portion of the dried-up Aral Seabed, according to Azamat Abuov, head of the Department of Reproduction and Use of Forests and Flora at the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources. Afforestation efforts in the former Aral Sea, once the world’s fourth-largest inland body of water, aim to restore the region’s fragile ecosystem. Both public and private entities are participating in the project, which seeks to establish a “green belt” to stabilize the soil and curb the spread of more than 100 million tons of salt, sand, and dust from the exposed seabed to surrounding areas each year. Saxaul has been selected as the primary species for reforestation due to its suitability for the region’s arid conditions. “Currently, work on the Kazakh section has been carried out across 475,000 hectares, with additional efforts focused on natural regeneration. If we consider all initiatives together, afforestation has already covered 612,000 hectares. Plans for 2025 include an additional 428,000 hectares, bringing the total to 1.1 million hectares by the end of the year, ultimately covering about 40% of the dried-up area with saxaul,” Abuov said at a press conference in Astana. He added that approximately 300 local residents are actively involved in the project, collecting and planting saxaul seeds. Ruslan Akhmetov, director of the Almaty branch of the Kazakh Research Institute of Forestry and Agroforestry, highlighted that planting in the dried-up Aral Sea basin presents challenges due to high soil salinity, making saxaul the optimal choice as a salt-resistant plant. To support the initiative, a nursery has been established at the site to cultivate seedlings adapted to local soil conditions. Alibi Gaziz, general director of the Republican Forest Breeding and Seed Center, announced that two wells will be drilled in the dried seabed. “These will serve as oases, providing watering holes for animals and nurseries nearby. Water will be drawn from depths of 500 - 600 meters, with moderate salinity, making it suitable for irrigating plants and sustaining wildlife,” he explained. According to Gaziz, wildlife has already begun returning to the saxaul plantations in Kazakhstan’s section of the former Aral Sea, with hares, foxes, and gerbils spotted in the area, signaling the ecosystem’s gradual recovery. At its peak in the mid-20th century, the Aral Sea spanned 68,000 square kilometers along the Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan border. However, large-scale water diversion from its two main tributaries, the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers, for cotton irrigation in the 1960s triggered its rapid decline. By 2007, the sea had shrunk to just 10% of its original size, marking one of the planet’s worst environmental disasters. As The Times of Central Asia previously reported, Uzbekistan is also implementing afforestation measures to restore its portion of the dried-up Aral Sea, while broader regional efforts continue to improve water inflow to the Northern Aral Sea.

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Hope for the Northern Aral Sea as Restoration Efforts Continue

Between October 2024 and January 2025, one billion cubic meters of water will be directed to the Northern Aral Sea - 100 million cubic meters more than initially planned. Agreements with Central Asian countries will further increase this figure to 1.6 billion cubic meters by March. According to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, the current water volume in the Northern Aral Sea stands at 22.1 billion cubic meters, up from 18.9 billion cubic meters at the beginning of 2022. By the end of 2025, this volume is projected to reach 23.4 billion cubic meters. The reservoir’s surface area has also expanded, reaching 3,065 square kilometers - an increase of 111 square kilometers over the past two years. The rising water levels have had a positive impact on the ecosystem: salinity has decreased, the population of 22 fish species has recovered, and the annual fish catch has reached 8,000 tons. Meanwhile, a project to preserve the Kokaral Dam and restore the Syr Darya River delta is nearing completion. Reconstruction work on dams between Lake Karashalan and the Syr Darya, the construction of the Tauir protective dam, and the renovation of the Karashalan-1 canal have already been completed. By the end of the year, the reconstruction of the Kokaral Dam is expected to be finished, further reducing salinity and stabilizing water levels in the Northern Aral Sea. Efforts to improve water efficiency in Kazakhstan’s Kyzylorda region have also contributed to the sea’s recovery. The use of laser leveling technology on rice fields has saved 200 million cubic meters of water, which has been redirected to the Northern Aral. The leveling of 55,000 hectares of rice fields has also boosted crop yields, increasing harvests from 40-55 centners per hectare to 70-80 centners per hectare. To encourage the adoption of water-saving technologies, the government has raised subsidies for infrastructure installation from 50% to 80% and increased compensation for irrigation water to as much as 85%, depending on the tariff. Reforestation efforts in the Aral Sea basin are also ongoing. Between 2021 and 2024, 4.4 million seedlings were planted on the dried-up seabed of the Large Aral Sea, covering 475,000 hectares. In 2025, an additional 428,000 hectares will be greened, bringing the total afforested area to 1.1 million hectares. Kazakhstan assumed the chairmanship of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) on January 1, 2024. As part of its leadership, the IFAS Executive Committee has approved a 2024-2026 work plan, which includes approximately 40 initiatives across 10 priority areas.

