Central Asia encompasses Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, five countries positioned half-way between the Atlantic and the
Pacific, the Tien-Shan mountains and the Caspian Sea. The region is rich in
natural resources, which have been industrially exploited and processed for
decades, often leading to considerable environmental pollution and degraded
land. Decades of Uranium mining has left the region with poorly maintained
radioactive waste storage sites. Kazakhstan’s already high level of natural
radiation is increased by the remnants of nuclear test sites including the
famous Semipalatinsk nuclear testing ground. Current and historical industrial
pollution remains an environmental as well as a security threat throughout
the region. Also the dried-up Aral Sea will probably remind generations to
come that managing transboundary basins with many competing interests is not
an easy task.
The in-depth assessment of environment and
security risks in the Ferghana Valley was completed and published in 2005.
It is now the basis for an
extensive work
programme, which focuses on the management of land and water resources, pollution
from hazardous waste dumps and industrial activities, natural disasters,
and biodiversity issues. Continuing projects in the region include media
tour and
training courses for professional journalists raising awareness of environment
and security links in Central Asia, opening of Public Environmental Information
Centres, and supporting environmental journalism festivals. Projects on natural
disaster mitigation in local communities, capacity building of local environmental
laboratories for radioactivity analysis and monitoring, studies of hazardous
waste disposal and environment and health assessment are also currently being
carried out in the boarder regions of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
Other assessments
in Central Asia region will concentrate on the East Caspian region, and the
Amu-Darya river basin.
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Central Asia Publications
 ENVSEC
Work Plan for Central Asia in RUSSIAN 
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ENVSEC
Work Plan for Central Asia in ENGLISH
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Meeting
summary, Upper Amu Darya River Basin (Kabul 20-21
November 2007)
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Meeting
summary - East Caspian and Amu Darya consultations (17-18
September 2007 in Ashgabat) |
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Fifth Regional meeting of Oblast Environment Protection Departments
on “Environment and Security Programme” in Ferghana Valley (Hotel “Dostuk”,
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan 19 June 2007)
Also
available in russian
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Regional
Workshop on Natural Disasters Preparedness in Ferghana
Valley
(Hotel “Dostuk”, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan 20 June 2007)
Also
available in russian
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Third
Regional meeting of Local Environmental Authorities from
Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan (Ala-Archa
Residence, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
13 February 2006) - SUMMARY REPORT. UNEP, 2006.
Also
available in russian
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Ferghana
Valley Environmental Media Tour -
5 - 10 June 2005. UNEP,
2005. 
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 Environment
and Security:
Transforming risks into cooperation - Central Asia
- Ferghana / Osh / Khujand area. UNEP, 2005.
Also available
in russian
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Ferghana
Valley assessment and regional workshop (Osh, Kyrgyzstan,
3-7 December, 2004) -
Ferghana-Osh-Khudjand area -
INTERIM REPORT. UNEP, 2004.
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Environment
and Security Initiative: Transforming Risks into Co-operation
- Central Asia - Ferghana Triangle - BACKGROUND
PAPER ( 5.54 Mb).
UNEP, 2004.
Also
available in russian |
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 Environment
and Security - Transforming risks into cooperation. The
Case of Central Asia and South Eastern Europe.
UNEP, 2003.
Also
available in russian
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 Addressing
Environmental Risks in Central Asia: Risks, Conditions,
Policies, Capacities. UNDP, 2003.
This report assesses major environmental risks related to security and describes
the socio-economic context and the institutional and policy framework available
to address these in the five Central Asian countries.
