Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- As part of the 21st session of the Committee for the Review of the UN Convention on Desertification (CRIC-21), a scientific conference was held in Samarkand with the participation of local and international scientists and experts in the field of ecology.

The event, which focused on the topic “Can a science-based, innovative approach to education and land management help mitigate the negative impacts of land degradation and sand and dust storms?” The Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change, Research Institute of Environment and Environmental Technologies, UNCCD (UN Convention to Combat Desertification) and representatives of the UNDP (United Nations Development Program), employees of 10 foreign research institutes, independent scientists and experts took part.

The impact of dust storms on the soil can be catastrophic. When dust moves with the wind, it can settle on the soil and cause significant damage. The applied dust can block light from reaching plants, which can result in plant death or poor yield. In addition, dust can contain toxic substances that enter the soil and can contaminate it. This can lead to a decrease in soil fertility and deterioration in the quality of soil cover.

Preventing dust storms is an important issue for agriculture and environmental protection. There are a number of methods that can help reduce the number of dust storms and limit their impact on the soil. One such method is to plant crops using seeding techniques that help keep the soil in place and prevent it from being destroyed by wind. You can also use cover crops such as buckwheat or flax to hold the soil in place and prevent erosion.

Between 2015 and 2019, annual losses of healthy and productive land amounted to at least 100 million hectares. In total, this is 420 million hectares, or 4.2 million square meters. km, which exceeds the total area of the five Central Asian states - Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. These statistics highlight the need for urgent action as advancing land degradation continues to destabilize markets, communities and ecosystems around the world.

According to the latest UN data, more than 20% of the total land area in Central Asia is subject to degradation, which is equivalent to approximately 80 million hectares - an area almost four times the size of Kyrgyzstan. This situation affects approximately 30% of the region’s population.

“The main issue of the event was focused on education, increasing the importance of science and innovative approaches in the fight against drought, land degradation and desertification,” said Bakhtiyor Pulatov, director of the Research Institute of Environmental and Environmental Technologies. “We informed foreign specialists about the work carried out in our country. They were impressed by the actions taken against desertification in the Aral Sea area, especially by the large number of saxaul plants planted. Today it is very important to conserve water resources in the fight against desertification. We also drew the attention of scientists to this topic.”

During the talks, it was noted that dust and sand storms are among the main issues to focus on.

“Innovation and new technologies are very important in the fight against desertification and drought. We looked at the biophysical and socio-economic aspects of different practices and issues such as identifying sand and storm hot spots,” said Feras Ziadat, a spokesman for the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization. “Our goal is to identify and eliminate the factors that cause sand and dust. Because this has a negative impact not only on Central Asia, but also on other continents. In particular, the sand and dust storm affected about 151 countries around the world.”

Dust storms pose a serious threat to the ecosystem. Firstly, they are able to penetrate the soil and pollute it, which leads to a decrease in fertility and deterioration of conditions for the growth and development of plants. Moreover, dust storms can carry a variety of harmful microorganisms and pesticides that mix with the soil and can harm living organisms, including microorganisms, insects and mammals.

Secondly, dust storms can also cause significant changes in the biodiversity of an ecosystem. They can lead to the death of plants and animals that cannot withstand the adverse conditions created by dust and pollution. This in turn can lead to population declines and even the extinction of some species.

During the event, representatives of universities and scientific institutions conducting research on environmental issues and desertification in Uzbekistan expressed their opinions and proposals. Also, representatives of the international organizations UNCCD and UNDP discussed the possibilities of cooperation and support in the field of combating dust and sand storms. In addition, measures to combat desertification in the Aral Sea were also on the agenda.

“Since our President of Uzbekistan raised the Aral problem at the UN podium, the world community has been paying serious attention to it. At today’s conference, issues of climate change, drying of seas, rivers, and land degradation were discussed. Information was presented on the planned and completed work to solve the Aral problem,” said Bakhitjan Khabibullaev, director of the International Innovation Center of the Aral Sea under the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change. “Currently, more than 1 million 700 thousand hectares of land are planted with saxaul. In the future, it is planned to plant saxaul annually on 200 thousand hectares of land,” he added.

As a result of the event, actions that need to be taken against desertification and drought in the future were identified.