А meeting on the theme «The problems of the Aral Sea is the imperative to the international cooperation»

The «ECOSAN»International organization held the International meeting on the theme
«The problems of the Aral Sea is the imperative to the international cooperation»
in the conference room of «Markaziy» hotel on the 22 of September, 2006

The members of the Senate and the deputies of the Legislative chamber of Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the heads of the ministries and departments, non-governmental organizations, as well as the ambassadors of foreign countries and heads of the resident offices of international organizations accredited in Uzbekistan and the mass media representatives took part in the work of the meeting.

The exhibition of information materials on the Aral Sea and the Aral Sea region was organized within the framework of the meeting.

The Chairman of the «ECOSAN» International organization Yusufjan Shadimetov opened the meeting and presented the introductory report. The chairman of the Committee on agrarian, water resources management and ecology of the Senate of Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan Gofur Aliev, Doyen, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Turkmenistan in the Republic of Uzbekistan Soltan Pirmukhamedov, the First deputy minister of health of the Republic of Karakalpakstan Atajan Hamraev, Acting first deputy chairman of the state committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan on nature protection Rahmatullo Habirov, Acting chairman of the International fund for saving the Aral Sea Usmon Buronov, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Republic of Uzbekistan Muhammad Fathali, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Czech Republic in the Republic of Uzbekistan Aleh Foitik, Deputy chairman of the Central department of water resources management of the Ministry of agriculture and water resources management of the Republic of Uzbekistan Umirhan Azimov, a member of the Executive committee of the International fund for saving the Aral Sea from Uzbekistan Serik Pernabaev made presentations on the agenda at the meeting.

As was pointed out in their presentations one of the global ecological problems of today is the problem of the desiccation of the Aral Sea. In recent 45 years the water level in the sea dropped by 1,7 times: from 53,4 m in 1960 to 30,72 m in 2004; the amount of water – by 9,6 times: from 1183 cubic km to 115 cubic km; the area of water – by 3,8 times: from 68,9 thousand square km to 17,6 thousand square km. The water salinity increased by 6-12 times. The sea moved back from its shores by 100-150 km leaving behind over 45 thousand square km of the former sea bed. Every year the saline desert emits into the atmosphere 75 million tons of toxic salt and dust. Caused by the hurricane the 200-300 km long and 30-40 km wide columns spread to far away territories. These transfers become one of the serious sources of the salinization of soils. At present more than 60% of irrigated lands in the basin of the Aral Sea are subject to salinization. There is a process of simultaneous reduction of biodiversity and the climate change. Thus, the Aral Sea secures the natural-climatic balance throughout the entire territory of Central Asia. Prior to 1960 the temperature of the air in January in the Aral Sea region was -6°C, in July +27°C. Nowadays the climate became sharply continental: the temperature of the air in summer reaches +47 +48°C in the shade, while in winter -24-40°C. The warm period shortened by one month. Early frosts became characteristic for the Aral Sea region. Now they start in mid September which harmfully influences the ripening of crops. These complicated problems caused a dramatic socio-ecological situation In the Aral Sea region, especially I the Republic of Karakalpakstan which is situated in the epicenter of the Aral Sea crisis.

In recent years this region is characterized by a sharp growth of oncologic diseases, as well as the diseases related to metabolism. There is a tendency of the growth of TB among the population, the thyroid gland diseases and anemia, especially among the women. The respiratory diseases remain at a high level among the children under one year.

The world community is not fully informed about the situation in the Aral Sea region. There are very few scientifically grounded data that give the explanation to the indicators of the health of the population of the Aral Sea region. Furthermore, even fewer people know that the ethnic group living in the epicenter of the catastrophe is under the threat of the change of the genetic fund.

At an unofficial meeting of the presidents of Central Asian countries in Astana it was decided to revive the work of the International fund for saving the Aral Sea and create the Information center of the Fund for the coordination of cooperation in the area of information communications. The participants of the meeting approved the decision which, if implemented, would create the possibility to inform the public of the complicated socio-ecological situation in the Aral Sea region, as well as what consequences the one-sided technocratic activity of people can lead to, when priority is given to economy without taking into account the possibilities of nature or fully ignoring its laws.

