TSPC News

TSPC AUCA has developed a National Action Plan for Countering hurricanes and dust and Sand Storms in the Kyrgyz Republic for 2021-2030

June 17, 2021

The Tian Shan Policy Center (TSPC) of AUCA is a long-term partner of the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Regional Development of the Kyrgyz Republic to study problems in the field of land degradation and prepare national reports of the UNCCD. Thus, in 2018, the AUCA TSPC prepared a National Report on the Neutral Balance of Land Degradation in the Kyrgyz Republic. In 2019 TSPC and a team of experts analyzed the causes of pasture degradation in the Suusamyr Valley. This year, AUCA prepared a National Action Plan for the Prevention and Response to Hurricane-force Winds and Possible Dust and SandStorms in the Kyrgyz Republic for the period 2021-2030.

 "It is very important to raise the topic of land degradation today, since June 17 is the Day to Combat Desertification and Drought. This day is celebrated annually and is intended to remind everyone of such problems as desertification and drought of the earth, as well as that land degradation can be stopped if the problem of wind erosion of soils is addressed in time and authorities, local governments, academia, experts and farmers are actively involved in the work.

The territory of Kyrgyzstan, due to its geographical location and protected by mountains, is not affected by dust and sand storms, as in other countries. However, in recent years, local short-term strong winds with dust are frequent, which reach the strength of hurricanes. Taking into account the potential danger of hurricane-force winds and possible future dust and sandstorms due to climate change, measures are being taken in Kyrgyzstan to prevent them. In particular, a National Action Plan for preventing and Countering hurricane-force winds and possible dust and sand storms for 2021-2030 was developed, " said Kanat SULTANALIEV, director of the Tian Shan Policy Center (TSPC) of AUCA.

The purpose of the National Action Plan is to attract attention and raise public awareness (information, advice) about the problem and danger of hurricane winds and dust-sand storms, to prepare the population at all levels for "meeting" with sand-dust storms, to teach methods of preventing and countering hurricanes and storms and their damage (land degradation, desertification) and to intensify actions at all levels.

1. study of the literature on the problem and the experience of other countries affected by storms;
2. assessment of vulnerable populations from hurricane-force winds and dust and sand storms;
3. development of specialized maps that reveal the problem and causes of desertification and drought, as well as related social and environmental problems (land degradation, the impact of dust on public health);
4. rethinking the problem and identifying priority actions at all levels of government and administration (central authorities and local self-government), for the agricultural sector (peasant farms and agribusiness), as well as for civil society;
5. development of new and updating of existing regulatory legal acts, as well as the development of effective policies to prevent and counteract hurricane winds, dust and sand storms, which will allow the use of economic incentives and administrative measures to influence inactive stakeholders.;
6. improving the coordination of actions between ministries, departments, local authorities, LGB(local government bodies), NGOs on measures to counteract winds and storms;
7. integration of national, sectoral, and regional development strategies and plans, taking into account international obligations under the UNCCD;
8. development of practical actions to prevent and counteract hurricane winds, possible dust and sand storms, which will be based on scientifically based agricultural technologies, innovations, and recommendations of scientists aimed at minimizing damage from them. Building a system of sustainable land management and sustainable water use with a neutral balance of land degradation (NBLD);
9. development of recommendations for the coordination of stakeholders and international cooperation, attraction of investment funds through international financial institutions.

The document was prepared within the framework of the regional project "Regional Approaches to Combating Sand and Dust Storms and Drought" with the support of the Secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the assistance of the Regional Environmental Center for Central Asia (RECCA).

This initiative of the UNCCD Secretariat for Central Asia aims to support the countries of the region in developing and implementing strategies to reduce the risks of DSS(dust and sand storms) and droughts at the national and regional levels and promotes coordination among government agencies working in the climate and environmental profile, academic communities, practitioners and local communities.

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