The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Turkmenistan, together with the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan and the Scientific Information Center of the Interstate Commission on Sustainable Development, held a round table in Ashgabat dedicated to World Wetlands Day. The meeting, entitled ‘Scaling Climate-Resilient Practices through Digitalization of Land and Water Monitoring,’ took place on 9 February at the UN building. This was reported by IIC.

The event was held as part of the UNDP project on the conservation and sustainable management of land resources and ecosystems of high natural value in the Aral Sea basin. The discussion was attended by representatives of relevant government agencies, scientific and research organisations, national coordination centres for international environmental conventions, administrations of specially protected natural areas, as well as non-governmental organisations and international partners.

The main focus was on restoring ecosystems in the Amu Darya basin, strengthening the environmental sustainability of wetlands, and promoting the principles of land degradation neutrality. Participants considered the possibilities of using digital technologies and scientifically based monitoring systems for more effective management of water and land resources.

Rustem Nuryev, National Coordinator of the Ramsar Convention at the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan, noted that the country is consistently fulfilling its international obligations by expanding the monitoring of important ornithological areas and strengthening the scientific basis for biodiversity conservation.

The round table also emphasised the need to align national measures with international agreements on combating desertification and protecting wetlands. Participants agreed that the conservation of these ecosystems plays a key role in ensuring climate resilience, food security and the well-being of local communities, and that cross-sectoral cooperation and the implementation of innovative solutions are important conditions for long-term environmental development.