Country: Turkmenistan Implementation period: Underway / from 2023 (subject to official confirmation) Initiators & Donors: Global Environment Facility (GEF), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Partners: Ministry of Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan, local authorities, scientific institutions
This project focuses on restoring degraded rangelands and establishing green shelterbelts in arid and semi-arid landscapes of Turkmenistan. The country is facing growing challenges of land degradation, desertification, and biodiversity loss, exacerbated by climate change and overgrazing.
The initiative adopts nature-based solutions to improve ecosystem health, strengthen rural livelihoods, and enhance landscape resilience to climate impacts.
Project Objectives:
Restore degraded natural rangelands
Establish green protective belts to combat erosion and desertification
Increase productivity and ecological stability of dryland ecosystems
Support traditional sustainable land-use systems
Build local capacity for sustainable land and resource management
Expected Outcomes:
Enhanced biodiversity and improved land condition
Better soil moisture retention and reduced erosion risks
Strengthened food and environmental security in rural areas
Wider adoption of sustainable rangeland and agroforestry practices
Contribution to SDGs, particularly SDG 15 (Life on Land) and SDG 13 (Climate Action)
