Visual Atlas of cooperation

VISUAL

ATLAS OF COOPERATION

AFGHANIStAN AND TAJIKISTAN

ENVIRONMENT AND HYDROLOGY IN THE UPPER AMU DARYA BASIN

© Zoї Environment Network 2013 Published in association with UNECE This publication has been made possible by the generous support of the Government of the Russian Federation.

This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part in any form for educational or non-profit purposes without special permission from the copyright holders, provided acknowledgement of the source is made.

No use of this publication may be made for resale or for any commercial purpose whatsoever without prior permission in written form from the copyright holders.

The views expressed in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect views of the partner organizations and governments.

The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. We regret any errors or omissions that may unwittingly have been made.

Cartography: Matthias Beilstein Editorial and production team: Otto Simonett, Viktor Novikov, Maria Libert, Geoff Hughes Contributors and reviewers: Anvar Khomidov, Firuza Illarionova, Nickolai Denisov, Emmanuelle Bournay, Carolyne Daniel, Lesya Nikolaeva, Bo Libert, Khairullo Ibodzoda, Talbak Salimov, Neimatullo Safarov, Tatiana Novikova, Makhmad Safarov, Bozor Rakmonov, Karimzhon Abdualimov, Ilhom Rajabov, Begmurod Makhmadaliev, Kodir Boturov, Jalil Buzrukov, Gulniso Nekushoeva, Sulton Rakhimov, Anvar Kamolidinov, Subhon Davlatov, Manuchehr Khojiev, Azizullah Omer, Sultan Mahmood Mahmoodi, ­Fazel Haq Bokhtari, Ghulam Hassan Amiry, Ghulam Nabi Khorami, Naseer Ahmad Fayez, Saleh Keshawarz Mohammad, Iskander Beglov, Melis Christian, Nara Luvsan, ­Andrew Scanlon, Laura Rio, Martin Mergili, Martina Barandun, Oleg Shipin, Igor Klein, Birgit Mannig, Katy Unger-­Shayesteh, Stefan Michel.

Cover photo: Panj River © Martin Mergili While the Panj River separates Afghanistan from Tajikistan, it is also bringing the countries together in transboundary cooperation on environmental and hydrological issues of mutual concern.

ISBN: 978-2-940490-14-1 1st edition, updated, July 2013

Produced by: Zoї Environment Network International Environment House Chemin de Balexert 9, CH-1219 Chatelaine Geneva, Switzerland Tel +41 22 917 8342 Email: enzoi@zoinet.org www.zoinet.org

VISUAL

ATLAS OF COOPERATION

AFGHANIStAN AND TAJIKISTAN

ENVIRONMENT AND HYDROLOGY IN THE UPPER AMU DARYA BASIN

acknowledgements

contents

Preparation and production of the atlas involved the review of a broad range of information sources and GIS data, and the engagement of local and foreign experts in fields stretching from foreign policy to hydrometeorology. It would not have been possible to gather the wealth of information and photography for the Atlas without the input of the more than 30 contributors.

6 7 8 9 10 12 13 14 14 15 16 17 17 35 37 39 41 42 43 43 45 47 50 51 54 54 55 55 56 58 59 61 63 64 66 69 71 73 74 75 75 77 79 81 83 84 86 91

Presentations and other materials from the bilateral meetings, “Environment and Hydrology Cooperation between Afghanistan and Tajikistan”, held in Dushanbe and Kabul in 2012 and 2013, and other data collected under the UNECE project, “Strengthening Cooperation on Hydrology and Environment between Afghanistan and Tajikistan in the Upper Amu Darya River Basin”, have been used extensively in the preparation of the atlas.

The producers of the atlas thank all contributors and their organizations in the two countries of the Upper Amu Darya basin for providing their time and expertise. In Afghanistan the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Energy and Water, the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, the National Environmental Protection Agency participated in consultation and review of the atlas. In Tajikistan, inputs and comments to the atlas were provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Environmental Protection and Forestry under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and its Hydromet Service, the Tajik Biosafety and Biodiversity Centre, the Ministry of Water Economy and Land Melioration, Tajikistan’s IFAS branch, NGO “Nature Protection Team” and others.

Special thanks are due to senior officials and members of the Afghan-Tajik workgroup, who have monitored the atlas production and provided advice from a professional perspective.

At the UNECE Secretariat, supervision was provided by Bo Libert and Andrey ­Vasilyev, and draft atlas sections were reviewed by Marton Krasznai, Batyr Hajiyev and Iulia Trombitcaia.

Firuza Illarionova and Anvar Khomidov coordinated the review process of the various drafts and guided local contributions and inputs.

Matthias Beilstein, Emmanuelle Bournay and Viktor Novikov at Zoї Environment Network worked long and hard on the research and preparation of the atlas’s maps and graphics.

Maria Libert made the atlas visually appealing and Geoff Hughes aided in a team effort to make the atlas easy to read.

Thanks for the contribution of the outstanding photographs to: Martin Mergili, Lawrence Hislop, Oleg Shipin (photos taken under the DelPHE programme on environment in Northern and Central Afghanistan), Laurie Ashely, Stefan Michel, Vlad Ushakov, Sergey Illarionov, Anvar Khomidov, Neimatullo Safarov, Viktor Novikov (see p. 89 for photo credits). Three satellite images (dust storm in northern Afghanistan, Fedchenko glacier and Medveji glacier) are sourced from NASA Visible Earth.

Foreword About This Atlas Preface The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Preface The Republic of Tajikistan Introduction to Afghanistan and Tajikistan Introduction to the Aral Sea Basin Introduction to the Amu Darya River Basin The Shrinking Aral Sea Regional Land and Water Issues Regional Climate Change and Natural Disaster Impacts Introduction to the Upper Amu Darya River Basin Population Infrastructure People and the Economy Landsat Image of the Upper Amu Darya Basin from Space Landscape Diversity Land Cover Main Ecosystems Ecological Footprint and Impacts on Ecosystems Species Diversity and Habitat Conservation Flagship and Migratory Species Protected Areas International Biodiversity-related Agreements and World Heritage Sites The Aichi Biodiversity Targets 2011–2020 Average Temperature in January Average Temperature in July Annual Precipitation Meteorological Stations Global and Regional Climate Change Future Regional Climate Projections Climate Change Impacts on Glaciers and Rivers Climate Change Concerns and Vulnerability Glaciers Fedchenko Glacier Medveji Glacier River Density and Hydrological Monitoring Network Watersheds Groundwater, Rivers, Lakes and Reservoirs Annual River Flow Environmental Factors Controlling Floods Sarez Lake Flood Risk Scenario Extreme Weather Events and Natural Disasters Impacts of Natural Disasters Key Environmental Concerns Regional Cooperation on Hydrometeorology and Environmental Protection Priority Areas for Cooperation References Photo Credits

Amu Darya basin

FOREWORD

about tHIS ATLAS

Economic development and natural resource management are top priorities for cooperation between the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Republic of Tajikistan. For both countries the adequate knowledge and sharing of information about natural resources and hazards are important.

Maps, graphics and photographs are a rich and effective way of depicting the environment and ongoing ecological changes, but such visual presentations can tend to make the environment seem a bit simpler or more ideal than it may really be. This atlas makes no claim for either completeness or objectivity: something is always omitted and someone – photographer, cartographer, analyst, writer and editor – always makes a decision about what to include or exclude. But while this atlas may be unavoidably subjective in some respects, it strives to be accurate and useful.

Afghanistan shares the Aral Sea basin with the other Central Asian countries – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. While water and environmental cooperation is established among the latter countries, there is limited cooperation with Afghanistan. The Upper Amu Darya basin is shared by Afghanistan and Tajikistan and efforts of the two countries to develop cooperation on hydrology and environment are much welcomed.

The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) decided in 2011 to initiate a project within the framework of the United Nations Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia to support the cooperation between Afghanistan and Tajikistan on environment and water issues. The project builds on the principles of the UNECE Convention on Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes and other UNECE environmental conventions. Funding was kindly made available by the Government of the Russian Federation.

The UNECE Water Convention is currently the only international legal framework in force governing the management of transboundary water resources. The implementation of the convention has led to significant improvement in transboundary water management in the UNECE region, making it the most advanced in this respect worldwide. The Parties amended the convention in 2003 to open it up to non-ECE countries. It is expected that non-UNECE countries such as Afghanistan will be able to accede to the convention at the end of 2013.

Neither Afghanistan nor Tajikistan is a Party, but some of the core principles of the convention are applied in the UNECE project to support bilateral cooperation.

Zoї Environment Network, a nongovernmental nonprofit association based in Switzerland, has contributed to ­UNECE water assessments and helped facilitate implementation of UNECE and United Nations conventions in Central Asia. Based on this work and Zoї’s previous work with Afghanistan, the organization was invited to assist in the facilitation of the AfghanTajik cooperation process. In the development of this atlas, Zoї’s special talents for presenting environmental issues visually have been of particular value.

A bilateral meeting was organized in March 2012 in Dushanbe to discuss common priorities and the institutional platform for cooperation. The lack of broadly available information on water and the environment was identified as an impediment. It was decided to develop an atlas with contributions from the two countries to provide an accessible, substantive background for the further development of bilateral cooperation.

With 100 photos and 50 maps and graphics based on official sources and original research, this well-illustrated atlas presents information at the river basin – as opposed to the national – level, and portrays challenges from the regional rather than the country perspective. With the objective of supplementing information already available in each of the countries, the atlas is designed to help local policymakers and experts as well as readers outside the region, donors and the international community understand the basin’s natural resources, common needs and priorities. It starts with brief introductions to the countries, illustrates the Amu Darya River basin as a part of the Aral Sea basin and provides details on the Upper Amu Darya.

Physical and social geographers, water scientists, policymakers and practitioners define the borders of the Amu Darya River basin according to different criteria. This atlas uses a combined approach that fits several of the definitions. Geographically, the beginning of the Amu Darya River is the confluence of Vakhsh and Panj rivers, and all areas above this point belong to the Upper Amu Darya. At the same time, the river basin definition in Afghanistan considers the Kunduz River as part of the Upper Amu Darya so the atlas takes this into account. While the Kofarnihon River in Tajikistan and the Khulm and Balkab rivers in Afghanistan have many common environmental and social characteristics with the Upper Amu Darya basin, they are not part of it in the context of this atlas and therefore not covered in detail.

Ride a donkey on breathtaking mountain trails or take a boat down rapid rivers in the Upper Amu Darya basin and you will hear the same valley, river or place called by different names.

The spelling of geographic names (rivers, lakes, mountains, settlements, places of interest) in this atlas generally follows the internationally accepted and well-known names, and reflects local names in common usage in both countries, based on reviewers’ comments.

The atlas includes several two-page illustrations, some with maps coupled with graphics, diagrams, photographs and text captions to create a compelling and visual presentation of information, and to provide readers a broader understanding of the priority environmental issues and trends in a geographic context. Maps with photographs are visualized narratives of selected atlas themes, such as land cover, climate change or natural disasters.

