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Culture, Climate, and Clean Water: Summit Outlines New Efforts to Restore the Aral Sea Region

From April 4 to 6, the first Aral Culture Summit took place in Karakalpakstan, bringing together local and international scientists, artists, and activists. Their goal: to find creative ways to support the social and environmental recovery of the Aral Sea region. The summit is the first in a series of global cultural initiatives taking place throughout 2025 and supported by Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation. Scheduled to be held every 18 months, the summit is designed to act as a space for exchanging ideas and building new solutions. This year’s program included panels, cultural events, and a pop-up market featuring local artists and businesses. It focused on how art, design, and science can help Karakalpakstan grow in sustainable ways and attract new eco-friendly businesses. [caption id="attachment_30519" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Summit opening in Samarkand; image: ACDF[/caption] The first day of the summit was linked with the Samarkand International Climate Forum, which was attended by over 2,000 foreign guests, including top officials from the European Union, the United Nations, and Central Asian governments. They discussed urgent climate problems in the region, including desertification, water shortages, and rising temperatures. Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev spoke about steps being taken to slow land degradation. “To reduce the area of degraded lands and mitigate the consequences of climate change, Uzbekistan has been carrying out large-scale greening in the framework of the Yashil Makon project. Additionally, over two million hectares of the deserted Aral Sea region is now covered with drought-resistant plants,” he said. Mirziyoyev also warned that water shortages will increase in the region by 2040 and stressed the need for stronger cooperation, telling those assembled, “We urge our partners to join the efforts and launch a Regional Program for Implementation of Water Saving Technologies in Central Asia.” Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev also shared concerns about climate challenges, pointing out that the "temperature in the region is rising twice as fast as the global average.” Tokayev highlighted joint efforts with Uzbekistan to green the dried bottom of the Aral Sea. “Central Asia is profoundly affected by the global climate crisis,” Gayane Umerova, Chairperson of the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation (ACDF) told those in attendance. “Rising temperatures, altered rainfall patterns, and intensified droughts are severely impacting agriculture, water resources, and livelihoods across our region. No example illustrates this better than the tragedy of the Aral Sea. But healing the land goes hand in hand with healing communities.” [caption id="attachment_30521" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Desert ship, Moynaq; image: TCA, Stephen M. Bland[/caption] A striking example of the shrinking of the Aral Sea is the forgotten hamlet of Moynaq. At its peak, the town was home to 60,000 people, mostly fishermen and their extended families, with the Aral Sea producing up to 30% of the Soviet catch and saving Russia from widespread famine in the 1920s. Accessible only by air and ferry well into the 1970s, Moynaq also served as a popular beach resort for well-heeled bureaucrats, its airport hosting fifty flights a day at its peak. By the...

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Climate Change – A Catalyst for Poverty and Environmental Degradation in Central Asia

