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Aral Sea

Uzbekistan Installs 37 Air Monitoring Stations in Aral Region as Environmental Cooperation Expands

Authorities in the region of Karakalpakstan have installed 37 automated air quality monitoring stations to track pollution levels in the Aral Sea region, according to Uzbekistan’s National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change. The project was implemented in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The system measures fine particulate matter, including PM2.5 and PM10, as well as gases such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and hydrogen sulfide. It also records key meteorological indicators, including temperature, humidity, air pressure, and wind speed. Data is transmitted in real time through the Aurisgreentech system, which officials say reduces human error and improves accuracy. During a recent visit to the region, UNDP's representative in Uzbekistan Akiko Fujii reviewed the work of the regional ecology committee's Situation Center, where monitoring results are processed. According to official reports, she also inspected a laboratory equipped to analyze air, water, and soil samples in line with international standards. “The United Nations will continue to support projects aimed at improving the environmental situation in Karakalpakstan,” Fujii said, noting the importance of reliable data in assessing pollution and forecasting ecological risks. The initiative comes as regional cooperation on environmental challenges gains momentum. From April 22 to 24, Astana will host a regional ecological summit bringing together UN agencies, international organizations, and government representatives from Central Asia and the Caspian region. The summit will include a ministerial session led by the World Health Organization focusing on the health impacts of environmental degradation in the Aral Sea area. Discussions are expected to address the links between pollution, public health, and the need for coordinated responses across borders.

Emergency Response

Mosques in Uzbekistan Begin Broadcasting Emergency Alerts in New Warning System

Uzbekistan has introduced a new system for warning citizens about emergencies using mosque loudspeakers, significantly expanding the reach of early warning messages across the country. The initiative was reported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and is being implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Emergency Situations. According to a UNDP report, the project provides a technical solution aimed at strengthening Uzbekistan’s multi-hazard early warning system. As part of the pilot phase, special alert broadcasting devices have been installed in 272 mosques across seven regions: Fergana, Jizzakh, Kashkadarya, Namangan, Samarkand, Syrdarya and Tashkent. These devices enable authorities to transmit emergency messages through mosque loudspeakers. UNDP noted that mosques were selected because of their established role in local communities, and their wide geographic distribution. Most are equipped with powerful external loudspeakers capable of covering distances of between 500 and 2,000 meters. Since announcements are broadcast outdoors, residents within range can receive alerts regardless of whether they are inside the mosque. Project estimates cited by UNDP suggest that the system could reach around 6.5 million people, including vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly. Another advantage highlighted in the report is its potential reliability during disruptions to mobile networks or electricity supply, when conventional communication channels may be unavailable. UNDP also stated that the initiative forms part of broader efforts to modernise Uzbekistan’s early warning capabilities in response to growing climate-related risks. Alongside mosque-based alerts, 28 large outdoor screens have been installed along major highways in densely populated areas to provide emergency information. The wider project, funded by the Green Climate Fund and implemented jointly by UNDP, the Ministry of Emergency Situations and Uzhydromet, focuses on improving preparedness for hazards such as floods, landslides, avalanches, mudflows and drought, particularly in Uzbekistan’s eastern mountainous regions.