Many maps have shaded-relief backgrounds to provide a sense of terrain. Selected features (mountain summits and chains, main rivers, cities and villages) are labelled. Rivers, lakes and wetlands are mainly shown in blue, but sometimes in gray or another colour to fit the overall design. Within a map, featured places and issues are illustrated in colour, while adjacent areas are shown in little detail. In most cases a vertical header gives the title of the map.

The original maps were designed mainly for standard-sized A4 (210 x 297 mm) and A3 (297 x 420 mm) formats, although the digital version of the atlas allows readers to zoom to print the desired size. The scale and size of all maps correspond to the amount or complexity of the information shown on the maps or the visuals within the maps. Detailed references for all maps and other data used in the atlas are provided in the Reference section. Suggestions or comments regarding the atlas contents and its further evolution and improvements are welcome.

PrefacE ‒ The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Most people in Afghanistan depend on natural resources as the backbone to their livelihoods.

Therefore, protection and proper management of natural resources, water being the most valuable, is key for job creation, the improvement of people's livelihoods and poverty alleviation.

Afghanistan is an upstream country of the Amu Darya River basin. After Tajikistan, Afghanistan produces the second-largest quantity of water flowing into the basin from its highland areas. However, due to the past three decades of war, Afghanistan has not had the opportunity to manage its water resources properly, which explains why Afghanistan uses the least water from this basin. Concurrently, due to global warming, climate change and inconsistent patterns of rainfall, the region has experienced seasonal floods and droughts that have caused widespread damage across the region in recent years. Similarly, devastation of vegetation cover in the basin, especially in the upstream areas, is also one of the main factors leading to increased flood occurrences, causing catastrophic destruction of the environment and infrastructure in Afghanistan. Therefore, the restoration of vegetation cover in the Upper PanjAmu Darya River basin is one of our main priorities.

Furthermore, due to the decades of war, the hydrological network of the country has been completely destroyed and thus we are faced with a shortfall of the hydrological data necessary for hydrologic studies and analyses. This issue has created problems in the planning and management of water resources and is a serious limiting factor in flood and drought forecasting and warning systems. In order to address this problem, the rehabilitation of a number of hydrological networks and activities, including the renovation of some hydrological stations, has resumed after a long suspension from 1980 to 2007. We hope that with data exchange between Tajikistan and Afghanistan, we will be able to develop and implement flood and drought warning systems. Together through our mutual cooperation efforts, we can work to decrease the negative impacts on our countries.

Afghanistan has deep historical and cultural ties with Tajikistan. The Panj-Amu Darya River basin forms the geographical border between the countries, and it has been a border of friendship and brotherhood throughout history.

Presently, both countries are faced with major challenges resulting from negative impacts of climate change, loss of important ecosystems and biodiversity, exponential population growth and the resultant increased demand for water and energy by the upstream communities of the Amu Darya River basin on both sides of this shared water boundary. We need to address these problems jointly.

The inhabitants of the mountainous areas that form the upper parts of the basin have inherited the land and water resources from past generations who have lived and worked in these areas for hundreds of years, guaranteeing a sound and sustainable subsistence-based economic situation and environmental sustainability. Therefore, it is the responsibility of both our nations to continue to protect our natural resources properly against the threats of climate change and population growth, through joint cooperation, and to make sure that we use our natural resources sustainably so that future generations can also use and benefit from them as we are doing now. This is why we support the expansion of our cooperation efforts with Tajikistan in the field of natural resources protection, especially in the Upper Panj-Amu Darya River basin. Fortunately, based on several previous meetings, both sides have expressed a strong interest and belief in this joint cooperation.

The joint development of the Upper Panj-Amu Darya River basin atlas is tangible evidence of this cooperation between our two countries in the areas of environmental protection and hydrological data improvement. And we hope that this cooperation will be further expanded in

the future, and that both countries will take the next steps for cooperation with other regional partners in the Panj-Amu Darya River basin.

The Afghan side would like to express its gratitude to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and other supporting international institutions for their efforts in facilitating joint cooperation between Tajikistan and Afghanistan regarding environmental protection, hydrological monitoring and rehabilitation and sustainable development of the Upper Panj-Amu Darya River basin. We hope for the continuation of such support and cooperation of the UNECE for both countries.

Eng. Shojauddin ZIAIE Deputy Minister for Water Sector, Ministry of Energy and Water

PrefacE ‒ The Republic of Tajikistan The United Nations General Assembly declared 2013 the United Nations International Year of Water Cooperation. To mark the year, Tajikistan will host an international conference in Dushanbe. The timely release of this atlas of cooperation, which demonstrates the complexities of transboundary water issues, adds to the celebration. As the country responsible for most of the water in the Amu Darya basin, Tajikistan appreciates the international approach to the use and monitoring of international rivers.

Warm neighbourly relations in the greater Central Asia region are essential to the security, stability and development of the region. A new era of Afghan-Tajik relations builds on the connections established through energy, roads and communications. Both countries can reinforce these trends through cooperation on environmental issues.

Tajikistan has a well-developed network of protected areas, some of which are on the border with Afghanistan where migratory species move between the countries. Biodiversity conservation is one of several areas that will only improve through cross-border cooperation.

Hydrological knowledge and observations will improve through strengthened cooperation on water resources, as will the responses to natural disasters and the planning for climate change adaptation.

The agreement on cooperation on the development and management of water resources of the Panj and Amu Darya Rivers, signed on 25th October 2010 by the Ministers of Foreign ­Affairs in the presence of the Presidents of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, represents an important milestone of cooperation between the two countries.

Now, Tajikistan is increasingly engaging with Afghanistan on more practical matters – bilateral meetings, the exchange of knowledge and the establishment of task forces and expert groups on environmental and hydrology issues. The countries are currently discussing matters of biodiversity, climate change, and energy. We have shared this common river border for centuries. Together we now see our common interests in economic and environmental cooperation, and can envision such cooperation extended throughout Central Asia.

We welcome all readers to participate in whatever ways they can to support the cooperation between the countries, and we look forward to a bright, shared future.

Dr. Talbak SALIMOV Chairman of the Committee on Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan

d

Pa nj

Kofarniho

Vakhs h

kc ha

Swat

Pa nj

z

Kun du

Chi tral

Ku na r

Swat

lum Jhe

Sargodha

Pis hin L

or

a

Quetta

Ind u

Dera Ghazi Khan

vi

Multan

ley Sut

Elevation in metres 4000 3000 2000 1500 1000 500

C H I N A

U ZBEKI STAN T U R K M E N I S TA N

TAJ I KI STAN

C H I N A

A F G H A N I S TA N I R A N PA K I S TA N

A F G H A N I S TA N

I N D I A

I R A N I N D I A

28.7% 28.6%

1.1% 1.1% 0.7% 0.7% 2.7% 2.7%

95.5% 95.5%

Vegetables Vegetables

FAOSTAT (faostat3.fao.org), data for 2011 Source: FAOSTAT (faostat3.fao.org), data for 2011 Jhang Source: i v a R

Elevation current U.S. dollars per capita in metres ley Sut 4000 3000 Arable land, hectare 2000 per capita Source: WB World Development Indicators, data for 2010 Source: WB World Development data for 2010 1500 Indicators, Bahawalpur 1000 500

57.5% 57.5% 5.1% 5.1% 8.7% 8.7%

Area bymain maincrops: crops:2 950 2 950 thousand Area occupied occupied by thousand ha ha

Arable land, hectare per capita

GrossDomestic Domestic Product Gross Product

900 900

3535

AFGHANIST AN Afghanistan

0.11 0.11

Population Growth persons, million persons, million

Tajikistan TAJIKIST AN

Area occupied bybymain ha Area occupied maincrops: crops:715 715 thousand thousand ha

0.23 0.23

current dollars per capita current U.S.U.S. dollars per capita

Population growth

3030

700 700

Ancient crossroads from India and China to Europe and the ­Middle East pass through the Afghan-Tajik region of the Amu Darya. The populations here are ancient, too, and mainly rural. The mountain areas are still home to numerous sub-ethnic groups with their own languages and traditions. Problems common to both countries include poverty, energy deficits, vulnerability to natural disasters, and environmental stress and the scarcity of natural resources due to growing populations. Cooperation between the countries can reveal common solutions.

2525

600 600

AFGHANIST AN Afghanistan

500 500

2020

400 400

1515

300 300

1010

200 200

5

100 100

PA K I S TA N

1 0

Roots Roots and tubers tubers

800 800

KYR GYZSTAN

TAJIKISTAN

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Multan

K A Z A K H S T A N

KYR G YZS TA N

Jammu

Faisalabad

Gujranwala

Land areaarea: considered: 586 thousand Land 13 996 13 thousand ha ha

Faisalabad Ra

28.5% 27.7%

nab he

Cereals (inc.Lahore rice) Cereals (inc. rice)

Dera Ismail JammuKhan

K A Z A K H S T A N

TURK M E NIS TA N

m

Gujranwala C Sargodha Main crops Main crops

Amritsar Lahore

Bahawalpur

UZBEKISTAN

lu Jhe

P A K I S T A N ‫ﭘــــﺎ ِﻛــــﺴــــﺘــــﺎ ن‬

Dera Ismail Khan

64.2% 65.2%

47% 47%

Land area 63 thousand 873 thousand Landconsidered: area: 65 223 ha ha

Jhelum

s C

40.6% 40.6%

Rawalpindi

l um Jh e Srinagar

nab he

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Arable Arableland land Permanent crops Other land K a s h m i r Permanent crops Other land Source: FAOSTAT (faostat3.fao.org), data for 2011 m data for 2011 Source: FAOSTAT (faostat3.fao.org), u l Jh e Srinagar

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Islamabad ‫اﺳﻼم آﺑﺎد‬

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and Helm

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6.3% 6.1%

Land use Land use

Mongora Mardan

1%1%

12.2% 12.2%

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Islamabad ‫اﺳﻼم آﺑﺎد‬

s

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Kabul

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TAJIKISTAN Tajikistan

AFGHANISTAN Afghanistan

0.2% 0.2%

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Farkhor Kunduz ‫ﮐﻨﺪز‬

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Sur k

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Karakum Canal

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Feyzabad

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‫ﻃـــﺎ ﺟـــﻴـــﻜـــﺴـــﺘـــﺎ ن‬