Also available
in russian
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Background
Paper - Environment & Security in Central Asia
A brief introduction to the links between environment and security, and a discussion
of the issues of greatest relevance in Central Asia. Saule Ospanova, Alexander
Carius, and Jason Switzer. |
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Meeting
Summary: Defining Environment & Security in Central
Asia (366 kb) 
1st Regional Consultation, C Asia
Ashgabad, January 20-21, 2003 |
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Central Asia ENVSEC Projects
 In-depth field assessment of environment & security hot spots in the Ferghana – Osh – Khudjand triangle and adjacent areas - Completed [See also project website]
Rapid environment and health risk assessment of industrial hotspots - On-going
Establishment of environmental early warning system - Planned
Natural disaster preparedness and risk reduction for communities in high-risk districts in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan - On-going
Training in investigative journalism with respect to Environment and Security issues and linkages - On-going
Support to environmental festivals in Central Asia - On-going
Establishment of and support to Public Environmental Information Centres (“Aarhus centers”) - On-going
Uranium Waste and tailings Sites in the Ferghana Valley - On-going
Assessment and Mitigation of Seismic Risk in Tashkent, Uzbekistan and Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic - Completed
Sustainable Development of Ecology and Land and Water use through Implementation of a GIS and Remote Sensing Center in Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan - Completed
SEMIRAD I - Investigation of the Radiological Situation in the Sarzhal Region of the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site - Completed
SEMIREAD II - Investigation of the Radiological Situation in the Sarzhal Region of the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site - On-going
Study of Radioactive Waste Disposal Sites in Turkmenistan - On-going
Improved Land and Water Resource Management in the Upper Syr Darya Basin in the Context of Sustainable Development - Planned
ENVSEC Phase 1 assessment of Environment and security risks and opportunities in Central Asia - Completed [See also project website]
Ferghana valley web portal - On-going
Assistance to EECCA and SEE countries in implementing the convention on the transboundary effects of industrial accidents - On-going
In-depth assessment of environment and security hot-spots on the Eastern Caspian coast - On-going
Environmental Impact Assessment in a transboundary context: pilot implementation project in the Central Asia - Planned
Dam safety in Central Asia: capacity building and sub-regional cooperation - Planned
Enhancing regional exchange of water resource information (CAREWIB phase II) - Planned
Study of Radioactive Waste Disposal Sites in Turkmenistan - On-going
Integrated water resources management fir wetlands restoration in the Aral Sea basin - On-going
Central
Asia Maps & Images
ENVSEC
Maps
Central
Asia Resources
 Regional
Resources
UN
Agencies
 UNDP
Regional Bureau
for Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States
(RBEC)
UNDP
Central Asia Gateway
Environment
and Sustainable Development in Central Asia
INRIN - CENTRAL ASIA: Weekly news wrap
CIS-7
Initiative
Authorities
Central
Asia Task Force - Preparation of Regional Environmental action
International and National
Cooperation Agencies & NGOs
Central
Asia and the Caucasus Center
CENTRAL
ASIA - CAUCASUS ANALYST
IFES
- Central Asia
Institute
for War & Peace Reporting
International
Crisis Group (ICG)
OSCE (Organization
for Security and Co-operation in Europe)
OSCE Centre in Ashgabad
OSCE Centre in Astana
OSCE Centre in Bishkek
OSCE Centre in Dushanbe
OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan
Regional
Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC)
USAID
Central
Asian Republics
Central
Asia Natural Resources Management Program (NRMP)
Other
Central
Asia Water Info
 Kyrgyzstan Resources
Tajikistan Resources
Uzbekistan Resources
Central Asia Focal Points
Kazakhstan Alexander BRAGIN
Chief of department of legal policy and international cooperation
Ministry for Environmental Protection
8, 35 street, Ministerial House
010000 Astana
Tel: (7 3172) 74-00-73
E-mail: bragin@moos.kz
Kyrgyzstan Omor RUSTEMBEKOV
Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources
142 Gorkiy Street
720053 Bishkek
Tel: (996 312) 54 74 52
Fax: (996 312) 54 91 18
E-mail: demos@intranet.kg Maratbek MOLDALIEV
Attaché at the Department for International Organizations and Security Issues
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic
Tel: (996 312) 62 65 62
Fax: (996 312) 66 05 01
E-mail: summojin_83@mail.ru
Tajikistan Khakdodov MAKHMADSHARIF
Deputy Minister
Ministry of Energy and Industry
22 Ave. Rudaki
Tel: (992 372)21 43 98/ Mob. (992) 907 70 90 73
Fax: (992 372)21 82 81
Khusravbek MURODOV
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Third Secretary of the Department of International Organizations
22 Ave. Rudaki
Tel: (992 372) 21 15 04 / Mob. (992) 92 77 77770
Fax: (992 372) 21 02 59
Turkmenistan Timur BERKELIEV
59 Azadi Street
744000 Ashgabat
Tel: (99 312) 39 86 84
E-mail: berkeliev@gmail.com
Uzbekistan Ildar SHIGABUDDINOV
Head of Department working with International Organizations
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
9, Uzbekistan ave
700029 Tashkent
Tel: (998 71) 139 18 05
E-mail: ildars@yahoo.com Timur TILLYAEV
Head of Legal-Ecological Department
State Committee for Nature Protection
99, Amir Temur ave.
700084 Tashkent
Tel: (998 71) 135 78 64
Fax: (998 71) 135 16 65
E-mail: info@uznature.uz |
