Central Asia (CA) is an example of the regions where environmental degradation brought high costs to the development of societies. Degradation of the natural resources base (soils, water) affects the productivity of agriculture – a sector that, for example, accounts for nearly 30% of GDP in Uzbekistan. Today’s poor environmental policies and weak institutional capacity to implement them further increase the region’s environmental vulnerability. Sustainable management of natural resources requires the introduction of mechanisms for inter-sectoral and inter-agency coordination. It is also necessary to mainstream environmental security and sustainability into poverty reduction strategies, and other national socio-economic policy frameworks, by increasingly using strategic environmental assessments as well as related instruments. All those challenges are specified also in the Central Asia Initiative on Sustainable Development (CAI) created in 2005, which aims to support regional cooperation and transfer of international experience in adding sustainable development value to the environmental agenda. [back to top]
Water Governance
Resources There are no permanent water flows or groundwater resources within the plains and territories of Central Asia. Some experts estimate that the deficit of fresh water is increasing. Water demand has increased by more than a quarter during the last decade. Forecasts suggest that at least 5,000 cubic meters of fresh water are needed for per person per year within Central Asia; however, no more than 700 cubic meters per person per year are available. There is a significant amount of groundwater pollution from industrial, municipal, and agriculture drainage wastes. The causes of groundwater pollution include industrial wastewater leaks, the poor location of waste dumps, the absence of sewage systems, and the proximity of cattle-breeding farms within water protection zones. The breach of civil engineering standards and the exploitation of irrigation systems have resulted in the salinisation and development of marshy areas within the irrigated territories. [back to top]
Aral Sea
The drying up of the Aral Sea is an example of an environment problem with severe social and economic implications for the entire region. This crisis is the direct result of an agricultural policy based on the development of land irrigation, and a corresponding increase in water consumption. The existing river flow in the deltas of the Amu-Daria and the Syr-Daria rivers is not sufficient to preserve their ecosystems. Due to the high mineralisation of irrigation water, the agricultural productivity of the land has decreased. During low precipitation years, water levels in the deltas of the Amu-Daria and the Syr-Daria rivers are significantly decreased. In 1982 and 1983, the area of the Aral Sea was reduced by 2.28 cubic kilometers and 3.23 cubic kilometers, respectively. Since 1961, the level of the Aral Sea has been shrinking constantly, with the fall ranging from 20 to 90 centimeters per year. The intensive drying up and salinisation of land, along with the severe degradation of water ecosystems, is occurring in the deltas of these rivers. The former bed of the Aral Sea is now a source of dust and salt. The decrease in the sea’s area is also causing climate change. [back to top]
Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Land Management
Desertification
Significant areas of Central Asia have been desertified and degraded to varying degrees. This process is currently affecting more and more land. This on-going desertification has arisen from wind, water, and pasture erosion, secondary salinisation, and various other technogenic processes. Most of the oil fields and adjacent territories are polluted with heavy fuel oil (mazut). Spoil dumps prevail throughout the region’s industrial and ore processing areas. High concentrations of pesticides (halogenated organics) pollute arable lands. Although some of these pesticides were banned during the late 1980s, their persistent use in the region means the soil maintains a high residual quantity. Relatively unpolluted arable lands show a reduction in grain yields due to wind and water erosion, which decreases the soil’s humus content. These lands are becoming unfit for agricultural production.
Biodiversity
The diversity and abundance of flora and fauna within Central Asia directly depends upon the state of the environment. The active exploitation of biological habitats over decades has exhausted the reproductive capacity of nature, as well as significantly reduced the number of species. In some cases, this process has proven to be irreversible. The danger of extinction threatens a constantly growing number of species. Several species previously classified as “rare” have been moved into the “disappearing” category due to different impacts on their natural habitats. Since the beginning of the 20th century, the area of forest in Central Asia has been reduced by 75 to 80 percent. In addition, large areas of saksaul and river meadows forests (Tugai and Juniper) have been converted to arable land. As a result, the area of saksaul and Tugai in the Amu-Daria river basin went from 150,000 hectares in 1928 to approximately 22,000 hectares in 1993. This trend is continuing. [back to top]
Energy and Climate Change
Whereas Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan will benefit economically by developing hydropower, the downstream republics of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan will continue primarily to rely upon reservoirs for irrigation. While pursuing their economic interests, both the upstream and downstream republics cause environmental degradation in the riparian zone. With independence and a sharp decline in the sharing of resources, the upstream republics have been experiencing severe energy shortages in winter. To survive during the winter months, the operational priority of the upstream reservoirs was switched from irrigation to hydropower generation, resulting in a considerable release of water. The sharp increase in winter releases creates a major environmental impact in the region. [back to top]
Central Asia (CA) is an example of the regions where environmental degradation brought high costs to the development of societies. Degradation of the natural resources base (soils, water) affects the productivity of agriculture – a sector that, for example, accounts for nearly 30% of GDP in Uzbekistan. Today’s poor environmental policies and weak institutional capacity to implement them further increase the region’s environmental vulnerability. Sustainable management of natural resources requires the introduction of mechanisms for 
There are no permanent water flows or groundwater resources within the plains and territories of Central Asia. Some experts estimate that the deficit of fresh water is increasing. Water demand has increased by more than a quarter during the last decade. Forecasts suggest that at least 5,000 cubic meters of fresh water are needed for per person per year within Central Asia; however, no more than 700 cubic meters per person per year are available. There is a significant amount of groundwater pollution from industrial, municipal, and agriculture drainage wastes. The causes of groundwater pollution include industrial wastewater leaks, the poor location of waste dumps, the absence of sewage systems, and the proximity of cattle-breeding farms within water protection zones. The breach of civil engineering standards and the exploitation of irrigation systems have resulted in the salinisation and development of marshy areas within the irrigated territories. 
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