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Kyrgyzstan Aims to Develop Organic Agriculture

As Kyrgyzstan seeks to expand the production and export of environmentally friendly organic agricultural products, the country’s Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry has drafted a Program for the Development of Organic Production in the Kyrgyz Republic for 2025-2029. The document has been submitted for public discussion. The program aims to create favorable legal, economic, and social conditions for organic producers through state support. Kyrgyzstan has natural advantages for developing organic agriculture, including a clean ecosystem, ecologically unpolluted soils and water in mountainous and foothill regions, traditional farming methods with minimal agrochemical use, rich biodiversity, and strong export potential. According to the ministry, Kyrgyzstan currently has 63,000 hectares of certified organic farmland, accounting for 5.25% of the country’s total arable land. By 2029, this area is expected to triple to 200,000 hectares. The program also seeks to increase organic production to 25% of total agricultural output and raise the share of organic exports to 25% of total agricultural exports. To achieve these goals, the program proposes several key measures: Pilot Project: Transition the Issyk-Kul and Naryn regions to fully organic farming methods. Public Awareness Campaign: Conduct a large-scale information campaign on the benefits of organic production. Infrastructure Development: Improve processing and logistics for organic exports. Certification Standards: Establish laboratories for organic product certification. Research and Innovation: Conduct scientific research and introduce advanced organic farming technologies. If successfully implemented, the initiative could strengthen Kyrgyzstan’s position as a leading producer of organic agricultural products in the region.

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Turning the Tide and Tackling Pollution in Uzbekistan: Insights from the Head of Environmental Policy

In recent years, air pollution in Uzbekistan has become an issue of growing concern, while the drying up of the Aral Sea continues to draw global attention. The Times of Central Asia spoke with Farruh Sattarov, Head of the Environmental Policy Department at the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan, about the country’s environmental challenges and the ministry’s efforts to raise public awareness. TCA: Can you briefly describe the main projects currently being implemented by the Ministry of Ecology? Sattarov: To improve the environmental situation, we are working on several major projects. One key initiative is a $115 million investment project with the U.S. company, Sayar LLC, to generate alternative thermal energy from medical waste. This project will process 96,000 tons of medical waste annually, producing 320 GWh of thermal energy. Another significant effort focuses on improving air quality in Tashkent. In collaboration with South Korea’s Sejin G&E Co., Ltd, we are investing $55 million to generate 16 MW of electricity per year from landfill gas at the Akhangaran and Maydontol municipal waste sites. Additionally, we are partnering with the Asian Development Bank on a $60 million waste management project. This includes supplying special equipment, mobile laboratories, and waste containers to sanitation enterprises in Karakalpakstan and other regions. [caption id="attachment_28298" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Farruh Sattarov; image: Ministry of Ecology of Uzbekistan[/caption] TCA: What are the priority areas for improving Uzbekistan’s environmental policy? Sattarov: Our environmental strategy is guided by the Concept of Environmental Protection of the Republic of Uzbekistan until 2030, which was approved in 2019. Its main goals include improving air quality, promoting sustainable economic growth through eco-friendly technologies, and ensuring efficient natural resource management. In 2025, our focus will be on the “Year of Environmental Protection and Green Economy.” As part of the “Uzbekistan - 2030” strategy, we are developing 30 environmental protection laws, which are currently open for public discussion. TCA: What measures are being taken to combat air pollution? Sattarov: In 2024, we took several key steps. We installed or upgraded dust and gas cleaning equipment at 188 enterprises and required 99.5% efficiency filtration systems at 24 new factories, preventing 8,500 tons of harmful emissions. In terms of targeting vehicle emissions, during the “Clean Air” campaign, we inspected 407,000 vehicles, preventing 256.9 tons of pollutants from entering the atmosphere. As part of the “Green Space” project, we planted 11.8 million trees around high-emission industrial sites. We also staged “Carless Day” events in Tashkent, Nukus, and other cities which helped reduce emissions by 5,800 tons, and eased traffic congestion. In 2025, we plan to modernize pollution controls at 122 major enterprises, inspect 500,000 vehicles as part of a new “Clean Air” campaign, and plant ten million more trees in and around industrial areas. TCA: What international initiatives does Uzbekistan support on climate change? Sattarov: Uzbekistan is actively involved in both global and regional climate initiatives. In regards to the Paris Agreement, we are developing our third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0)...