Russia contributes to strengthening environmental governance and biodiversity conversation in Turkmenistan

Russia is providing active support to Turkmenistan in improving environmental governance and conserving the country’s biodiversity within the framework of the regional TFD project on knowledge management. 

The work of the Russian GIS expert in the field of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) has significantly enhanced the potential of geographic information systems in Turkmenistan, contributing to effective land resource management and the preservation of natural wealth.

Professional GIS tools, such as QGIS and QField, have been successfully integrated with international platforms like WOCAT and LandPKS, enabling a transition from static reporting to dynamic data analysis. Specifically, using the Trends.Earth platform, the expert developed a specialized methodology for mapping land degradation hotspots in the Turkmen part of the Aral Sea basin.

To promote biodiversity conservation in Turkmenistan, the expert developed a strategic GIS-based workflow to integrate spatial data into State Protected Area management plans. This includes a workflow for wildfire impact assessment, a practical handbook for mapping rare species habitats using QGIS, and a standardized, interactive GIS map package for Important Bird Areas (IBAs) and Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) across the country.

During training sessions, organized by the Russian expert, national specialists refined their skills in applying GIS technologies to assess the condition of irrigated and pasture lands, as well as to monitor ecosystems in protected areas and forest reserves. These activities contributed to strengthening the practical capabilities of specialists, fostering interagency cooperation, and implementing modern approaches to monitoring land degradation.

The results achieved will contribute to the improvement of the national reporting system under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), as well as to the strengthening of sustainable land management in Turkmenistan and the Central Asian region.

The work of the Russian expert is implemented with the financial support of the Russian Federation within the framework of the project "Knowledge Management and Capacity Development in the UNDP-Russia Partnership".