Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, 23 December 2025 – The Scientific-Information Centre of the Interstate Commission on Sustainable Development (SIC ICSD) served as a co-organizer of a Round Table dedicated to the discussion of forest fund land restoration in the context of Turkmenistan’s obligations under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the achievement of Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) targets. The event was organized within the framework of the UNDP/GEF project “Conservation and Sustainable Management of Land Resources and Ecosystems of High Natural Value in the Aral Sea Basin”, implemented jointly with the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan, and brought together approximately 40 participants representing government institutions, research organizations, including the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan, the administrations (hyakimliks) of Dashoguz and Lebap velayats, the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, as well as international and civil society organizations.
The Round Table was held in the context of the preparation of national reporting under the UNCCD and the provision of comprehensive technical support to the UNCCD National Focal Point and key stakeholder institutions aimed at strengthening capacities for data collection, processing, analysis and reporting in line with international requirements. From a practical perspective, the discussions addressed approaches to working with different land-use categories, including forest fund lands. The event served as a platform for experience exchange among relevant institutions, identification of data gaps, and consideration of pathways to further strengthen the national system for monitoring land degradation and drought in support of Turkmenistan’s international commitments and the achievement of Land Degradation Neutrality targets.
Discussion of the monitoring and evaluation system in the forestry and land-use sector, photo credit to SIC ICSD
Additional emphasis was placed on the review of the updated Concept of the National Forest Programme of Turkmenistan for the period 2026-2030, which is regarded as one of the key instruments for enhancing environmental resilience, supporting climate change adaptation, and implementing obligations under the UNCCD. The discussion of the Concept was also linked to the broader national and regional context of activities in the Aral Sea basin and cooperation within the framework of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, including international knowledge exchange and the sharing of best practices.
During the sessions, participants examined issues related to the improvement of the regulatory and legal framework for forestry, the application of spatial mapping and remote sensing for the assessment of land conditions and drought, the development of public-private partnership mechanisms, the mobilization of investments, and innovative financial instruments, including the potential of carbon financing. Particular attention was paid to the role of the private sector, local authorities and sectoral institutions in the implementation of the National Forest Programme and the monitoring of its effectiveness.
Discussion of the monitoring and evaluation system in the forestry and land-use sector, photo credit to SIC ICSD
The Round Table concluded that the event contributed to strengthening the institutional and technical capacities of national stakeholders in the collection, processing and analysis of data required for fulfilling Turkmenistan’s obligations under the UNCCD and achieving LDN targets. Participants reached a shared understanding of priority areas for improving monitoring and evaluation systems in the forestry and land-use sectors, as well as the importance of inter-agency cooperation and coordination in the preparation of national reports.
The outcomes of the discussions and the agreed recommendations will be reflected in the official meeting report and will be used to further develop the national land degradation monitoring system, assess progress towards Land Degradation Neutrality, and support the preparation of Turkmenistan’s national reporting under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.
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” |
| 5.1.7 use of modern monitoring methods to account for flora and fauna species, ecosystem conditions, land resources. |
| Priority area No 6 of REP4SD dedicated to SDG 17: “Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development” |
| 6.1 Involvement of the region into implementation of global environmental conventions, programmes and initiatives. |