Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, 22 May 2025 – Representatives of the Scientific Information Centre of the Interstate Commission on Sustainable Development (SIC ICSD) participated in a roundtable focused on the results of seasonal monitoring of key biodiversity species, and on strengthening the national legal framework related to the designation of buffer zones and ecological corridors. The event was organized under the UNDP/GEF project “Conservation and Sustainable Management of Land Resources and Ecosystems of High Conservation Value in the Aral Sea Basin,” implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan.
The roundtable brought together more than 20 representatives from relevant ministries and state agencies of Turkmenistan, nature reserves, scientific institutions, and international organizations. Participants reviewed the current status of biodiversity, discussed practical outcomes of the monitoring efforts, and proposed improvements to the legal and regulatory framework for effective management of protected areas.
A representative from SIC ICSD delivered a presentation titled “Use of GIS Technologies for Biodiversity Monitoring in Important Bird Areas (IBAs) and Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs),” showcasing the integration of geospatial technologies into biodiversity observation processes. The presentation featured examples of biodiversity mapping, spatial analysis of rare species' habitats, and identification of natural corridors critical to the preservation of migration routes.
Photocredit to SIC ICSD
Special attention was devoted to legal aspects of natural resource use in buffer and protected zones of state nature reserves, particularly in the context of fire prevention and climate change adaptation. The participants examined existing environmental legislation of Turkmenistan related to the establishment of ecological corridors - both internal and transboundary - along animal migration routes.
As part of regional knowledge sharing, another SIC ICSD expert presented approaches used in neighboring Central Asian countries and analyzed prospects and priorities under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), with a focus on the role of ecological corridors in maintaining species migration pathways. Participants emphasized the need to harmonize national environmental regulations with the CBD’s Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.
An overview was also provided of the work conducted by the International Organization for the Conservation of Steppes and Deserts (IOCSD) and related international initiatives in Turkmenistan aimed at developing both transboundary and national ecological corridors to enhance ecosystem resilience and conserve regional natural heritage.
The initiatives and discussions presented during the roundtable are directly aligned with the priorities of the Regional Environmental Programme for Sustainable Development in Central Asia (REP4SD), in particular section 5.2.3, which focuses on the development of ecological corridors for migratory species. Participants underscored the importance of transboundary cooperation in protecting critical habitats, including within protected areas, as a key tool to ensure ecological connectivity and biodiversity conservation in the region. The implementation of such initiatives strengthens regional collaboration and advances Central Asia’s progress towards global environmental goals.
The event supports the achievement of:
| Priority Area No 5 of REP4SD dedicated to SDG 15: “Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems” |
| 5.2.2 strengthening scientific cooperation on restoration of rare and endangered plant and animal species, taking joint measures for their protection; |
| 5.2.3 development of ecological corridors for migratory species of animals and birds, transboundary cooperation on protection of key habitats, including protected areas; |
| 5.2.8 combating poaching in the border territories of the Central Asian countries. |