International Biological Diversity Day: Solutions for sustainable development

The UN Conference for Environment and Development, at which the Convention on Biological Diversity – the first global agreement on protection of natural resources and their sustainable development, has been agreed to be signed, was held in Rio de Janeiro on June 5, 1992. The goals of the Convention on Biological Diversity is to preserve biodiversity on all levels, to provide sustainable use of its components, to provide access to genetic resources and their joint use of fair basis. At this time, the Convention has been ratified by 196 countries.

May 22, the day of agreement and adoption of the Convention, was declared by the UN General Assembly by its Resolution for December 20, 200 as International Biological Diversity Day. Subject of 2021 “We are all a part of decisions” highlights importance of joint efforts and improvement of awareness about protection of biological diversity.

Our country has joined the Convention on Biological Diversity on June 18, 1996. For fulfilment of obligations of the Convention in 2000 – 2020 under joint projects of Global Ecological Fund (GEF) and the UN Development Program (UNDP), specialists have made and published National Reports, Strategies and Action Plans for protection of biological diversity of Turkmenistan.

The latest 6th National Report has been prepared and published in 2019. It gives evaluation of biodiversity and other natural resources, presents analysis of environmental protection legislation, reviews the system of the government management in environment protection, describes measures on implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity as well as threats for biodiversity, presents information about scientific, technical and educational potential of the country.

The second, updated National Strategy for protection of biological diversity, which was developed in 2015, determines the main directions in protection of biodiversity of Turkmenistan according to obligations to the Convention on Biological Diversity. In particular, these directions are aimed at protection of biodiversity, support and rehabilitation of ecosystems. According to updated National Strategy and Action Plan for protection of biological diversity, the achievement of stable balance between economic development, protection of biodiversity and uninterrupted functioning of ecological systems was defined as the main goals.

Development of further Strategy and Action Plan for Protection of Biodiversity with inclusion of objectives of the Global Framework Program in Biodiversity Sphere after 2020, which is to be adopted at regular 15th Conference of the Sides of Convention on Biodiversity in Kunming, China in October 2021, is another step in fulfilment of obligations of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization to the Convention on Biological Diversity (The Nagoya Protocol) has been adopted by the world community for fulfilment of the third goal of the Convention.

This document provides legal responsibility and transparency in provision and use of genetic resources for the suppliers and consumers.

Turkmenistan is within the limits of one of eight global centers of biodiversity of fruit trees while being a home for wild relative species of vine, pomegranate, fig, apple, par, pistachio, almond and other trees. Wild species of crop plants present valuable source for cultivation of crop plant species of modern selection and reliable genetic bank of the future. Joining the Nagoya Protocol makes conditions for implementation of international legal mechanisms in the country, which will provide benefits from the access and use of genetic resources.

At present time, the biological diversity of Turkmenistan is represented by more than 20,000 species – more than 7,000 plant species (3,200 of which are higher and almost 4,000 lower plants) and more than 13,000 animals (777 of which are vertebrates including 106 mammals, 436 birds, total number of taxa of amphibians and reptiles is 100 species and subspecies, 135 fishes and 1 species of cyclostomata). There are also 12,000 invertebrate species including not less than 8,000 insects.

Issues related to study of rare and endangered species, development of the strategy of their preservation have special importance in the last few decades. Extinction of such species as Caspian tiger, cheetah, and scaly-bellied woodpecker from the fauna of Turkmenistan in the XX century has become a serious loss for our gene pool and caused the reduction of biodiversity. Preparation and release of the third release of the Red Book of Turkmenistan in 2011, which included 149 animals (including 104 vertebrates and 45 invertebrates) as well as 115 plants and fungi, shows the currency of the problem of preservation of rare species.

Despite the conducted work, human factor remains one of the first limiting the restoration of number of ungulates, including mountain sheep, ibexes and Central Asian gazelle. In this aspect, the situation with Turkmen kulan remains very complicated. Studies made in the last years show that total population of this species does not exceed 60 – 70 animals. Immediate measures for enforcement of protection of biodiversity in the places of their natural habitat are required in current situation.

Creation and support of the system of specially protection natural territories are priority objectives in protection of biodiversity. This, existing network of specially protected natural territories of Turkmenistan occupies 2,152,360 hectares or about 4.38 % of total area of the country. There are 9 natural reserves, 16 natural sanctuaries and 17 natural monuments in Turkmenistan; more than 2/3 of entire biodiversity is concentrated in specially protected natural territories.

50 Key Ornithological Territories (KOT/IBA), which are the part of the World Network of Birdlife International Association, have been specified and described. Total area of KOT/IBA is represented by 5,467,752 hectares which is 7% percent of the country’s territory. According to the Law of Turkmenistan on Natural Protection, the Key Ornithological Territories are defined as a variety of specially protected natural territories, although full scale protection activities have not been carried out in these places.

The country has accumulated big experience of cooperation with executive agencies of the UN and other international organizations. With financial support of Global Ecological Fund, UNDP, Royal Society for Protection of Birds, UK, Michael Sukkoff Fund, Germany, International Climate Initiative, Norwegian Institute for nature Research (NINA), Snow Leopard Foundation, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and other partners, implementation of number of joint projects for protection of biodiversity, sustainable management of forest, pasture and land resources, fulfilment of international obligations in protection of biodiversity for sustainable development is continued in the country.