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Denov

Osh

Ferghana

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T ‫ﺷﺮیﻒ‬ A J‫ﻣﺰا ِر‬I

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KYRGYZSTAN

‫ن‬

Sheberghan Panjakent

Meymaneh

rya

Isfara

kc ha

An d kh

Mary

Da

Termiz

P

Kulob

Farkhor

Balkh

Safid

TURKMENISTAN ‫ﺗـــﺮ ﻛـــﻤـــﺎ ﻧـــﺴـــﺘـــﺎ ن‬

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Kokand

Khujand

Jizzakh

Shahrisabz

Karshi

Farah

Gulistan

oi

Navoiy Za rafsh an Bukhara Samarkand

Turkmenabat

Tejen

Sy rD

Atamyrat

Namangan Qurghonteppa

Almalyk

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ab Murg

Desert

Karakum Canal

U Z B E K I S T A N ‫أ و ز ﺑـــﻜـــﺴـــﺘـــﺎ ن‬

Mary

Map produced by ZOÏ Environment Network, March 2013

Tejen

Denov

rya

Vakhs h

200 km

100

Tejen

introduction to Afghanistan and Tajikistan

0

Da

Vahdat

Introduction to Afghanistan and Tajikistan

TURKMENISTAN ‫ﺗـــﺮ ﻛـــﻤـــﺎ ﻧـــﺴـــﺘـــﺎ ن‬

‫دوﺷﻨﺒﻪ‬

Am u

0 0

2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010

Source: WB Indicators Source: WBWorld World Development Development Indicators

0

TAJIKIST AN Tajikistan

5

0

1990 1990

1992 1992

1994 1994

1996 1996

1998 1998

2000 2000

2002 2002

Source: U.S.U.S.Census (www.census.gov/population/international/data/idb/) Source: Census Bureau Bureau (www.census.gov/population/international/data/idb/)

2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012

11

Lake Balkhash Aral Sea

Beyneu

Ili

Seasonal Aral Sea

Baikonur

K

A

A r a l K u m

Kokcha

Prospective expansion of irrigation

Average discharge (km3/year) 5

Other rivers: 6

5 Measuring point

z

Irrigated lands

Kabul

Hari Rud

Indu s

na he

Mashad

Elevation in metres Irrigated areas

3 000 2 000 1 000 500 200

Main glacier areas

Effects of water uses on quantity, quality, timing and sediments

um Ca na l

Sabzevar

Reuse of drainage

Map produced by ZOÏ Environment Network, November 2010 Source: CA Water Info (→ www.cawater-info.net)

C

500 km

250

es e r t

Turkmenabat

Denov

a

Atamyrat Tejen

Sherabad

Mary

0

alk

Water harvesting (or small tanks) on a downstream dam

Cities on irrigation wells (out-pumping)

Quality

Cities, industries and large-scale irrigation on public health and farming in downstream regions

Diffuse pollution from agriculture and waste on drinking water supply

Cities on groundwater used in pumping irrigation (contaminating)

Timing

Large-scale hydropower on large-scale irrigation and natural ecosystems

Small tanks on onset of seasonal floods and natural ecosystems

Hydropower generation on wetland ecosystems

Sediments

Large-scale deforestation on the main rivers and reservoirs

Overgrazing and erosion on reservoirs (siltation)

Dams retaining silt on fertilization of downstream floodplains

Quantity

12

Upstream diversion schemes and large dams on downstream irrigation

Point, large-scale user or intervention

Deep water wells on shallow water wells Diffuse agricultural pollution on village groundwaterbased water supply Water harvesting on runoff and downstream groundwater recharge Diffuse deforestation on silt load in the rivers and delta alterations

Diffuse, small-scale, scattered users or interventions Graph adapted from UNESCO’s 3rd World Water Development Report (2009)

b ha

AFGHANISTAN Herat

Hari Rud

Kunduz

n Ku

H

i

Bamian

P a m i r

Murgab Murgab

Lake Sarez

a kc h Ko

n

d

u

K

u

s

h Gilgit Chitral

Mongora Srinagar

PA K I S TA N Islamabad

Jalalabad

IN D IA

Peshawar

Rawalpindi

Ghazni

Map produced by ZOÏ Environment Network, March 2013

Bannu

Humans interfered little in the Amu Darya before the 1950s when massive irrigated agriculture began in the ­region. Now, irrigated land in the larger basin covers more than 5 million hectares – 4 million in Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, and 1 million in Afghanistan and Tajikistan.

The expansion of irrigation led to significant diversions of water and a dramatic reduction in the river flow. Since the 1980s the Amu Darya has occasionally stopped flowing into the Aral Sea, causing a creeping ecological disaster that included the dying out of fisheries and increased environmental stress.

Taxkorgan

Khorog

Kabul

Chaghcharan

500 km

s

Mianwali

Indu

At almost 2 500 km long, the Amu Darya is river in Central Asia, and is shared by five countries. Less than 1 000 km of the river’s length is in the Upper Amu Darya where too much water and periodic flooding are problems, while the lower Amu Darya typically has too little water. On average, the main river carries a volume of 62 km3 annually. The total water resource – including all the streams in the river basin – comes to 75 km3 of surface water and 25 km3 of groundwater, but the water volume varies considerably year to year. The hydrographic area covered by the Amu Darya basin is 500 000 km2, but when all of the canals are included, the size more than doubles.

CHINA

Feyzabad

Meymaneh

theFarah longest

Downstream

Kulob Qurgonteppa

Pol-e Khomri

Birjand

Upstream

TAJIKISTAN

Mazar-e Sharif

Sar-e Pol

Sary-Tash

Karakul

Dushanbe

Balkh Sheberghan

Serhetabat

Main glacier areas

a i Al

Termiz

Torbat-e Jam

Desert

250

Sarahs

e n g R a

nj

rak

D

Pandjakent Samarkand a y r ada Kashk Shahrisabz Karshi

Osh

Fergana

Isfara

Jizzax

Quchan

Water removal (use)

Mountain regions above 2 000 metres

Ka

Bojnurd

70

30

m

Navoiy Bukhara

Tejen

A F G H A N I S T A N du Kun

0

10

u

Ashgabat

k

Gomishan

k

Gre at Tu rkmen Collector Baharly Atre

33.3

ra

Kujand

Guliston Zara vsh an

Jalalabad

Namangan Kokand Andijan

Angren

Naryn

K Y R G Y Z S TA N

Pa

nj Pa

1.5

20.2

5.6

a

Aydar Lake

Balykchy

Toktogul

Tashkent

UZBEKISTAN

TURKMENISTAN

Bereket Serdar

Zarafshon

Vaks h

h

s Vak

Tuyamuyn Reservoir

Lebap

K

C H I N A

Tortkol

Bishkek Talas

Shymkent

Su

0.5

4

a

Golden Age Lake (under construction)

Taraz

D e s e r t

B

ary

0.2

Urganch

TAJIKISTAN

0.63

Shu

rya Da

N

uD

Dashoguz

Murgab

A

Karakum Canal 11

Murgab

R

0.9

Tejen

I

Am

N

yr

High water losses along Karakum Canal

TJK 6.6

A

Zhanatas

Uchquduq

ary uD Am

1.5

0.3

Dushanbe

Q y z y l q u m

Gyzylgaya

KYR 0.1 Kafarnigan

Sarygamysh Lake l

4 Kara Darya Rivers of Ferghana Valley: 8

2

UZB 10

vsh an

Surhandarya Karshi 4.19 UZB 1.4 Sherabad

Ashgabat

KYR 3

1TJK 2

5.3 Amu-Bukhara 5.2 Kashkadarya 1.2

Great Turkmen Collector

UZB 10

T

Turkestan

Xojayli Boldumsaz

o zG

Zar a

15

S

Kentau

Chimboy Nukus

a og aB Kar

UZB 5.3

Ahangaran

9

(37)

Qongirot

Akshirat

Naryn

Tashkent Aydar Lake

Ysyk-Kol

H

Chu

Moynoq

KYRGYZSTAN

ChirchikCharvak

UZBEKISTAN

T U R K M E N I S T A N

Bishkek

K

S

Zhanaozen

1

Prospective Collector Theoretical discharge (without water removal)

Tashauz 6.51 Horezm 4.4 (UZB) Dashoguz Collector Lebap 3.9

Golden Age Lake

KAZ 10

ya ar

Sarygamysh Lake

The volume of water that the Amu Darya delivers to the Aral Sea each year varies from 0 to 5 km³ Karakalpakstan 7.9

A

Kyzylorda

Ar a l K u m Moynoq

Z

rha nd a rya

K A Z A K H S T A N

Dera Ismail Khan

Kandahar

Gujrat Sialkot b Khushab hena Gujranwala Sargodha Chiniot C

Limit of the Aral Sea basin

du z

5

Aralsk

Lake Balkhash

rD Sy

Introduction to the Aral Sea basin

Southern Aral Sea

Aralsk

Northern Aral Sea (38)

Introduction to the Amu Darya River basin

Water resources of the Aral Sea basin

Jhang

Faisalabad

Lahore

80 60 40 20 0

Amu Darya hydrograph 1950–2010, km3 Flow at Atamyrat (upper graph) and Samanbai (bottom)

Upper Amu Darya (Panj)

80 60 40 20 0

Lower Amu Darya at Nukus

13

The shrinking Aral Sea 2010

RUSSIA

Aralsk

seasonal lake

TURKMENISTAN

100 km

Moynoq

Ashgabat

Source: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/WorldOfChange/aral_sea.php; Climate Change Central Asia: a visual synthesis report (2009)

Sar-e Pol

alk

b ha

B

AFGHANISTAN Hari Rud

500 km

n Ku

H

i

Bamian

Gilgit

Salinisation of irrigated lands

Flood plain forests (Tugai forests)

Moderate mineralization of river water

Water-logging

Major regional sources of dust, aggravated by human activities

Kandahar Agricultural runoff with high water mineralization into deserts

Salt and dust particles carried by wind storms and affecting human health, agriculture and infrastructure

Agricultural runoff with high water mineralization back into rivers

Atamyrat Tejen

Sherabad

Mary

Mashad

Torbat-e Jam Srinagar

INDIA

Rawalpindi

Mianwali

Sheberghan

Khushab

n he

250

Balkh

ab

Gujrat Sialkot Gujranwala

not a major issue, but in the lower basin a doubling of salt concentrations has caused a notable deterioration in water quality.

