DUSHANBE, 02.03.2022 (NIAT Khovar) – Tajikistan forms about sixty percent of water resources in Central Asia and is the main location of glaciers in the region, where most of the water resources are formed, thereby playing an important role in ensuring sustainable water supply in the Central Asian region. This was stated yesterday by the Chairman of the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of Tajikistan Bahodur Sheralizoda at the fifth session of the UN Environment Assembly, which takes place at the UN headquarters in Nairobi.

Sheralizoda emphasized the initiative of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan to declare 2025 as the International Year of Glacier Conservation.

“Tajikistan appeals to the international community to establish an International Fund for the Preservation of Glaciers, through which efforts and resources could be mobilized for practical steps to conserve glaciers — the most important source of freshwater in Central Asia. despite the minimal contribution of our country on greenhouse gasemissions, Tajikistan in the updated version of the NDC in 2021 has made increased commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” added the Chairman of the Committee.

Sheralizoda informed those present that over the last 5 years more than 9 million trees have been planted in the country and this trend will continue in the coming years to increase Tajikistan’s carbon sequestration potential.

In addition, the total area of protected areas in the country has been increased from 2.8% in 1991 to 22% by 2021. In fact, the area of specially protected natural territories has been increased by 2.7 million hectares. Tajikistan intends to continue creating new protected areas to ensure the sustainable use of ecosystems and natural resources.