Assessing the Economics of Land Degradation in Central Asia – Regional research and capacity building Oleg Guchgeldiyev Regional Coordinator, ELD CA UNCCD, ELD Secretariat 08.12.2018

ELD in Central Asia - Context High degree of LDD in the region: >50% of irrigated soils salinized Agriculture crucial for region‘s development TAJ: 21.3% of GDP based on agriculture; around 20% in TKM Main source of income in rural areas Ecosystem range from mountains to deserts and highlands Climate change severe affects the region 08.12.2018

ELD in Central Asia (general approach) ELD Umbrella Study for CA National ELD Study KAZ UZB TURK TADJ KIRG ELD Network Regional ELD Coordinator

ELD in Central Asia – an altitudinal approach Country Ecosystem Kyrgyzstan High land pasture Tajikistan Foothills and low mountains Kazakhstan Forestry & non-rain fed agriculture Turkmenistan Low lands pastures Uzbekistan Irrigated agriculture

ELD in Central Asia – an altitudinal approach Kyrgyzstan High land pasture 4 sites Tajikistan Foothills and low mountains 1 site Kazakhstan Forestry & non-rain fed agriculture 1 site so far Turkmenistan Low lands pastures 3 sites Uzbekistan Irrigated agriculture 87% of total agricultural land, 45% of total pasture (largest share), 35% of degraded Area of agricultural activities, 66% reducton of feed, increase of livestock by 25%, other activities 12,3 mln ha, high pressures from development and illegal logging 83% area, >18 million heads, largest ecosystem service Largest share, >50.4 c. km of water, 95% of total agricultural produce

ELD in Central Asia – A multi-stakeholder initiative ELD Umbrella Study for CA National ELD Study KAZ UZB TUK TAJ KRG Global ELD Network ELD Sec. Regional ELD Coordinator CAREC UNDP GIZ World Bank FAO CAREC ICSD GIZ NGOs ICARDA Forestry Scientific Innovation Institute „KazForestProject“ Institute, UNDP BioFin GIZ Flermonica State Agrarian University GIZ Flermoneca ICARDA Regional Office Union of Economists National Institute of Deserts, Flora and Fauna National Biodiversity Center Institute of Soils ^ GIZ Flermonica Cadastre Department CAREC (national project) Institute of pasture GIZ Flermonica

Partnering institutions Political level: Interstate commission on Sustainable Development of Central Asia National focal points of UNCCD Technical level: National experts and their institutions Technical specialized scientific institutions Similar projects 08.12.2018

ELD in Central Asia – Increased needs for capacity building Issues: Only local/national experts are involved Environmental economics, especially ES and CBA related, is new for the area Lots of initiatives, but foreign expertise-run But growing interest and positive experiences

ELD in Central Asia – Increased needs for capacity building ELD CA approach: Generate the capacity - by on- job training Regular learning and lessons- learnt meetings Involve national resources available Synergize with existing efforts\projects: Learn from each other

Implementation of ELD: Framing research with human capacity building Promoting a sound understanding of the economic importance of sustainable land management Facilitating the competence of economic assessments Training Assessment of losses from degradation and possible alternative pathways Based on local techniques and knowledge ELD Case study Communication of results Multi-scale approach: National & subnational Gap & needs analyses Focus: Pathways for policy implementation Stakeholder consultations 08.12.2018

Thank you! Oleg Guchgeldiyev oguich@yahoo.com 08.12.2018