2005

Meymaneh Sar-e Pol

Serhetabat

h alk

ab

AFGHANISTAN Hari Rud

Kunduz

Mazar-e Sharif

Ku

n

H

i

Bamian

Murgab Murgab

Large river deltas with increased environmental stress Potential spread of invasive species, locusts and vector-borne diseases Increased heat stress for rural workers in agricultural fields

Lake Sarez

k Ko

d

u

K

s

u

h Gilgit Chitral

Mongora

Increased risk of drought on agricultural lands; decrease in surface run-off due to drier climate conditions

IN D IA

Peshawar

Rawalpindi Bannu

Increased risk of climate-related hazards in the mountains; increase in Kandahar surface run-off due to more intense glacier melt and hydrological cycle disruptions

Srinagar

PA K I S TA N Islamabad

Jalalabad Ghazni

Impact on regional climate and dust storms Farahdue to shrinkage of the Aral Sea

Taxkorgan

Feyzabad

Birjand Rivers with intense water use and increased stress from climatic and hydrological changes

2002 Khorog

Kabul

Chaghcharan

500 km

n

CHINA

P a m i r

Rogun

Pol-e Khomri

Map produced by ZOÏ Environment Network, March 2013

Sargodha Chiniot Dera Ismail Lahore In the Upper Amu Khan Darya, water Jhang qualityFaisalabad is

Indu

Sarahs

Herat 0

TAJIKISTAN

Nurek 2010 Kulob Qurgonteppa

Sary-Tash

Karakul

Dushanbe

Termiz

Dusti dam

PA K I S TA N Islamabad

s

High mineralization of river water

Sabzevar

Mongora

Bannu Areas above 2 000 metres Farah

Denov

e n g R a

a i Al

Pa nj

nj

h

Peshawar

Land degradation impacts

um Ca na l

Chitral

Jalalabad

Chaghcharan

Depletion of forests and shrubs

u

s

Kabul

Birjand

14

d

Bojnurd

rak

Karshi

Osh

Fergana

Isfara

Pandjakent Samarkand 1998 Zaravshan a y r a ad Kashk 2003 Shahrisabz

Quchan

Ghazni

Map produced by ZOÏ Environment Network, March 2013

Forest and soil rehabilitation efforts

n

K

Ka

Turkmenabat es e r t

Murgab

250

Meymaneh

Serhetabat

Herat 0

Pol-e Khomri

u

D

Tejen

Torbat-e Jam

Murgab

Dusti dam

Kunduz

Mazar-e Sharif

Sheberghan

k

Gomishan

Khorog

Feyzabad

K

Balkh

Sarahs

Tejen

Mashad

ok ch a

Termiz

Quchan Sabzevar

Qurgonteppa

m

Ashgabat

Atre

Taxkorgan

u

Gre at Tu rkmen Collector Baharly

Murgab

Lake Sarez

k

Jalalabad

Namangan Kokand Andijan

Kujand

Jizzax

Navoiy

Naryn

K Y R G Y Z S TA N

Desert

Mianwali

s

Tejen Mary

Murgab

ra

Toktogul

Angren Guliston

Balykchy

Talas

ch a

Sherabad

P a m i r

Rogun

Kulob

Serdar

UZBEKISTAN

Bukhara

Bishkek

Tashkent Aydar Lake

Vakh sh

Atamyrat

Nurek

AJIKISTAN

Bereket

N

Taraz Shymkent

a ary

Denov

CHINA

Karakul

a

A

Shu

D e s e r t

TURKMENISTAN

Sary-Tash

T

Zhanatas

Kentau

Zarafshon Lebap

Tuyamuyn Reservoir

K

S

Chu

uD

um Ca na l

Karshi

a i Al

Tortkol

Am

Bojnurd

rak

Turkmenabat

a ary

Ka

es e r t

uD Am

Ashgabat

k

D

Pandjakent Samarkand Zaravshan a y r a ad T Kashk Shahrisabz Dushanbe

Urganch Golden Age Lake (under construction)

H

Uchquduq

Gyzylgaya

Osh

e n g R a

Q y z y l q u m

Dashoguz

Jalalabad

K

Turkestan

Xojayli Boldumsaz

Sarygamysh Lake

Fergana

Isfara

Vakh sh

m

rha nd a rya

u

Kujand

Jizzax

Naryn

K Y R G Y Z S TA N Namangan Kokand Andijan

Angren Guliston

Navoiy Bukhara

Gre at Tu rkmen Collector Baharly Atre

Gomishan

k

Aydar Lake

Su

ra

Toktogul

A

Kyzylorda

Nukus

l Go az

l Go az

TURKMENISTAN a

Shymkent

Z

Chimboy

Balykchy

Talas

A

S

Qongirot

Bishkek

Tashkent

UZBEKISTAN

Lebap

Bereket Serdar

D e s e r t

Zarafshon

K

Moynoq

Amu Darya river delta and lakes

og aB

og aB

Urganch

Gyzylgaya

K

Taraz

Uchquduq Tortkol Tuyamuyn Reservoir

Zhanaozen

Chu

Zhanatas

du z

Kar

Boldumsaz Dashoguz

Golden Age Lake (under construction)

Shu

Pa

Xojayli

Sarygamysh Lake

Q y z y l q u m

Baikonur

A r a l K u m

Turkestan

Nukus

Aral Sea

a

Chimboy

Sources: U.K. Climate Research Unit (data synthesis is available at: www.climatewizard.org), compilation of information from the Second (and First) National Communications

rya Da

Qongirot

Kentau

IRAN

yr

rya Da

Moynoq

TAJIKISTAN

Amu Darya basin AFGHANISTAN

z

K u m

Rainfall change mm per decade 2 1 0 -1 -2

Lake Balkhash Beyneu

yr

Zhanaozen

K A Z

KYRGYZSTAN

Tashkent Dushanbe

Ashgabat

0.1 0.2 0.4

Lake Balkhash

C

A r a l

Baikonur

TURKMENISTAN

Sources: U.K. Climate Research Unit (data synthesis is available at: www.climatewizard.org), compilation of information from the Second (and the First) National Communications Aralsk

The Aral Sea is a major victim of irrational water resource use over the years. The population of the Amu Darya delta has Asuffered K Hfrom S this T A N environmental Kyzylorda catastrophe as the sea has turned into a desert.

S

Kar

Regional Land and Water Issues

Aral Sea

Beyneu

TAJIKISTAN

Amu Darya basin AFGHANISTAN

IRAN

UZBEKISTAN

Tashkent KYRGYZSTAN Temp. change C° per decade Dushanbe

CHINA

Bishkek

Areas above 2 000 metres

Dera Ismail Khan

Significant historical earthquakes Major recent floods Risk of glacial lake outburst floods

Khushab

n he

ab

Gujrat Sialkot Gujranwala

Sargodha Chiniot Jhang

Regional Climate Change and

natural disaster Impacts

Aralsk

CHINA

Bishkek

C

Moynoq

UZBEKISTAN

KAZAKHSTAN

rha nd a ry

Moynoq

Astana

KAZAKHSTAN

North Aral dam

Moynoq

RUSSIA

Astana

Indu

Aralsk

du

2000

Aralsk

Su

1980

Aralsk

Change in precipitation, 1951-2001

B

1960

Change in surface temperature, 1951-2001

Faisalabad

Lahore

15

Farkhor

Ko Taloqan

u

Sheberghan

Kab ul

Mardan

lum Jhe

Sargodha

and Helm

Quetta

Dera Ghazi Khan

Multan

Bahawalpur

Jammu

ab en

Bamyan

Gujranwala

B a m y a n

7.5−8.5 km³

5 km³

0.1−0.5 km³

16

TURKMENISTAN

*Including sub-basins of Zarafshan and Kashkadarya Source: CA Water Info (→ www.cawater-info.net)

TAJIKISTAN

AFGHANISTAN

KYRGYZSTAN

r

Provincial capital

0

50

100 km

Map produced by ZOÏ Environment Network, March 2013

Mardan

Faisalabad Ra

vi

I N D I A

‫ا ﻟــﻬــﻨــﺪ‬

C H I N A

Shahrisabz

Vakhs h

TURKMENISTAN

KYRGYZSTAN

AFGHANISTAN

du

h

B alk

Sar-e Pol

Mazar-i-Sharif

z

Kholm

Samangan

Kunduz

TAJIKISTAN

m

i

Dashtijum

r

Murgh ab

Murghab

Kulma

Lake Sarez

rt Ba

an

Pam

y hwa ir Hig

Tashkurgan

Khorog

Ko

kc

Langar

Feyzabad

nj Pa

ha Ishkashim

Taloqan

H

i

n

K

u

d

h

s u

a Kar

A F G H A N I S T A N

Major road

Operational transmission line

Tunnel

0Ku

Kabul Jalalabad

Kab ul

r na

r

Hydropower facility Proposed hydropower facility

Important bridge S TAN PAKI

Charikar

ko

Railway

Chitral Projected railway

Salang Pass and Tunnel

** Excluding sub-basins of Zarafshan, Kashkadarya, Murgab and Tejen (Hari Rud)

a

Savnob

Vose

Baghlan Pol-e Khomri

P

Vanj

Farkhor Pa nj Shir Khan Bandar

Andkhoy Balkh

Nurek Nurek Reservoir Kulob

Qurghonteppa

Shar-i Tuz

Termiz

rya

Kalai Khumb

Rogun

Vahdat

Tursunzoda

Atamyrat

T A J I K I S T A N

Dushanbe

ar y a

Denov

u Da

Kara Kul

Gharm

Karshi

Am

Karakul

Jirgatol

Su rkh an d

Other rivers in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan

Irkeshtam Kashgar H Kashgar e

Sary-Tash

Istaravshan Suluktu

Panjakent

U Z B E K I S T A N

Ka sh ka da ry a

K Y R G Y Z S T A N

Batken

Zara fsha n Samarkand

Katta-Kurgan

Isfara

Khujand

Jizzakh

Navoiy

Bamyan

UZBEKISTAN*

na

s Amu Darya watershed du Upper Amu Darya watershed

Khorog

Mingora t Swa

Kab ul

Jalalabad

Water input to Amu Darya** Other Amu Darya water resources

Ku

Kabul

n

23−28 km³

Provincial boundary

PAKISTAN

Charikar

Ku

26−40 km³

International boundary

A F G H A N I S T A N

Upper Amu Darya water resources

Figures show the range of actual withdrawals over the last 20 years

less than 100 000

Chitral

Pol-e Khomri

Samangan

Sheberghan

Amu Darya freshwater withdrawals per country

g

Baghlan

Hisor

Geographically, the confluence of the Panj and Vakhsh Rivers marks the beginning of the Amu Darya. These two rivers contribute more than 80% of the Amy Darya flow. The 3 500 m average elevation of the Panj and Vakhsh defines the character and hydrology of the Amu ­Darya, which on average deposits 200 million tonnes of silt or suspended sediments downriver annually. These fertile sediments provide a good basis for agriculture in the downstream flood plains. In the ­Upper Amu Darya basin, the rivers are rapid and narrow with flood plains only a few dozens or hundreds of metres wide, but the downstream flood plains can range from 5 to 20 km across. The main water use along the course of the river is irrigation for agriculture.

