Members

Image source:
Unsplash.com
Buildings
Flag of Tajikistan
Ratification
UNCCD annex
Annex II: Asia
UNCCD Subregion
Central Asia

Ministries

Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan

The Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan is the central body of the executive power of the Republic of Tajikistan and is involved in the implementation of a unified state policy in the field of environment protection, participates in the rational use of natural resources and exercises state control over the protection of the environment and the use of nature.

Website
www.tajnature.tj
Minister

Bakhodur Sheralizoda

Phone
+992 (37) 236 40 59
Sheralizoda Bahodur Ahmadjon

National Focal Points

Shakhlo Azizibekova
Position
Chief of the International Environmental Conventions Department
Institution
Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan
Murod Ergashev
Position
Science and Technology Correspondents

Voluntary LDN Targets

Tajikistan set voluntary targets to achieve land degradation neutrality (LDN) in 2019 as part of the adoption of the National Development Strategy (NDS) of the Republic of Tajikistan until 2030. The main LDN targets to be achieved by 2030 are:

Improving the efficiency of land use
Restoration of irrigated land
Forest resources management
Pasture land management
Improving the efficiency of land use

Development of 11 thousand hectares of new irrigated land, of which 1 thousand hectares are financed from the state budget, 9 thousand hectares from state investment projects and private investments.

bcc439cb1a11e31ba4c72ee53d413f4a4767f4b0
Restoration of irrigated land

Measures to restore 5 thousand hectares of land withdrawn from agricultural use, which in total will allow 16 thousand hectares of irrigated land to be returned to agricultural use. 

bcc439cb1a11e31ba4c72ee53d413f4a4767f4b0
Forest resources management

Allocation of 685 thousand hectares of forests for management plans.

bcc439cb1a11e31ba4c72ee53d413f4a4767f4b0
Pasture land management

Allocation of 83 thousand hectares for pasture management plans.

bcc439cb1a11e31ba4c72ee53d413f4a4767f4b0

Reports on the Implementation of the UNCCD

2018 Report
Download
Document
2014 Report
Download
Document
2010 Report
Download
Document
2006 Report
Download
Document
2002 Report
Download
Document
2000 Report
Download
Document

Environmental challenges covered by the UNCCD

Desertification
Desertification and drought

More than 4 million hectares of land have been affected over the past decade desertification processes. Every year, about 42 thousand hectares of irrigated land become arid. A high level of loss of soil fertility reduces agricultural productivity.

desert and grass
Soil erosion

82.3% of all land and 97.9% of agricultural land is subject to various forms of erosion, 88.7% of these lands suffer from moderate or high erosion, and 22% of irrigated arable land shows signs of severe degradation.

desert with trees
Lack of irrigated land

7% of the country's territory is suitable for irrigation, and severe geographical conditions limit the development of agriculture.

green grass
Water problems

Although there are large water reserves, water distribution is difficult, which leads to water stress in agriculture and salinization of land.

green trees
Pasture degradation

85% of pasture lands are subject to degradation due to overgrazing, 70% of forest areas are in a state of degradation.

Causes of degradation and desertification:

Natural factors: 

  • Climate change: Changing precipitation patterns and rising temperatures contribute to droughts and land degradation. Tajikistan ranks first in vulnerability to climate change among countries in Europe and Central Asia. An expected temperature increase of 1.8–2.9°C by 2050 will lead to increased flooding during the rainy season and droughts during the dry season.

  • Mountainous terrain: steep slopes and intense precipitation in mountainous areas contribute to erosion processes.

Anthropogenic factors:

  • excessive pressure on pasture ecosystems can contribute to the reduction of vegetation cover and deterioration of soil conditions.

  • the practice of intensive land cultivation without taking into account the principles of sustainable use of natural resources can lead to depletion of soil and reduce its fertility.

  • uncontrolled deforestation of forests and shrubs, including for food and fuel resources, increases the risk of erosion.

  • mining operations and the development of infrastructure projects can have a man-made impact on land resources, contributing to their disruption and pollution.

Recommendations for mitigating land degradation and desertification

1. Sustainable Land Management:

  • Development of programs to combat desertification, soil erosion and their restoration.

