Local and International experts discuss the aspects of stable management of pastures

Ashgabat hosted two-day seminar on stable management of pastures organized by the State Committee for Natural Protection and Land Resources together with German International Cooperation Society (GIZ) under regional programme “Sustainable Land Management, Climate Change Adaptation and Economic Development in Central Asia”. 

The meeting was aimed at elaboration of the regulations to the Law of Turkmenistan on Pastures. Representatives of National Parliament, the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Management, personnel of regional land resource departments as well as the State Project Institute “Turkmenertaslama” and National Institute of Deserts, Flora and Fauna, Institutes of Livestock Farming and Veterinary, Biology and Medicinal Herbs, private livestock farmers and members of non-governmental ecological organizations took part in the discussion. 

“Condition of the pastures and their rational use is one of the factors of sustainable development of livestock farming, - representative of the GIZ Regional Programme Sara Robinson noted. – This event is aimed at efficient dialog of the state, non-governmental and private natural resource users, exchange of the opinions as well as at the introduction of the practice of pastures protection practice in other countries to Turkmen specialists”. 

During the meeting, international experts presented the reports on land reforms in China, Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan and Switzerland. Professor of Ecological Management of Beijing University, Doctor Li Wenjun told about the results of twenty years of study of the lands used for livestock farming including in Tibet highlands, during which social and economic indicators like expenses on production and income from the livestock farming as well as losses due to high price for forage and impoverishment of the plantation have been analysed. Comparison characteristics of various management methods of pastures from voluntary communal use to the leasing have been presented. 

Presentation of the Pastures Management Expert of Alatoo Camp Social Fund Jyrgalbek Kijimberdiyev gave rise to interesting discussion. The expert told about pastures management mechanisms in Kyrgyzstan. For example, mapping, annual geodesic studies and pastures rotation are used for control of land degradation. The country refused using all kind of leasing in favour of sale of pastry tickets, which stipulate mandatory ecological activities. This is made under full monopoly of the State on lands owning and control of their conditions. The guest from Kyrgyzstan noted the pastures management in his country is built in a way to comply with ecological standards, to follow the interest of the State and to protect the rights of small livestock owners and shepherds as well as local residents, medicinal herbs pickers, tourists, etc. Two thirds of the fees go for the maintenance of highland and plane meadows. Catalogue of pastry vegetation has been published and unified database is formed up. 

Livestock farming is the leading branch of agricultural production in Mongolia, therefore, the practice of this country rose the interest of the participants of the seminar. Pastures Assessment and Monitoring Specialist Bayarma Chimedtseren highlighted that worsening condition of steppe meadows have shown that the number of grazing livestock has to be strictly regulated, while the management of the lands has to be under social control. The methods of management of the pastures are specific for each type starting from forest to desert and highland pastures. Rather simple system of steppes’ monitoring based on GIS technologies when photographing of controlled places gives the picture of pastures saturation with necessary amount of plants after computer editing is used. Received result allows understanding the intensiveness of use of these lands. 

Cross-reference consultations of specialized sectorial groups with the participation of international experts have turned into interesting conversation. Head Land Use Specialist of Ahal Department of the State Committee Jeparguly Hojaguliyev highlighted that the seminar gave opportunity to analyse the practice of the countries specialized in distant livestock farming. Private entrepreneur from Konegumbez village, Baharden etrap, Ahal Velayat, Director of Toranny Business Entity Kurbanmuhammet Abdurahmanov breeds non-stall cattle grazing it at mountain pastures rich with thick grass. He gave positive evaluation to detailed exchange of the opinions as quality of products and perspective of the development of private meat and dairy farms depends upon the condition of the pastures. 

Profile discussion of narrow group of the specialists, who are involved in the work for the improvement of national legislation in this sphere, was held on the second day of the seminar. Employee of Scientific and Information Centre of Interstate Committee for Sustainable Development, Candidate of Legal Sciences Yolbars Kepbanov has explained that development of regulatory and legal documents to the Law of Pastures is carried out in several directions. The utmost attention is paid to the leasing regulations, standard plans of pastures management, taxes and to “so-called” Charter of pasture users associations. The session has also been dedicated to the discussion of the methods and procedures of similar work and to the planning of further joint events.