100 000 to 500 000

B a g h l a n

ley Sut

Pis hin L

or

a

Ch

Dera Ismail Khan

P A K I S T A N ‫ﭘــــﺎ ﻛِــــﺴــــﺘــــﺎ ن‬

Zaranj

Ta k h a r

Amritsar Lahore Jhang

I R A N Zabol

500 000 to 1 000 000

In Gu m

Kandahar ‫ﮐﻨﺪﻫﺎر‬

Badakhshan

w ay

d

Kunduz

over 1 000 000 inhabitants

ha

Taloqan

50

Population of major cities

Langar

Feyzabad

5

Cross-border transport Mingora terminal wat S 50 100 km

Projected transmission line s du CASA-1000 Project: Operational and projected transmission lines

Map produced by ZOÏ Environment Network, March 2013

Mardan

infrastructure

Ru

k rn a Ta

Samangan

Islamabad ‫اﺳﻼم آﺑﺎد‬ Jhelum

Ku r

al

sh Ka

A

b da an rgh

Kholm

z

1

Khorog

kc

Tashkurgan

Population density (inhabitants per km²)

Khowst

s

Farah

ra Fa

‫اﯾﺮان‬

N

Rawalpindi

Ind u

ud hR

F G H A N I S T A ‫ا ﻓــــﻐــــﺎ ﻧــــﺴــــﺘــــﺎ ن‬

Gardez

ram

A

Ghazni

Sar-e Pol

l um Jh e Srinagar

Peshawar

nd lm a He

Mazar-i-Sharif

du

n

H ig h

Jalalabad ‫ﺟﻼل آﺑﺎد‬

Ko

r ta

um

Chaghcharan Hari Rud

Kas h mir

un

Balkh

Neelum

Mongora

Farkhor Pa nj Kunduz

Indus

Kulob

Vose

Shar-i Tuz

Termiz

rya

Ba

In

Herat ‫ﻫﺮات‬

Kabul ‫ﮐﺎﺑﻞ‬

u Da

Gilgit

Chitral

Nurek Reservoir K h a t l o n Qurghonteppa

Murghab Murgh ab Lake Sarez M o u n t a i n -Badakhshan

Chit ral

i

Am

Savnob

nj Pa

n

h

Kalai Khumb

Vahdat

Tursunzoda

Denov

K

d

Charikar Bamian

Tashkurgan

Kashgar

T A J I K I S T A N

Dushanbe

Hisor

TU R K MENISTA N Atamyrat

s

u

K

Pol-e Khomri nduz

Qal`eh-ye Now

r

Feyzabad

Upper Amu Darya basin

H

i

Khorog

Ku

Kh ulm

Mazar-i-Sharif ‫ﻣﺰارِ ﺷﺮﯾﻒ‬

m

Shahrisabz

Chit ral

Kulob

a

Kara Kul

Districts of Republican Subordination

Karshi

Murghab

Karakul

Jirgatol

Gharm

rya

P

Murgha b

S u g h d

g

Safid

Balkh ab

Balkh

N

‫ﻃـــﺎ ﺟـــﻴـــﻜـــﺴـــﺘـــﺎ ن‬ Pa nj

Qurghonteppa

Kunduz ‫ﮐﻨﺪز‬

Meymaneh

T A

Panjakent

E K I S T A N

Vakhs h

oi An d kh

Sheberghan

S

Swat

Termiz

I

Ku na r

Atamyrat

K

kc ha

ary a

rya

‫ا ﻟــﺼــﻴــﻦ‬

C H I N A

Surk han da

I

Ka U Z B sh ka da ry a

Kashgar H e

Sary-Tash

Istaravshan

h

Dushanbe ‫دوﺷﻨﺒﻪ‬ Vahdat

J

C H I N A

Karakul

Gharm

Denov

Karakum Canal

ab Murg

Tejen

T A

han d

Mary

Da

Panjakent

Sur k

TURKMENISTAN ‫ﺗـــﺮ ﻛـــﻤـــﺎ ﻧـــﺴـــﺘـــﺎ ن‬

Am u

‫ﻗــﺮ ﻏــﻴــﺰ ﺳــﺘــﺎ ن‬

Shahrisabz

Karshi

Katta-Kurgan

K Y R G Y Z S T A N

Batken

Jizzakh

Zara fsha n Samarkand

B alk

Turkmenabat

Osh

Ferghana

Isfara

Khujand

Navoiy

KYRGYZSTAN

Vakhs h

Enlarged area

Khujand Isfara

Jizzakh

Andijan

Chi tral

Navoiy Za rafsh an Bukhara Samarkand

n

Amu Darya basin

Gulistan

Kofarniho

Desert

4 000 3 000 2 000 1 500 1 000 500

Kokand

ya ar

Elevation in metres

Namangan

Almalyk

Sy rD

U Z B E K I S T A N ‫أ و ز ﺑـــﻜـــﺴـــﺘـــﺎ ن‬

Map produced by ZOÏ Environment Network, March 2013

Tejen

Introduction to the upper Amu Darya River basin

200 km

100

population

0

17

The Amu Darya rises in the Pamir, Alai and Hindu Kush mountains at an elevation of 4 500 m.

Snow cover and glaciers in the mountains play a crucial role in the behaviour of the river.

As rivers flow down from the mountains in the Upper Amu Darya basin, they form spectacular alluvial fans where mountain villages appear. From the air, a village in Afghanistan looks like one in Tajikistan, and both take the same approach to the use of land and water resources.

Agriculture in the mountains often appears to be an idealized existence where people live in perfect harmony with nature.

The mountains are spectacular in winter, but life there is hard. With little to do agriculturally, the people shift their focus to domestic activities and trade, but the huge quantity and high quality of snow offers the prospect of adding economic diversity to the region in the form of national and inter足national winter sports tourism, assuming that secure conditions can be provided.

Some 700 km downstream from the river’s mountain sources, the terrain opens up, and the river gets wider and begins to meander.

Here the environmental conditions are not as challenging, there is room for more people and their animals, and pistachio forests grow.

In its next stage, the river flows through mostly sandy desert and empties into the Aral Sea.

In other parts of the river basin, the social contrast is as noticeable as the physical – the practice of large-scale agriculture and yearround electricity supply signifies greater development, and here the children receive an education.

Archaic houses and mountain trails fit only for donkeys and fearless trekkers reflect a lifestyle that has changed little over the centuries. The people in this most remote mountain area of the Amu Darya basin live as their ancestors lived. Literacy rates are low, and access is difficult.

The river gives the people of the Amu Darya basin the means for sustaining life – food; hydropower; communication and trade through river traffic; and water for irrigation.

C h i n a

Karakul Jirgatol Kara Kul

1 / Founded in the 1920s, Dushanbe is the capital city of Tajikistan, and has a population of 0.7 million people.

2 / More than 90 per cent of the electrical supply in Tajikistan is produced by hydropower.

The Upper Amu Darya basin has great poten­tial for further hydropower development.

1

Gharm

Dushanbe

Su

ob rkh

7495 Ismoil Somoni Peak

Kalai Khumb

Savnob

Lake Sarez

Murgha b

Ba

rt a n

g

Nurek Reservoir

T a j i k i s t a n Yashilkul

Kulob il s u

h

K iz

Vose

6

Vak hs

Farkhor

Pam

Khorog

Pa nj

Langar

Feyzabad

Ko

kc

a f g h a n i s t a n

j

ha

P an

3 / More than 70 per cent of the people in both countries reside in rural areas, and many are engaged in agriculture.

Ishkashim

Taloqan Kunduz

Ku

ndu

z

4

Baghlan Pol-e Khomri

4/ For the people of the region, trade has been as important as agriculture, and the modern Silk Road is as much a part of modern trade as the old Silk Road was in its day.

5 / More than 3 500 years old, Kabul is one of the fastest-growing cities in the world, and has a population of more than 3 million people.

Bamyan 4951 Foladi peak

5

Kabul

7

Gunt

ir

3

Qurghonteppa

8 A

q 7 / Tourism is not yet well developed, but the sector has major potential for sports activities and medical and cultural travel. su

2

Murghab

Wakh a

n

people and the economy

8/ Over the past 20 years, yl Suu new roads to China have Kyz been planned and opened.

Railroad companies are now investigating the prospects 7134 for development.

Lenin Peak

6/ Over the past few years, five new bridges were built between the countries, and now facilitate trade and movement.

35

Khujand

68°

Jizzakh Navoiy

40°

Katta-Kurgan

Batken

Khaidarkan

K Y R G Y Z S T A Nu

Istaravshan

Zara fshan

74°

72°

Isfara

Kashgar He

Sary-Tash

Kashgar

yl Su Kyz

Daroot-Korgon Samarkand

C H I N A

7134 Lenin Peak Karakul

Panjakent

Jirgatol Kara Kul

5490

U Z B E K I S T A N

Ka sh ka da rya Koson

Gez

Urgut

Chimtarga

Gharm

T A J I K I S T A N

Shahrisabz

Su

ob rkh

7495 Ismoil Somoni Peak

P

a

Karshi

Dushanbe Hisor

i

r

Savnob

Lake Sarez

Murgha b

Murghab

38°

Aq

su

Tursunzoda

m

Revolution Peak

Kalai Khumb

Vahdat

6940

T A J I K I S T A N

Ba

rt a n

g

Nurek Reservoir

Denov

Tashkurgan

Yashilkul Kulob K iz

Vose

Farkhor

Pam

Khorog

h Pa nj

Shar-i Tuz

Termiz

Gunt

ir

h

Surkha ndar ya

Amu Da rya

Qurghonteppa

Vak hs

Langar

Feyzabad

kc

P an

Ko

Ishkashim

Andkhvoy Balkh Sheberghan

Taloqan Mazar-i-Sharif

u

Safid

ndu

Kh

ul m

i

H

Hun

7690 Noshaq

r u

m

36°

Gilgi t

7708 Tirich Mir

Gilgit

n

Baghlan Pol-e Khomri

K a r a k o za

Indu

s

Balk hab

Ku

Sar-e Pol

36°

d

z

Samangan

n

k

Kunduz

Kholm

Wakh a

u

j

ha

s

Chi tra l

Atamyrat

Kofarni hon

T U R K ME N I S TA N

il s u

38°

Chitral

P A K I S T A N F

G

H

A

N

I

S

T A

N

hir njs a P In

A

Landsat image of the Upper Amu Darya basin from space

66°

s du Neelum

Charikar t Swa

Bamyan

0

50

100 km

Map produced by ZOÏ Environment Network, March 2013 Source: Landsat 7, 1997-2003 (→ http://landsat.gsfc.nasa.gov)

Mingora

I N D I A Wular Lake

ar Kun

4951

Kabul

Foladi peak 68°

70°

Jalalabad

Kab ul

72°

Mardan

Tarbela Reservoir

Abottabad

74°

J h el

um

Srinagar

37

yl Suu Kyz

7134 Lenin Peak

Gharm

12

Dushanbe

Sur

kho

b

8 Kalai Khumb

7

12 / The dynamic 9 geology of the region makes for an interesting landscape. The geologic uplifting that began millions of years ago continues today, and together with ice, water and wind defines the details of the landscape.

Savnob

Karakul11 /

The Alai Valley of Kyrgyzstan is a Kara Kul connecting landscape between the Pamir and Tien Shan mountains in the north, and is one of the sources of the Amu Darya River.

Jirgatol

1

2

11

Lake Sarez

Murgha b

Murghab

10 Aq su

Ba

rt a n

g

Nurek Reservoir

T a j i k i s t a n Yashilkul

h

Vak hs

K iz

Farkhor

Khorog

Pa nj

4

Langar

Feyzabad

Ko

kc

Wakh a

a f g h a n i s t a n

Ishkashim

Kunduz

7/ Rain-fed croplands produce cereals, other field crops and garden fruits and vegetables. Afghanistan has already converted many lands to rain-fed croplands, while Tajikistan has more potential for such development.

Ku

ndu

z

4 / Tugai forests full of willows and poplars are found primarily in the flood plains of rivers, and play an essential role in erosion and flood control. These jungle-like forests with high biodiversity have shrunk dramatically as a result of development.

Baghlan Pol-e Khomri

6 / Irrigated lands provide stable and predictable crops – mainly cotton in Tajikistan, and rice in Afghanistan.