Climate change encapsulates the gradual yet profound shifts in temperature and weather patterns over extended periods. While these changes can arise naturally from various phenomena — such as fluctuations in solar energy or significant volcanic eruptions — the advent of the industrial age in the 1800s marked a pivotal point where human influence became the predominant force driving climate change. This influence stems chiefly from burning fossil fuels, including coal, oil, and natural gas. The combustion of these fuels releases vast quantities of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, creating a thick layer that envelops the Earth and traps heat from the sun, resulting in a steady rise in global temperatures. Carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) are the most significant greenhouse gases contributing to this crisis. Carbon dioxide predominantly emerges from driving gasoline-powered vehicles and burning coal for heating. Additionally, the widespread practices of deforestation and land conversion continue to elevate carbon dioxide levels. Methane, meanwhile, is primarily produced through agricultural practices and the extraction processes associated with the oil and gas industries. The sectors that bear the heaviest burden in terms of greenhouse gas emissions include energy production, industrial processes, transportation, building operations, agriculture, and land use changes. The ramifications of this unfolding climate crisis are dire, especially for the world’s most vulnerable populations, particularly those residing in poverty. According to alarming insights from the World Bank, the 74 countries with the lowest income levels contribute a mere one-tenth of global greenhouse gas emissions. Yet, ironically, these nations are poised to endure the harshest repercussions of climate change. Over the past ten years, they have experienced an astounding surge in natural disasters, facing approximately eight times the frequency of such events compared to the 1980s. The effects on the lives of vulnerable populations are profound and far-reaching. Many face severe health challenges, including the prevalence of illnesses exacerbated by inadequate healthcare access. Erratic water supply creates a critical situation, often resulting in polluted drinking water that can lead to waterborne diseases. Additionally, the standard of education for these communities tends to be alarmingly poor, limiting future opportunities for young individuals. Many are forced to relocate as refugees, fleeing conflict and instability, which further complicates their lives. Moreover, those who find employment often encounter hazardous working conditions that put their safety and well-being at significant risk. Climate change presents profound security challenges for Central Asia, a region grappling with the dual threats of environmental shifts and social vulnerabilities. The interplay of climate change with existing fragility intensifies the risks to peace, stability, and security across the globe. This convergence will exacerbate human insecurity and escalate socio-economic and political instability. As a result of these changing climatic conditions, critical resources such as water, food, and energy face increasing threats. Countries already characterized by vulnerability — those grappling with conflict or instability — are among the most likely to experience detrimental effects. For instance, reports indicate severe drought conditions have led to a 30-40% decrease in agricultural production in some Central Asian...

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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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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)...

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Kazakhstan Continues Afforestation Efforts on the Aral Sea

Kazakhstan is pressing ahead with a large-scale afforestation project aimed at restoring the ecosystem on the dried bed of the Aral Sea. The initiative brings together KATCO - a joint venture between the French state-owned company Orano and Kazakhstan’s national atomic company Kazatomprom - and other state and private entities to create artificial forests, combat land degradation, and improve environmental conditions in the Aral region. The Decline of the Aral Sea Once the world’s fourth-largest inland body of water, the Aral Sea spanned 68,000 square kilometers, straddling Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. However, starting in the 1960s, extensive water diversion from its feeder rivers - the Amu Darya and Syr Darya - for cotton irrigation caused the sea to dry up rapidly. By 2007, the Aral had shrunk to just 10% of its original size. The environmental fallout has been catastrophic. Over 100 million tons of salt, sand, and dust are carried annually by winds from the exposed seabed, damaging nearby ecosystems and posing significant health risks to residents of the surrounding areas. Progress in Afforestation According to Kazakhstan's Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, significant strides have been made in afforestation efforts. Between December 16 and 30, 2024, sowing was completed on 12,000 hectares of the former seabed. Efforts are continuing, with plans to sow seeds across 108,000 hectares in January and February 2025. By March 2025, an additional 16,492 hectares will be planted with saxaul shrubs, a hardy plant well-suited to the region’s arid conditions. The ultimate goal is to plant saxaul shrubs on 1.1 million hectares of the dried-up Aral Seabed. Between 2021 and 2024, afforestation was completed on 475,000 hectares, including 127,000 hectares in 2024 alone. For 2025, Kazakhstan plans to plant saxaul on an ambitious 428,000 hectares. Nationwide Tree-Planting Initiative Kazakhstan’s efforts to restore the Aral Sea ecosystem are part of a broader national afforestation program. The country aims to plant 2 billion trees by 2027. From 2021 to 2024, 1.1 billion seedlings were planted over a total of 736,800 hectares, including 306 million seedlings planted in 2024 on 205,200 hectares. For 2025, the goal is to plant 336.5 million seedlings across 494,000 hectares. Beyond rural afforestation, 15 million trees are planned for urban and village areas, with more than 12 million already planted between 2021 and 2024. A Step Toward Environmental Recovery Kazakhstan’s afforestation efforts represent a critical step toward mitigating the environmental damage caused by the desiccation of the Aral Sea. By stabilizing the exposed seabed with saxaul shrubs and increasing tree cover nationwide, the country aims to reduce airborne pollutants, improve regional biodiversity, and enhance the quality of life for affected communities. The project is not only an environmental undertaking but also a testament to Kazakhstan's commitment to sustainable development and ecological restoration on a massive scale.