A presentation of the Atlas of Environmental Changes in Tajikistan took place in Dushanbe. This is the first edition to collect data from more than 60 years of observations of the country's nature and ecosystems. The Atlas was created as part of an international project with the support of the Russian Government, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP) of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Regional Environmental Center for Central Asia (CAREC).
At the presentation, Isfandier Shukurzoda, First Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Environmental Protection of Tajikistan, noted that the Atlas will become an important tool for assessing the country's vulnerability to climate change and developing environmental policy.
Batyr Mammadov, Executive Director of CAREC, stressed that this publication reflects not only environmental challenges, but also opportunities for sustainable development.
Zebuniso Muminzoda, Director of the CAREC branch in Tajikistan, added that work on the project has been underway since 2019 with the participation of experts and scientists from Tajikistan, Moscow State University and the Institute of Geography of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
The atlas includes archival materials and satellite data that show how climate and human activities affect the country's water, land, forests, and biodiversity. For example, the document notes that, despite the reforms, almost a third of villagers still use water from unprotected sources. This makes it particularly important to achieve the UN goals on safe water and sanitation.
The publication will be available not only in hard copy, but also on a special geoportal, which will allow it to be used not only by specialists, but also by the general public.
The presentation of the Atlas took place against the background of the active development of Tajikistan's green cooperation. The day before, the Chairman of the CEP of the Republic of Tajikistan, Bahodur Sheralizoda, met with the new Executive Director of CAREC, Batyr Mammadov. The parties discussed CAREC projects in Tajikistan, as well as preparations for the Central Asian Climate change conference and attracting green investments to the country.