Bamyan 4951 Foladi peak

Kabul

n

j

ha

Taloqan

5

5 / Sand dunes measuring 200 km long by 20 km wide provide the raw material for the sand storms that affect both countries.

Vose

10 / The Murgab high-mountain desert, as dry as the sand dunes, receives less than 100 mm of rain per year, and is an of how the Pamir am Pexample Mountains influence the climate.

P an

3 / Pistachio forests – nearly depleted by conflict in northern Afghanistan, but reasonably well preserved in Tajikistan – occur naturally and by plantings in both countries. The population prizes the pistachios for their flavour, and collects the nuts for food and trade.

3

Qurghonteppa

Gunt

ir

6

il s u

Kulob

9 / The Pamir and Hindu Kush Mountains rise to 7 000 m of bare rocks.

They act as a barrier to air masses, and thus largely determine the climate of the region.

8 / Rangelands – essentially any lands that are not croplands – experience a variety of conditions depending on climate and traditional use.

Landscape diversity

1 / Juniper forests are slow growing, but well adapted to extreme mountain climate conditions. They occur mainly in northern Tajikistan and Afghanistan, with some trees that are 1 000 years old.

2 / Broad-leaved forests occur mainly in central Tajikistan. They are rich in biodiversity, with wild fruit and nut trees such as apples, walnuts and pears.

39

Isfara

Jizzakh Navoiy Katta-Kurgan

Batken

Khaidarkan

K Y R G Y Z S T A Nu

Istaravshan

Zara fshan

Kashgar He

Sary-Tash

Kashgar

yl Su Kyz

Daroot-Korgon Samarkand

C

7134 Lenin Peak

I

N

Karakul

Panjakent

Jirgatol

A

Kara Kul

5490

U Z B E K I S T A N

Ka sh ka da rya Koson

H

Gez

Urgut

Chimtarga

Gharm

Su

T A J I K I S T A N

Shahrisabz

ob rkh

7495 Ismoil Somoni Peak

P

a

m

i

r

Karshi

Dushanbe Hisor

Savnob

Lake Sarez

Murgha b

Murghab Aq

su

Tursunzoda

Kalai Khumb

Vahdat

T A J I K I S T A N

Ba

rt a n

g

Nurek Reservoir

Denov

Tashkurgan

Yashilkul

K iz

Vose Pam

Khorog

Pa nj

ir

Farkhor

Shar-i Tuz

Termiz

Gunt

Langar

Feyzabad kc

s

P an

Ko

Taloqan

Baghlan

ul m

H

Kh

F

G H

A

N

I S

T A

N

n

Gilgit

Indu

Chitral

P A K I

S

hir njs a P

T A N Irrigated cropland

In

A

i

Pol-e Khomri

d

s

Balk hab

Ku

Sar-e Pol

u

r u

Gilgi t

7708 Tirich Mir

Chi tra l

Safid

Samangan

Hun

7690 Noshaq

z

Kholm

K a r a k o za

K

Kunduz

ndu

Mazar-i-Sharif

n

u

Ishkashim

Sheberghan

Wakh a

j

ha

Andkhvoy Balkh

h

h

Qurghonteppa

Vak hs

Amu Da rya

Surkha ndar ya

Atamyrat

Kofarni hon

T URKMENISTA N

il s u

Kulob

Mosaic of vegetation (cropland, forest, shrub, grassland); Afghanistan: cropland

s du

Neelum

Forest

Pasture and grassland

Charikar

t Swa

Bamyan 4951 Foladi peak

Glaciers

Mingora

Sand dunes

ar Kun

Kabul Jalalabad

I N D I A

Mardan

Tarbela Reservoir

Abottabad

m

Wular Lake

Badlands 0

Kab ul

land cover

Khujand

50

lu m

100 km

Srinagar e J hEnvironment Map produced by ZOÏ Network, March 2013

41

C H I N A Jirgatol

Panjakent

Hisor

Surk han da Am

u Da

K

Mazar-i-Sharif

50

100 km

duz

Ko

Bamyan

i

Kunduz

r

H

Afghan Mountains semi-desert

i

n

d

Vavilov’s centres of origin Central Asia

Russia Russia

Murghab

u

Jalalabad

4 4

3 3

h

s

Rock and ice

u

Karakoram-West Tibetan Plateau alpine steppe

WORLD WORLD China China

2 2

Uzbekistan Uzbekistan Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan

Chitral

PAKISTAN Western Himalayan subalpine conifer forests

Baluchistan xeric ar un woodlands

Kab ul

s du Northwestern Himalayan

Tajikistan Tajikistan

1 1

Afghanistan Afghanistan

alpine shrub and meadows

Mingora t Swa

Himalayan subtropical pine forests

Western Himalayan broadleaf forests

Global biodiversity hotspots Mountains of Central Asia

0 0 Source: Ecological Footprint Atlas 2010, data for Source: Ecological Footprint Atlas 2010, datadata for 2007 2007 Source: Ecological Footprint Atlas 2010, for 2007

The sources of degradation of freshwater resources and river ecosystems are the same around the world – agricultural runoff, pollution, river fragmentation, invasive species and climate change. Wealthy countries, however, employ highly engineered solutions that treat the symptoms of degradation or depletion, and that are cost-prohibitive for poorer nations. The map shows priority regions with high threats to water security. The relative absence of water security hotspots in developed countries reflects the presence of technical solutions.

The ecological footprint measures the human demands on planetary ecosystems against the primary natural resources (cropland, forests, grazing land, water and fisheries) needed to supply human consumption and to cope with the resulting waste, given current technology and management practices. Biocapacity estimates how much of the Earth is needed to support the human population at a particular lifestyle. The productivity of ecosystems varies across countries.

Afghanistan and Tajikistan have two of the smallest footprints at the regional and global levels, but the countries’ biological capacity has dramatically declined over the years.

Fauna FaunaDiversity DiversityininAfghanistan Afghanistan

Fauna FaunaDiversity DiversityininTajikistan Tajikistan

Number of of species Number species

Number of of species Number species

600 600

1010 000 000

500 500

500 500

400 400

400 400

300 300

The Upper Amu Darya region is famous for harbouring genetic resources of the wild species of several domesticated plants and animals such as wheat, carrots, almonds, pistachios, pomegranates as well as sheep and goats. The region is crucial to the maintenance of globally significant wildlife and ecosystems. It also provides a profound sense of place, a source of inspiration and a rich cultural heritage.

Afghanistan

Turkmenistan Turkmenistan

Northwestern Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows

East Afghan montane conifer forests

K

Tashkurgan

Nepal Nepal

K

Hindu Kush alpine meadows

Charikar

Kabul

Murgh ab

Khorog Langar

ha

Taloqan

5 5

r

Pamir alpine desert and tundra

ta n

Feyzabad

Central Afghan Mountains xeric woodlands

Map produced by ZOÏ Environment Network, March 2013

m

g

kc

A F G H A N I S T A N

Ghorat-Hazarajat alpine meadow

Ba

Hindu Kush alpine meadows

Pol-e Khomri

Afghan Mountains semi-desert

a

Tajikistan

Lake Sarez

Kulob

Upper Amu Darya watershed Baghlan

Paropamisus xeric woodlands

Amu Darya watershed

0

Kholm

Samangan

ha b

B alk

Sar-e Pol

un

Balkh

Farkhor Pa nj

Kalai Khumb

P

nj Pa

Badghyz and Karabil semi-desert

Sheberghan

Gissaro-Alai open woodlands

Qurghonteppa Vose

Shar-i Tuz

Termiz

rya

T A J I K I S T A N

Nurek Reservoir

rya

TURKMENISTAN Atamyrat

Vahdat

Tursunzoda

Denov

Central Asian riparian woodlands

Dushanbe

Chit ral

Karshi

Carbon footprint Carbon footprint Grazing land Grazing land Forest land Forest land Fishing grounds Fishing grounds Cropland Cropland Built-up land Built-up land Biocapacity Biocapacity

Kazakhstan Kazakhstan

Rock and ice

Gharm

Shahrisabz

Global hectares per person Global hectares per person 6 6

Karakul

In

E K I S T A N

Vakhs h

Main ecosystems

Ka U Z B sh ka da ry a

Sary-Tash

Istaravshan

High threats to human water security

Ecological EcologicalFootprint Footprintand andBiocapacity Biocapacity

Butterflies Butterflies

200 200

100 100

100 100

Birds Birds Mammals MammalsReptiles Reptiles Fish Fish Amphibians Amphibians

Proportion of red-listed species Proportion of red-listed species

0 0

Birds Birds Mammals MammalsReptiles Reptiles Fish FishAmphibians Amphibians

Source: Afghanistan’s Biodiversity Profile (2008) Source: Afghanistan’s Biodiversity Profile (2008) Source: Afghanistan’s Biodiversity Profile (2008)

Source: Tajikistan’s Fourth National Report for UN Convention Biodiversity (2010) Source: Tajikistan’s Fourth National Report for the the UN UN Convention Biodiversity (2010) Source: Tajikistan’s Fourth National Report for the Convention Biodiversity (2010)

Biodiversity conservation ininAfghanistan Biodiversity conservation Afghanistan Biodiversityconservation conservation areas inAfghanistan Afghanistan Biodiversity areas in

Biodiversity conservation ininTajikistan Biodiversity conservation Tajikistan Biodiversityconservation conservation areas inTajikistan Tajikistan Biodiversity areas in

Per cent of PerPer cent Per cent of of Per cent of cent total land area total land area total land area total land area total land area

0.50.5 %%

Protected areas Protected areas Protected areas Protected areas

Per cent Per cent ofof Per cent ofofof Per cent Per cent total land area total landland area total land area total land area total area

23%% 23

Per cent of PerPer cent of of cent total land area total land areaarea total land

42

over 12 12 000000 over

300 300

200 200

0 0

Invertebrates Invertebrates

2.6-3.0 2.6-3.0 %%

Forest cover Forest cover Forest cover Forest cover

Protected areas Protected areas Protected areas Protected areas

Ecological Footprint and Impacts on Ecosystems Species Diversity and Habitat Conservation

Central Asian southern desert

Tian Shan Taklamakan montane steppe Kashgar H e desert and meadows

K Y R G Y Z S T A N

Batken

Jizzakh

Zara fsha n Samarkand

Katta-Kurgan

Isfara

Khujand

Alai-Western Tian Shan steppe

Navoiy

Per cent of PerPer cent of of cent total land area total land areaarea total land

3% 3%

Forest cover Forest cover Forest cover Forest cover

43

yl Suu Kyz

9 / One of largest wild sheep in world, the argali, or Marco Polo sheep, lives only in high mountains. Its big horns make it a prized hunting trophy, and authorities issue a few permits each year to take old or sick animals.

7134

10 / The distinctive horns of mature Morkhur goats can reach a span of 1.5 m.

Sure-footed climbers in steep rocky mountain terrain, these 7495 goats also swim well, and Ismoil Somoni Peak are considered among ancestors of domestic goats.