Irrigation

Kazakhstan to Modernize Irrigation Sector with $5.3 Million EDB Grant

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) have launched a new joint initiative aimed at modernizing the country’s irrigation sector. Titled “Developing a Business Ecosystem for Sustainable Irrigation in Kazakhstan,” the project is supported by a $5.3 million grant from the EDB and implemented in partnership with UNDP. The agreement was signed by Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Nurzhan Nurzhigitov, UNDP Resident Representative Katarzyna Wawiernia, and EDB Deputy Chairman Ruslan Dalenov. Boosting Climate Resilience and Water Efficiency The multi-year initiative focuses on strengthening Kazakhstan’s resilience to climate change by improving irrigation management. Key components include establishing a National Water Resources Information System, deploying forecasting and water distribution tools, creating regional centers for modern irrigation, training specialists, and promoting water-saving technologies nationwide. Nurzhigitov emphasized that the project aligns with Kazakhstan’s broader strategic goals for climate adaptation and water sector reform. “For us, participation in this project means achieving strategic goals to modernize the water sector and increase resilience to climate change. We are actively working to attract investment in the water sector, but all strategic decisions are and will be made exclusively in Kazakhstan. Transferring water resources or facilities to foreign countries has never been considered. Our goal is to modernize the water sector to protect the interests of our citizens and ensure security and sustainable development,” he stated. Expanding Water-Saving Irrigation Kazakhstan has steadily increased the use of water-efficient irrigation technologies such as drip and sprinkler systems to reduce agricultural water consumption. Since 2024, the government has raised subsidies for farmers adopting these technologies. Reimbursement rates for drilling underground water wells and installing modern systems have increased from 50% to 80%. As a result, the area equipped with water-saving irrigation expanded from 312,200 hectares in 2023 to 580,000 hectares in 2025, representing 30% of the country’s total irrigated farmland. By 2030, the government aims to extend modern irrigation systems to 1.3 million hectares, covering 70% of all irrigated land in Kazakhstan.

Wildlife Conservation

Russia’s Amur Tigers to Aid Restoration of Tiger Population in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan and Russia have signed a formal action plan to reintroduce Amur tigers into Kazakhstan, marking a key step in restoring the region's long-extinct Turan tiger population. On November 12, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources and Russia’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment agreed to transfer four Amur tigers, two males and two females from Russia to Kazakhstan. The animals will be relocated to the Ile-Balkhash State Nature Reserve in southern Kazakhstan, where they will undergo adaptation to local ecological conditions. According to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Ecology, the reintroduction plan is scientifically supported. The now-extinct Turan tiger once roamed across Central Asia, the Caucasus, and northern Iran. Biologists believe that the Turan and Amur tigers, the latter native to Russia’s Far East, share the same genetic lineage. This provides a basis for using Amur tigers to revive the Turan population in Kazakhstan. Under the agreement, Russia will be responsible for veterinary oversight and transportation, while Kazakhstan will manage accommodation and post-transfer monitoring. The initiative is being implemented with support from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). In September 2024, two Amur tigers, a male and a female, were already transferred to the Ile-Balkhash Reserve from the Landgoed Hoenderdaell Zoo in the Netherlands. They are currently housed in a specially designed enclosure for breeding, with the aim of releasing their offspring into the wild. If successful, their cubs would be the first wild tigers to return to Kazakhstan in over 70 years. The southern shore of Lake Balkhash, located in the Ili River delta, was selected as the optimal site for tiger reintroduction. The Ile-Balkhash Reserve was created to rehabilitate the degraded ecosystems of the southern Balkhash region, with particular emphasis on restoring the tiger’s natural prey base. The reserve encompasses the last intact river delta in Central Asia, the Ili River Delta, whereas other major deltas such as those of the Syr Darya, Amu Darya, and Chu rivers have been severely degraded due to desertification. Officials say enhancing the prey base and preserving the area’s remoteness will help prevent human-wildlife conflict. Historically, Turan tigers inhabited reed beds and floodplain forests along the Ili and Syr Darya rivers. Tiger extermination in Kazakhstan began in 1891, when organized military hunts were conducted. The extinction of key prey species, including Bukhara deer, goitered gazelles, saigas, kulans, roe deer, and wild boars, combined with habitat loss, ultimately led to the disappearance of the Turan tiger by 1948. This is not Kazakhstan’s first species reintroduction effort. In June 2024, the country successfully reintroduced the first group of Przewalski’s horses to the Altyn Dala Nature Reserve in the Kostanay region. The horses were transported from the Prague Zoo.

