Project on Comprehensive plan for the restoration of degraded desert pastures in the Central Karakums and their sustainable management in conditions of increasing drought
Goal: Develop a sustainable Management Plan for Desert Pastures in the Central Karakums to enhance their productivity and ensure water supply, thereby supporting the local population engaged in desert livestock farming.
General Information about the Project Site: The project will be implemented on the territory of the "Yerbent" Farmers Association located in the Central Karakums of Turkmenistan. This area is characterized by typical desert vegetation and sharp seasonal fluctuations in forage availability. The pasture area covers about 800,000 hectares. The main activity of local communities is migratory desert livestock farming, which is entirely dependent on the condition of the pastures.
Project Objectives:
| 1. | Analysis of the state of pastures | Includes studying legislation, policies, and current issues in pasture relationships. |
| 2. | Assessment of pastures in the FA "Yerbent" | Ecological state, yield, degree of degradation, water availability, impact of climate changes. |
| 3. | Development of a sustainable Management Plan | Includes implementing pasture rotations, using GIS technologies, improving water supply (rehabilitation/construction of wells and sardobs). |
| 4. | Dissemination of management methods | Applying successful technologies in other similar regions of Turkmenistan. |
The project aims to create a sustainable pasture management system that will enable local communities to effectively use natural resources, increase productivity, and ensure stable water supply, significantly improving their well-being.
Photocredit to SIC ICSD on the consultations conducted with all interested parties (Yerbent, 2024)
The project delivered the following outcomes:
- A Comprehensive Plan for the Restoration of Degraded Desert Pastures in the Central Karakum and Their Sustainable Management under Increasing Drought was developed.
- A database was established for collecting and processing information on pasture use.
- A Training Module on Integrated Management of Desert Pastures was developed.
- A manual and informational materials on participatory pasture management were prepared.
- Video materials were produced to support knowledge dissemination.
- Trainings were conducted for local communities, including teachers and students, on the principles of sustainable pasture management.
- School libraries were provided with methodological literature to enhance the capacity of local communities.
Project publications:
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| Comprehensive Plan for the Restoration of Degraded Desert Pastures in the Central Karakum and Their Sustainable Management under Increasing Drought (in English and Russian) |
Training Module on Integrated Management of Desert Pastures |