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

2. 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

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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. Thank you!
Oleg Guchgeldiyev