Lenin Peak

Jirgatol Gharm

1/ Bukhara mountain sheep, or the urial, prefer mountain grasslands and light forests at elevations of 1 000–2 500 m, and move in small groups.

k

Kalai Khumb

Savnob

h

Vak hs

g rt a n il s u

K iz

Pa nj

Langar

Feyzabad

Ko

kc

ha

Taloqan Kunduz

a f g h a n i s t a n 7

5/ 6 Large for a leopard and very rare, the Central Asia leopard roamed Tajikistan until Baghlan the 1950s–1960s. Now critically endangered, with only 500 Pol-e Khomri remaining, these leopards are found mainly in Afghanistan and Turkmenistan.

Ku

ndu

z

6/ While not red-listed globally, the cobra is endangered in Central Asia.

Among the most poisonous snakes in the region, the cobra lives in desert and low mountain habitat that is under increasing development pressures.

Bamyan 4951 Foladi peak

Pam

Khorog

j

5

9

Ishkashim

4/ Previously hunted for its crocodile-like skin, the varan desert monitor is extremely well adapted to the lowland desert environment in the Amu Darya basin, and now faces the pressures of a changing habitat.

Yashilkul

Vose

Farkhor

4

Aq

Gunt

P an

3

Murghab

T a j i k i s t a n 8

Kulob

2

Murgha b

su

1

3 / Gazelles are specialists in survival in desert conditions, able to drink salty water and eat most desert vegetation. Moving in groups and migrating seasonally, gazelles jump vertically and then start running – up to 60 km per hour – when frightened.

Lake Sarez

10

Nurek Reservoir

Qurghonteppa

Kara Kul

Kabul

ir

Dushanbe

Sur

h ob

Ba

2/ Historically hunted by royalty, Bukhara (tugai) deer inhabit a shrinking habitat of flood plains where the tugai forests once flourished. Only about 500 tugai deer remain in the wild.

Karakul

Wakh a

n

7

8/ Birds of prey – falcons, eagles and hawks – are present in any habitat in the region. Many migrate as far as Africa. Rare globally and in the region, these birds are prized by the people, and treated with respect.

7/ The snow leopard thrives in the extreme high mountain environment. A nocturnal cat with a huge tail and excellent camouflage, the snow leopard is not aggressive, and unlike other large cats, will not attack humans.

FLAGSHIP AND MIGRATORY SPECIES

The world recognizes these iconic species as belonging to the region.

Some of the species shown here are endemic, and all are red-listed.

Many are migratory and move between the two countries and beyond.

45

Isfara

Jizzakh Navoiy Katta-Kurgan

Batken

Khaidarkan

K Y R G Y Z S T A Nu

Istaravshan

Zara fshan

Kashgar He

Sary-Tash

Kashgar

yl Su Kyz

Daroot-Korgon

Urgut

U Z B E K I S T A N

Ka sh ka da rya Koson

Panjakent Zeravshan Reserve

Lenin Peak

Sayvatin Reserve 5490 Chimtarga

Shirkent Historical Romit Natural Park Strict Nature Reserve Almosy Reserve

Karshi

Su

Hisor

7495

P

a

i

Ta j i k N a t i o n a l P a r k Savnob

Childukhtaron Reserve

r Shor Kul and Rang Kul

Lake Sarez

Murghab

Murgha b

Aq

T A J I K I S T A N

Ba

rt a n

g

Nurek Reservoir

Denov

m

su

Tursunzoda

A

Ismoil Somoni Peak

Kalai Khumb

Vahdat

N

Kara Kul

Karakul

ob rkh

Sarikhosor Natural Park

Nurek Reserve

Dushanbe

I

Jirgatol

Gharm

Iskanderkul Reserve

H

Karakul

Kamarob Reserve

T A J I K I S T A N

Shahrisabz

C

7134

Kusavlin Reserve

Gez

Samarkand

Tashkurgan

Yashilkul

Termiz

il s u

Farkhor

Langar

Feyzabad Ko

kc

s

Safid

ndu

Baghlan

ul m

H

Kh

F

G

H

A

N

I

S

T A

N

n

d

Chassi/Baushdar

Tirich Mir Agram Basti

Kargah

Chitral Gol

m

Ce n tr a l Ka r a k o r a m Na ti o n a l Pa r k

Gilgi t

Shandur-Hundrup

Chitral

Gilgit

Indu

N uri st an hir njs a P

Tangir

Gehrait Gol

P A

Parit Gol/ Ghinar Gol

K

In

A

i

Pol-e Khomri

u

7708

Sher Qillah

r u

s

Balk hab

Ku

Sar-e Pol

Hun

7690 Noshaq

z

Samangan

K a r a k o za

Nazbar Nallah

K

Kunduz

Kholm

Khunjerab National Park

n

u

Ishkashim Taloqan

Mazar-i-Sharif

Wakh a

j

ha

Tashkurgan Wildlife Reserve

Wakhjir Valley

Pamir-i-Buzurg

P an

Sheberghan

ir

Khorog

Andkhvoy Balkh

Pamir Kuchak

Darqad (Takhar) Wildlife Managed Reserve

Imam Sahib (Kunduz) Wildlife Managed Reserve

Zor Kul Strict Nature Reserve

Pam

Chi tra l

Shar-i Tuz

Zor Kul

h

h

Karatogh Reserve Tigrovaya Balka Strict Nature Reserve Pa Lower nj Panj

Gunt

Dasht-i Jum Strict Nature Reserve

K iz

Qurghonteppa

Vak hs

Amu Da rya

Surkha ndar ya

Atamyrat

Kofarni hon

T U R KME NIS TAN

Kulob Dasht-i Jum Reserve Vose

I

S

T A

N

s du

Neelum

Ajar Valley Band-e-Amir National Park

Charikar

t Swa

Bamyan 4951 Foladi peak

a Kun

Kabul

Protected areas

Mingora

I N D I A

Potential protected areas

Wular Protected wetlands (Ramsar Convention)

r

Lake

0

Jalalabad

Kab ul

 protected areas

Kayrakum Reservoir

Khujand

Mardan

Tarbela Reservoir

Abottabad

50

lu m

100 km

he Map produced by ZOĂ? JEnvironment Network, July 2013

Srinagar

47

The landscape of the Pamir and Wakhan corridor may seem lifeless, but as home to populations of snow leopards, argali and other rare animals and plants, it is a proposed peace park for Tajikistan, Afghanistan, China and Pakistan.

Dasht-i-Jum – located in the middle of the Upper Amu Darya basin – has a mild subtropical climate.

Home to red-listed mammals and pistachio forests, it has been a protected area since the 1980s.

Established in the late 1930s to protect tigers, Beshai Palangon is the oldest protected area in Tajikistan. The tigers disappeared in Central Asia in the 1950s, but the area still hosts important ecosystems and provides habitat for many migratory birds.

International Biodiversity-related Agreements and World Heritage Sites

-

The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety is an international agreement intended to supplement the Con-

The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Conventionarising on from their Utilization is an international agreement that forms part of the Convention on Biological Diversity. It aims to share the benefits arising from the use of genetic resources in a fair and equitable Biological Diversity way. Tajikistan has signed the protocol.

-

CMS

The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (the Bonn Convention or CMS) aims to conserve the world’s migratory species on land, sea and in the air. Tajikistan is a Party.

Parties try to provide strict protection of the species threatened with extinction by conserving or restoring habitats, reducing obstacles to migration and controlling other threats. The convention encourages states where these species live to conclude regional agreements.

Strategic Goal B

5. The rate of loss of all natural habitats, including forests, is at least halved and where feasible brought

and applying ecosystem based approaches, so that overfishing is avoided, recovery plans and measures are in place for all depleted species, fisheries have no significant adverse impacts on threatened species and vulnerable ecosystems and the impacts of fisheries on stocks, species and ecosystems are within safe ecological limits.

7. Areas under agriculture, aquaculture and forestry are managed sustainably, ensuring conservation of biodiversity.

8. Pollution, including from excess nutrients, has been brought to levels that are not detrimental to ecosystem function and biodiversity.

9. Invasive alien species and pathways are identified and prioritized, priority species are controlled or eradicated, and measures are in place to manage pathways to prevent their introduction and ­establishment.

10. By 2015, the multiple anthropogenic pressures on coral reefs, and other vulnerable ecosystems impacted by climate change or ocean acidification are minimized, so as to maintain their integrity and functioning.

Strategic Goal C

11. At least 17 per cent of terrestrial and inland water, and 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, espe-

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) aims to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. The convention protects about 5 000 animal and 28 000 plant species against overexploitation by international trade. Afghanistan is a Party.

The Ramsar Convention (the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, especially as Waterfowl Habitat) aims at conserving wetlands and using them sustainably by slowing encroachment and promoting recognition of their ecological importance. The list of wetlands of international importance currently includes about 2 000 sites. Its broad definition of wetlands includes lakes and rivers, swamps and marshes, wet grasslands, oases, estuaries, deltas and tidal flats, mangroves and coral reefs, and humanmade sites such as reservoirs and salt pans. Tajikistan is a Party. Afghanistan has not yet acceded to the Ramsar Convention but has compiled information on prospective sites.

Improve the status of bio­ diversity by safeguarding ecosystems, species and genetic diversity

-

The World Heritage Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage was adopted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Afghanistan and Tajikistan are among the UNESCO member states. Currently UNESCO maintains a list of 960 World Heritage Sites – forests, mountains, lakes, deserts, buildings and cities – identified as being of special cultural or natural significance. Afghanistan has two sites (both are listed as endangered) and Tajikistan has one. Several sites are listed as tentative pending endorsement.

At a biodiversity conference in Japan in 2010, governments agreed to five strategic goals and 20 specific targets. Afghanistan and Tajikistan – like all Parties – are preparing national strategies to meet the Aichi targets. The suggested date for completion of the strategies is 2013–2014.

close to zero, and degradation and fragmentation is significantly reduced.

6. All fish and invertebrate stocks and aquatic plants are managed and harvested sustainably, legally

Reduce the direct pressures on biodiversity and promote sustainable use

-

-

sustainably.

2. Biodiversity values have been integrated into national and local development and poverty reduction

strategies and planning processes and are being incorporated into national accounting, as appropriate, and reporting systems.

3. Incentives, including subsidies,harmful to biodiversity are eliminated, phased out or reformed in order to minimize or avoid negative impacts, and positive incentives for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity are developed and applied, consistent and in harmony with the Convention and other relevant international obligations, taking into account national socio-economic conditions.

4. Governments, business and stakeholders at all levels have taken steps to achieve or have implemented plans for sustainable production and consumption and have kept the impacts of use of natural resources well within safe ecological limits.

taking into account possible risks to human health. Parties are developing national biosafety frameworks and clearinghouse mechanisms for comprehensive legal and instrumental controls.

-

1. People are aware of the values of biodiversity and the steps they can take to conserve and use it

Address the underlying causes of biodiversity loss by mainstreaming biodiversity across government and society

Conventionvention on on Biological Diversity. Tajikistan is among its 150 Parties. The protocol aims to ensure the safe handling, Biological Diversity transport and use of living modified organisms that may have adverse effects on biodiversity,

In addition to the natural wonders of the region, the Amu Darya basin has a rich history in need of protection.

