Lost more than $300 million! The country needs to cure this "stubborn disease"

"The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification" (UNCCD) under the "Central Asia Control of Sand and Dust Storms and Arid Regions" project, "Turkmenistan's national strategy to reduce the risk of sand and dust storms", it is pointed out in the proposal that Turkmenistan is affected by sand and dust storms every year. The economic damage caused is estimated to be approximately $347 million. The purpose of the

proposal is to understand the long-term impact of sand and dust storms on different economic sectors and to eliminate their impact on the population, ensuring comprehensive and uniform implementation of the national policy on combating sand and dust storms.

It comprehensively analyzes and evaluates the manifestation and extent of dust storms. In addition, the document highlights the threat posed by dust storms to the sustainable development of the soil economy: impacts on agriculture, water resource management, infrastructure, industry and the health of residents.

According to the data provided by the document, only 1.7% of the territory is classified as mildly affected by sandstorms, 68.7% as moderate, 12.1% as severe, and 17.5% of the territory has no data.

Turkmenistan is the main place where dust storms occur. Red is the most dangerous and dark green is the least.

The main "focal points" of the dust storm are the western part of the soil, and the central and southeastern parts of the Karakum Desert.

Dust storms are the source of huge socio-economic losses. The damage is especially severe for agricultural practitioners. Short-term costs include sick animals, reduced crop yields, damaged engineered infrastructure and reduced transport efficiency. Long-term costs include soil erosion, ecosystem pollution, chronic health problems and desertification. The

proposal highlights some of the measures and actions that soil has taken to combat desertification. In particular, Turkey has planted 35 million trees in recent years, ratified the Paris Climate Agreement in 2016, and adopted the National Climate Change Strategy in 2019.

proposes an action plan to build systemic capacity, improve institutional capacity, implement effective and sustainable management of soil and dust storms, and strengthen cooperation between state agencies, local communities and natural resource users to reduce the impact of dust and sand storms on people Negative impact on life and national economy. In terms of international and regional cooperation, this document will become the main tool for Turkey to fulfill its obligations under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Source: Central Asia News Network

Compilation: Vika