The impetus to the solution of the problems related to the desiccation of the Aral Sea was the meeting of heads of states of Central Asia in Kyzyl Orda in March 1993. The convention on joint actions for the solution of the crisis of the Aral Sea was signed at the meeting. The Interstate Council on the problems of the Aral Sea and its working body – the Executive committee, as well as the International Fund for saving the Aral Sea were created. This body, as well as the governments of Uzbekistan and other Central Asian countries supported by the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and other international financial institutions, governments and embassies of many countries, such as Belgium, Great Britain, Germany, Japan, Korea, Iran, Poland, Czech Republic, as well as the agencies of the UNO, European Union, UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO, «Counterpart International», USAID, the International Red Crescent organization, «Doctors without borders», the German agency for technical cooperation work hard for the solution of complicated socio-ecological problems of the Aral Sea region.

The participants of the meeting pointed to a special role of non-governmental non-commercial organizations in solving the social problems of the region, implementing a number of programs and projects in the area of the protection of the health of the population and environment, preservation and restoration of biodiversity.

For example, the active international work of «ECOSAN» in the area of environment and sustainable development, regular participation in forums and conferences, meetings with the heads of UN agencies, financial structures and NGOs enables to attract the attention of foreign investors to the problems of the Aral Sea region. In recent years quite a considerable amount of humanitarian aid from the USA, Japan, Germany, China, Russia, as well as from international organizations, the UN system, the World Bank, the Asian Bank was sent to the Aral Sea region for improving the life conditions of the population.

Five «ECOSAN» international missions visited the Republic of Karakalpakstan. In the course of their work the meetings with the leaders of the region, scientific-practical conferences on ecological problems, business meetings with the entrepreneurs, as well as presentations of social-ecological projects and eco-festivals were held.

To draw the public attention of Germany to the ecological problems of the Aral Sea basin, as well as the Republic of Karakalpakstan and Khorezm region the «ECOSAN» mission was in the Federative Republic of Germany in 2001. The contact workshop on the research cooperation in the area of environment, water resources and land use with the participation of a big team of specialists from innovation companies, research institutions and ecological organizations of Germany interested in cooperation with Uzbekistan in solving the above problems, first and foremost, in the Aral Sea region was held in Tashkent and Nukus in 2002. It was a logical continuation of the work on the introduction and the implementation of agreements reached in the course of the work of the above international mission. In the course of the contact workshop the representatives of more than hundred ministries, departments, enterprises and organizations, peasants and agricultural farms, private firms, public organizations and scientific institutions discussed with the German party the forms of further cooperation and the implementation of joint projects and programs.

Today «ECOSAN» together with the International center of ecological tourism «ECOSAN-TOUR» conducts the work in developing ecotourism in the Aral Sea region. For example, Khorezm and Karakalpakstan are the ancient cradles of civilization. Among thousands of archeological monuments the grandiose palaces and fortresses, beautiful temples and still unknown in the world at large the Devkesken swell are the prototype of the Great Chinese wall.

At the same time a complicated situation in the Aral Sea region requires additional measures, further joining efforts of the world community for decreasing a negative impact of on the environment and the health of the population of the complicated ecological problems of the region.

The «ECOSAN» projects to be implemented with the support of donors in the Aral Sea region were presented to the participants of the meeting. Also, a joint program of «ECOSAN» international organization, ministries and departments on providing financial and humanitarian aid to low-income families, health facilities and public education institutions in Muynak district of the Republic of Karakalpakstan – the epicenter of the Aral Sea crisis – was also presented. Besides, the priority areas of the development of cooperation and partnership in connection with the complicated socio-ecological situation in the region were also discussed.

The documents testify that in the nearest perspective the financial support for the continuation of works on improving water supply to remote and difficult to reach rural populated areas by boring wells and installing salt water distillers, purchasing water carrier automobiles and constructing distribution centers is required. The support of the project of micro crediting is important for a more efficient use of the resource potential and the creation of new jobs in the populated areas. It is also important to support the socially vulnerable and low-income families. Of priority character is the support of health facilities linked with the obstetric aid and the supply of children’s health facilities with nutrition, vaccines, medicine and medical equipment. A major component of cooperation is the provision of safe sanitary-epidemiological situation in the zones with the shortage of water supply and low incomes of the population.

The participants took a great interest in the exhibition on information materials on the Aral Sea and the region of the Aral Sea. It was organized by «ECOSAN», the State nature protection committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Agency of the International fund for saving the Aral Sea, the Institute of soil-studies and agro-chemistry of Goskomzemgeodezkadastr, the Academy of arts of Uzbekistan and the International center of ecological tourism «ECOSAN-TOUR».

ECOSANINFORM