Ashgabat, February 9, 2026 — A hybrid roundtable titled “Scaling Climate-Resilient Practices through Digitalization of Land and Water Monitoring” was held at the UN building. The event was organized within the framework of cooperation between the UNDP project on sustainable land management in the Aral Sea basin and the Scientific-Information Center of the Interstate Commission on Sustainable Development (SIC ICSD).
Dedicated to World Wetlands Day (February 2), the discussion focused on ensuring the ecological integrity of wetlands and achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) in the Amu Darya basin within Turkmenistan.
Participants emphasized the importance of establishing an integrated digital monitoring system for land and water resources, particularly in light of Turkmenistan’s commitments under the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the Ramsar Convention.
The roundtable aimed to build a sustainable cross-sectoral platform uniting government agencies, scientists, digital technology experts, and international partners to implement GIS technologies and remote sensing tools in environmental monitoring.
Director of SIC ICSD and National UNCCD Coordinator in Turkmenistan Mr. Muhammet Durikov presented the application of the PRAIS 4 reporting platform as a tool for monitoring land degradation, including wetlands. He stressed the need for institutionalizing digital data collection and analysis systems as a foundation for evidence-based policymaking and effective fulfillment of international commitments.
A practical digital solution was introduced by Mr. Nikolai Nikolaev, who demonstrated an online tool for assessing water surface dynamics using the Kelif Lakes complex as a case study. Previously tested for monitoring the Caspian Sea, the tool has been adapted to the Amu Darya basin and shows strong potential for integration into national water monitoring systems.
The roundtable also presented results of winter monitoring of wetland bird populations, discussed improvements to biodiversity legislation, expansion of protected areas, and development of environmental statistical databases. Strengthening interagency coordination and aligning national regulations with international environmental standards were highlighted as key priorities.
Participants concluded that expanding digital methodologies in line with UNCCD reporting standards and enhancing scientific approaches to land degradation assessment remain critical for sustainable ecosystem management.
The event reaffirmed the active role of SIC ICSD in promoting integrated natural resource management in the region.
📌Source: Scientific-Information Center of the Interstate Commission on Sustainable Development (SIC ICSD)
