ASHGABAT (TCA) — The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Turkmenistan said it scales up its programme on climate change and adaptation by expanding its work to the new regions of Turkmenistan to build resilience of the local population to effects of climate change.
During the month of June 2017, UNDP has held a series of educational seminars and onsite trainings for the farmers, cattle breeders and administrative personnel of the local administration of Galkynysh district of Lebap region and Gorogly district of Dashoguz region under the new project “Climate resilient livelihoods in drought-affected areas” funded by the Special Climate Change Fund of the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The number of participants totaled to almost 100 people.
The goal of the seminars was to raise awareness on effects of climate change and discuss potential adaptation mechanisms to be put in place in the regions, in particular participatory land use planning.
“We started our work with training because it is essential that people understand what work we do and our aims. It is also important to understand what their expectations are. In some case, we had to build up those expectations because people think that they cannot do anything with drought and they cope with it in their own, often unsustainable way. In other areas, farming practices and the population is so advanced that we will work more on bringing latest innovative technology to support their efforts and enhance capacity to improve the level of living,” explains Amangul Ovezberdyyeva, Project Manager.
In each region, participants of the seminars outlined current issues relevant to climate change and mapped the vision of development of their local community. They considered what actions need to be taken to achieve that vision. Discussions included topics of soil salinization, planning of the sowing and collection of yield, irrigation techniques, sustainable use of pasture lands, and resources available for adaptation measures.
Participants were also familiarized with UNDP experience of creating water users’ groups in Turkmenistan, the mission, legal rights and status of the independent water and land users’ groups. UNDP introduced the concept of ecosystem services to spark critical thinking of the local residents on the topic of cost of nature resources.
