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Name
of the project |
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Uzbekistan National Environmental Action Plan
(NEAP). 1998.
Tashkent-Washington. State Committee for Nature Conservation of the Republic
of Uzbekistan |
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Aim
of the project |
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·
improving environmental conditions for human
health; ·
promoting the efficient and sustainable use
of natural resources; ·
protecting the most vulnerable and valuable
ecosystems and species ·
to define a general strategy for the first
stage of the country’s transition to sustainable development by identifying
major environmental problems, setting priorities for action and building
adequate policy and institutional
frameworks |
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Financing Organization |
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The Swiss Confederation
and the World Bank. Technical assistance by the Swiss consulting firm
Infraconsult |
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Duration of the project |
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1997-1998 |
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Executors |
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The State Committee for
Nature Conservation (Goskompriroda) The Steering Board and
four Working groups |
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Results of the Study |
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The
Republic of Uzbekistan is located in the middle of Central Asia. More then
80% of the 445 square km of Uzbekistan is covered by plains. More than
23 million people live in the
country. Irrigated land (4,2 million hectares) supplies more than 95% of the
total agricultural output. About half of all arable land is saline. More than
22 million hectares of non-irrigated deserts, foothills and mountains are
used as pastures and hayfields. Average rainfall is 100-200 mm. The
available water resources of Uzbekistan total 59,2 km3. The
country has about 2 trillion cubic meters of gas reserves, over 2 billion
tons of coal and 160 oil fields. 30 hydropower plants with capacity of 9
billion kWh produce 15% of Uzbekistan’s power. Foreign experts estimate
mineral resources to be worth 3,3 trillion US Dollars. In Uzbekistan, the
flora consists of 15 thousand plant species, and 11 thousand animal species.
About 161 animals and 163 plants are registered in the country’s Red Book. In
1996, the country’s per capita GDR was 930 USD (at purchasing power parity -
2400 USD). About
half of the population of Uzbekistan lives in unsafe environmental
conditions, as a result of the economic activities of the country’s
development. The shrinking Aral Sea has become a symbol of environmentally
unsustainable agriculture practices and economic policies. Therefore, the
Government of Uzbekistan considers it important to integrate environmental
concerns into the process of the general political, economical and social
reforms being carried out in the country. The
main environment problems of Uzbekistan: a) the scarcity and pollution of
water resources, because of poor irrigation, management and the lack of
industrial and communal water treatment, which caused pollution of river
water, quality of drinking water, followed by water borne diseases of
population; b) extensive irrigation, overusing of agrochemicals have followed
by waterlogging, land salinization, wind and water erosion, decreasing croup
yield, the contamination of products, threatening to cultural world heritage;
c) large cities and transport air
polluted by emissions from industrial, energy and transport sources which use
leaded gasoline; d) municipal and industrial wastes, mining industry impact
environment, particularly ground water quality; e) desertification and
biodiversity loss in the Aral Sea zone, the Amudaria delta and pastures. The
NEAP gives the highest priority to least-cost measures, that mitigate the
direct negative impacts on environmental and human well-being. Overcoming the
hard economic and environmental consequences of over exploitation, over the
past several decades, land and water resources are the second priority for
the NEAP. Addressing a number of environmental and related problems (the Aral
Sea, desertification of the Amudarya delta, the loss of biodiversity, and the
deterioration of cultural heritage)
that have considerable national, regional and global significance in the
third NEAP priority. Implementation
of the priority actions, outlined in the NEAP, requires high political
commitment, targeted policies and adequate institutional support. The
development of environment legislation and institutional framework for
environmental management will require. It was developed integrated measures
for overcome of ecological crisis in the Aral Sea basin, mainly in
Uzbekistan. The main executive bodies are appointed with preliminary defined
financial sources, donor organizations for sustainable economical development
with improving environment situation. A Steering Board under the Cabinet of
Ministers is proposed to establish in order to coordinate the implementation
of the NEAP. |
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Contacts: |
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H.Weiss, T.Petrova 700128 Tashkent 7 Kadiry str. tel: 998-712
415132 E-mail:
tpetrova@neap.gimli.com |