river transport

Kazakhstan Eyes Revival of Ili River Corridor as Logistics Artery

River transport has long offered a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative for moving cargo. Inland waterways present an alternative route that could unlock new logistics pathways for Kazakhstan and the broader Central Asian region. Yet the development of river navigation remains hindered by several challenges. Kazakhstan’s inland waterway system faces numerous obstacles: insufficient investment, underdeveloped port infrastructure, an aging fleet, and bureaucratic red tape. Despite these issues, reviving river navigation could significantly boost mutual trade, increase cargo volumes, and ease pressure on overburdened road and rail networks. The government has initiated several projects aimed at doing just that. One notable initiative is the proposed route along the transboundary Ili River in the Almaty Region, connecting the city of Konaev with Yining in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Originating in the Tien Shan mountains, where the Kunges and Tekes rivers merge, the Ili River stretches 1,439 km, with 620 km or 43% within Kazakhstan’s borders. [caption id="attachment_38136" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Image: Ili River Port LLP[/caption] The project is a joint venture between Kazakhstan’s Ili River Port LLP and China International Water & Electric Corp. In an interview with The Times of Central Asia, Marat Julaev, CEO of Ili River Port LLP, stated that the navigable section of the route spans 450 km. Historically, the Ili served as a key transport artery, facilitating trade and connectivity with remote regions. “This route was navigable and operational until 1980. It was used to transport dry goods, ores, petroleum products, and consumer goods from China,” Julaev explained. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, navigation along the Ili declined sharply. Extensive water usage in China caused water levels to fall, compounding the route’s inability to compete with road and rail alternatives. However, with mounting congestion and capacity constraints in land-based infrastructure, the river’s strategic role is being reconsidered. “In the Almaty Region, we’ve been allocated a 100-hectare plot on the coast of the Kapshagai Reservoir, providing a strategic advantage in reducing delivery time and costs,” Julaev told TCA. “Our Chinese partners, operating in Kazakhstan since 2006, are developing the route between Yining and Konaev.” [caption id="attachment_38137" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Image: Ili River Port LLP[/caption] A central component of the project is the creation of a transport and logistics hub to consolidate and distribute cargo across Central Asia. The river port will offer terminal services, storage, sorting, equipment maintenance, and passenger transport. Plans also include developing production facilities and cargo terminals on-site. Commissioning is expected in 2027, with an initial cargo turnover capacity of one million tons annually, potentially rising to three million. According to Julaev, this development will enhance Kazakhstan’s foreign trade with China. Julaev emphasized one of the route’s key advantages: the ability to transport oversized cargo, including materials for Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant under construction in the village of Ulken on Lake Balkhash, which is fed primarily by the Ili. An equally critical issue is water availability. According to the UN Development Programme in Kazakhstan, over 44% of the country’s river flow originates in...

Climate Action

Kyrgyzstan Releases Its First Climate Action Transparency Report

On October 7, Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment, and Technical Supervision unveiled its first Biennial Climate Action Transparency Report, marking a key step in aligning with international climate obligations. The report was developed with contributions from government agencies, academic institutions, the private sector, and civil society, with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). It outlines the country’s progress in addressing climate change, current greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, climate risk preparedness, and the external support it has received. According to the report, Kyrgyzstan’s total GHG emissions in 2023 amounted to 19.38 million tons of CO₂ equivalent. At the same time, the country’s forests, soils, and other ecosystems absorbed 10.31 million tons, resulting in net emissions of 9.07 million tons of CO₂ equivalent. The report notes that this “climate safety net” provides a valuable natural buffer that should be protected and expanded. The energy sector remains the largest source of emissions, accounting for more than half of the total. However, emissions from transport, electricity generation, and heating have declined significantly since the early 1990s, largely due to the adoption of cleaner technologies and improved energy efficiency. Agriculture is the second largest contributor to emissions, primarily driven by livestock farming, with levels remaining relatively stable over recent decades. The submission of the transparency report is a requirement under the Paris Agreement, the international climate treaty signed by Kyrgyzstan in 2016. Beyond fulfilling a global commitment, transparent reporting is also a pathway to unlocking funding from international financial institutions, climate funds, and private investors. According to the report, improved transparency can help attract investment in energy efficiency, renewable energy, sustainable water management, climate-smart agriculture, and disaster risk reduction, critical elements in Kyrgyzstan’s strategy to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.