  • Introduction of crop rotation to prevent soil depletion.

  • Use of soil conservation technologies, including minimum tillage.

  • Development of agroforestry and planting of protective tree strips.

2. Improvement of Water Management:

  • Comprehensive reconstruction of irrigated lands and improvement of irrigation systems.

  • Introduction of water-saving technologies (drip irrigation, rational water use).

  • Combating soil salinization and waterlogging.

3. Restoration of Pastures and Forests:

  • Maintaining and observing pasture rotation.

  • Creating pasture protection strips from forage trees and shrubs.

  • Restoring degraded forest areas and preventing illegal logging.

4. Monitoring and Early Warning of Degradation:

  • Development of automatic drought and land degradation monitoring systems.

  • Use of Earth remote sensing (ERS) data and GIS technologies to assess landscape changes.

5. Socio-Economic Measures:

  • Development of environmentally sustainable agricultural practices.

  • Raising awareness of local populations about methods of rational land use.

  • Strengthening institutional capacity and improving the legislative framework (for example, the Law on Pastures).

6. Combating the Effects of Drought and Climate Change:

  • Adaptation of agriculture to climate change (use of drought-resistant varieties).

  • Strengthening international cooperation in water management and drought management.

  • Development of drought early warning systems and improved preparedness.

 

Governmental plans to recover and combat these issues

  1. The State program for the development of new irrigated land and the restoration of land that has fallen out of agricultural circulation 2022-2027 is for 2022-2027 is aimed at preventing the alienation of irrigated arable land and expanding the area of irrigated land. The program provides for the development of 11,321 hectares of new irrigated land and the restoration of 5,580 hectares of previously discarded agricultural land.

  2. The National Program for Greening of the Republic of Tajikistan for the period up to 2040 is aimed at maintaining a sustainable natural balance, and the implementation of the program ensures a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and rational management ofbiodiversity. The goal of the state program is to plant 2 billion trees by 2040.

  3. The pasture development program for 2023-2027 includes measures for rational use and improvement of the state of pasture lands.

  4. The forest sector development program for 2022-2026 includes the creation of 5 thousand hectares of new forests, restoration of 10 thousand hectares of degraded forests and maintenance of natural regeneration on 40 thousand hectares.

  5. Sustainable agriculture programs: “The program for the development of the agri-food system and sustainable agriculture" until 2030 is aimed at improving the efficiency of agriculture, improving soil fertility and using innovative technologies.

  6. Monitoring and management of water resources: development of irrigation systems, restoration of irrigation infrastructure and introduction of energy-saving irrigation technologies.

  7. The National Action Program to Combat Desertification provides for measures to monitor the processes of desertification, improve the environmental management system, develop anti-erosion methods and socio-economic mechanisms to combat land degradation.

 

Conducted events

1. Adoption of the UN Resolution Proclaiming 2025 as the International Year of Glacier Preservation:
At the initiative of Tajikistan, in December 2022 the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution declaring 2025 the International Year of Glacier Preservation.

  • The aim of the initiative is to mobilize global attention to the issues of glacier sustainability, their impact on freshwater resources, and climate change.

  • The resolution highlights the importance of international cooperation and the strengthening of scientific research in this field.

2. UN Water Conference (New York, March 2023):
Tajikistan served as co-chair of the global UN Water Conference, together with the Kingdom of the Netherlands — the first such conference held in the past 46 years.

  • The event focused on strategies to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals related to water and sanitation (SDG 6).

  • Tajikistan presented its national achievements in sustainable water use, emphasizing the role of glaciers as a key source of freshwater in Central Asia.

3. Scientific and Practical Conference of the UNCCD “The Role of Women in Combating Land Degradation and Desertification”:
From June 30 to July 2, 2023, a UNCCD conference was held in Dushanbe, dedicated to the role of women in addressing land degradation and desertification. The event was timed to coincide with the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought.

  • Participants adopted a resolution emphasizing the importance of Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) approaches and the need to improve legislative, administrative, and scientific-educational measures.

  • The conference underlined the significance of interregional cooperation, the harmonization of sub-indicators for SDG 15.3, and the organization of regular international meetings.

More featured news