One historical site – the Buddhas of Bamiyan – has already been destroyed, and other sites have suffered from war and neglect.

50

Strategic Goal A

Strategic Goal D Enhance the benefits to all from biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Strategic Goal E Enhance implementation through participatory planning, knowledge management and capacity-building

cially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, are conserved through effectively and equitably managed, ecologically representative and well connected systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, and integrated into the wider landscape and seascapes.

12. The extinction of known threatened species has been prevented and their conservation status, particularly of those most in decline, has been improved and sustained.

13. The genetic diversity of cultivated plants and farmed and domesticated animals and of wild relatives, including other socio-economically as well as culturally valuable species, is maintained, and strategies have been developed and implemented for minimizing genetic erosion and safeguarding their genetic diversity.

14. Ecosystems that provide essential services, including services related to water, and contribute to

health, livelihoods and well-being, are restored and safeguarded, taking into account the needs of women, indigenous and local communities, and the poor and vulnerable.

15. Ecosystem resilience and the contribution of biodiversity to carbon stocks has been enhanced, through conservation and restoration, including restoration of at least 15 per cent of degraded ecosystems, thereby contributing to climate change mitigation and adaptation and to combating desertification.

16. By 2015, the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization is in force and operational, consistent with national legislation.

17. By 2015 each Party has developed, adopted as a policy instrument, and has commenced implement-

ing an effective, participatory and updated national biodiversity strategy and action plan.

18. The traditional knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities relevant for

the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, and their customary use of biological resources, are respected, subject to national legislation and relevant international obligations, and fully integrated and reflected in the implementation of the Convention with the full and effective participation of indigenous and local communities, at all relevant levels.

19. Knowledge, the science base and technologies relating to biodiversity, its values, functioning, status and trends, and the consequences of its loss, are improved, widely shared and transferred, and ­applied.

20. The mobilization of financial resources for effectively implementing the Strategic Plan 2011–2020 from all sources and in accordance with the consolidated and agreed process in the Strategy for Resource Mobilization should increase substantially from the current levels.

Target 20 will be subject to changes contingent on resources needs assessments to be developed and reported by Parties.

The aichi biodiversity targets 2011–2020

The Convention on Biological Diversity aims to conserve biodiversity, to ensure that it is used sustainably and to see that the benefits derived from genetic resources are shared fairly. Parties to the convenConventiontion on number 193 countries: they include Afghanistan and Tajikistan and all neighbouring states. The convention Biological Diversity covers ecosystems, species and genetic resources. Afghanistan is starting to develop policy and assessment documents on biodiversity, while Tajikistan is about to update its national red list and national biodiversity strategy and action plan in the light of lessons learned and of the Aichi Targets 2020.

51

Source of dust

Where mountains meet deserts, the contrast can create microclimates, define ecosystems and determine where people live as well as what they do there. The deserts of the Lower Amu Darya often serve as sources of dust for the huge storms in the region.

These dust storms normally happen in summer and autumn, and may travel 200–300 km from the source.

n

i

H

u

Gilgit

Chitral

-25 -20 -15 -10

Salang Pass

Charikar

Ku

Kabul

Panjakent

Karshi

27.1 Hisor

h

33.4 Mazar-i-Sharif

Vakhs h

Kholm

Samangan

du

z

m

i

Ko

ha

Baghlan

H

i

n

u

d

Sheberghan

Gilgit

A F G H A N I S T A N

0

Salang Pass

Ku

Kabul 25.1

Jalalabad

n

Kab ul

Termiz

rya

Indus

Mingora t Swa

3.4 0

5

10

15

20

Vakhs h

Vahdat Tursunzoda

Yavan

100 km

Map produced by ZOÏ Environment Network, July 2013

Mardan

g

Mardan

K Y R G Y Z S T A N

Jirgatol

Mazar-i-Sharif

Faizobod Chormazak

I

S

Darwaz

Kalai Khumb

T

A

Khumragi

Nijni Panj

Kholm

Samangan

du

N

Pshart (1986-1987)

rt

Irht

Navobod

ha

Ishkashim

Taloqan

K

Kunduz

Baghlan

A F G H A N I S T A N

H

i

n

u

d

h

s u

Gilgit Meteorological stations reporting to the World Weather Watch and other key stations

Chitral

Manned meteorological stations Indus Automatic meteorological stations Closed or non-functioning stations

Salang Pass

Bamyan

Shaymak

Javshangoz

Langar

Feyzabad

Pol-e Khomri

Murghab

Bulunkul

(1930-1992) Khamadoni

kc

M urg h ab

Tashkurgan

Khorog

Ko

Lake Sarez

Rushan

Kulob

Snow survey stations

Charikar

Ku

Kabul Jalalabad

r na

Kab ul

Kashgar

C H I N A Karakul

Ba

Muminabad

Pa nj

z

Sary-Tash

Savnob

Khovaling

Nurek Res.

Sanglok Dangara

K

Kashgar H e

Altyn-Mazar (1932-1995) Kara Kul Fedchenko Glacier (1932-1995, continued automatic observations)

Panj

un

Balkh

Bustonabad

I

Farkhor

Shar-i Tuz

(1929-2010)

J

Lyahsh

Kalailabi-Ob

Gharm

Nurobod

A

Ganjina Qurghonteppa (1951-2012) Vose

25 30° C

Monthly average temperature 50

Sar-e Pol

Dekhavz

Shainak

Hisor

s

PAKISTAN

ar

Dushanbe

u Da

Map produced by ZOÏ Environment Network, July 2013

Abramov glacier (1967-1998, continued automatic observations)

T

Khushiery

Ayvaj

Chitral

Charikar

Maykhura

Isanbay

Am

u

Isfara

Anzob

Shahrisabz

T U R K ME N IS TA N Atamyrat

h

Jalalabad

Madrushkat

Panjakent

E K I S T A N

n

Kab ul

Batken

Tashkurgan

K

Ku

Kabul

3.4 Annual average precipitation Mingora t Swa 0 50 100 km

ar

Istaravshan

Denov

an a rt

Langar

Taloqan

Pol-e Khomri

Bamyan 17.8

Murghab 12.6

Murgh ab

22.6 Khorog Feyzabad 26.5

100 200 300 400 500 600 800 1000 mm

Salang Pass

Jizzakh

Zara fsha n Samarkand

Indus

PAKISTAN

Khujand

Navoiy

Karshi

g

Kulob

kc

31.3 Kunduz

12.3

r

Savnob

B

Chitral

Charikar

K

Sar-e Pol

un

a

nj Pa

Sheberghan 30.1

Balkh

Shar-i Tuz 31.1

1024

Ka U Z B sh ka da ry a

Kara Kul

3.5 Fedchenko Glacier

P

Nurek Reservoir

rya Surk han da

Termiz

rya

B alk

u Da

Kashgar

Gilgit

A F G H A N I S T A N

Katta-Kurgan

Lake Sarez

Farkhor Pa nj

Baghlan

Bamyan 119

Karakul

Jirgatol

ha

j Pan

Am

Kashgar H e

Langar

Feyzabad 501

Pol-e Khomri

100 km

15.1

Tavildara 21.3 Kalai Khumb

Qurghonteppa 28.6 Vose

Samangan

5 10° C

C H I N A

Vahdat

Tursunzoda

Denov

TURKMENISTAN

Dushanbe

0

kc

Taloqan

Mardan

T A J I K I S T A N

Shahrisabz

50

9.6 Sary-Tash

Gharm

Ko

335 Kunduz

z

Monthly average temperature

0

Chit ral

U Z B E K I S T A N

Ka shk ada rya

du

Tashkurgan

281 Khorog

316

Istaravshan Dekhavz

un

Kholm

n

Meteorological stations

Katta-Kurgan

-5

K Y R G Y Z S T A N

Batken

Jizzakh

Zara fsha n Samarkand

Atamyrat

54

Isfara

189 Mazar-i-Sharif

Map produced by ZOÏ Environment Network, July 2013

Kab ul

Jalalabad

Khujand

Navoiy

K

average temperature in july

-1.9

n

3.4

Mingora t Swa

ar

Sar-e Pol

Balkh

Indus

PAKISTAN

A F G H A N I S T A N

Bamyan -7.1

rya

Sheberghan 231

r ta

g

Pol-e Khomri

u

K

Baghlan

Termiz

rya

Farkhor Pa nj

s

Taloqan

d

u Da

Kulob

Qurghonteppa 276 Vose

Shar-i Tuz 155

Ba

Chit ral

ha

h

Lake Sarez

an

Feyzabad 0.3

Am

Murghab 75

Murgh ab

Savnob

Chit ral

Langar

Surk han da

-7.1 Khorog

Kalai Khumb

Nurek Reservoir

Tashkurgan

T U R K ME N I S TA N Atamyrat

Tavildara 922

Vahdat

Tursunzoda

Denov

ta n

g

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kc

2.1 Kunduz

-7.5

-16.9

Dushanbe

Vakhs h

h

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B

ar

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du

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nj Pa

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a

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rya

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Karakul

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T A J I K I S T A N

Shahrisabz

Karshi

Kashgar

C H I N A

315 Gharm

h

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T U R K M E N I S TA N

2.1

Panjakent

B alk

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Hisor

Dekhavz

Kashgar H e

368 Sary-Tash

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E K I S T A N

h

Karshi

Ka U Z B sh ka da ry a

Kara Kul

-17 Fedchenko Glacier

T A J I K I S T A N

Shahrisabz

Am

Karakul

Jirgatol

Gharm

B alk

Panjakent

U Z B E K I S T A N

Ka shk ada rya

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Jizzakh

Zara fsha n Samarkand

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-7.1

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Isfara

Khujand

Navoiy

C H I N A

Chit ral

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Kashgar H e

-16 Sary-Tash

Istaravshan

K

average temperature in January

Jizzakh

Zara fsha n Samarkand

K Y R G Y Z S T A N

Batken

annual precipitation

Atamyrat

Isfara

Khujand

Navoiy

t Swa

PA K I S TA N Mardan

Mingora 0

50

100 km

Map produced by ZOÏ Environment Network, July 2013

55

Global and regional climate change

Enhanced Enhanced global Enhancedglobal global greenhouse greenhouse effect greenhouseeffect effect Enhanced global greenhouse effect

from from 1961–1990 meanvalue value from1961–1990 1961-1990mean mean value Differences in temperature, C° 0.6 0.6 0.6 1961–1990 mean value from

Global Globalemissions emissions Global emissionsofof of greenhouse greenhousegases gases greenhouse gases Global emissions CO Oof CO2 22CH CH CO CH O 4 44N N 2N 22O greenhouse gases Increased ofofprecipitation Increasedintensity intensity precipitation CO 2 CH 4 N 2O Increased intensity of precipitation and patterns change andseasonal seasonal patterns change and seasonal patterns change Glacier Glacier Glacier Increased intensity of precipitation Local Localemissions emissionsofof ofand seasonal patterns change melt melt Local emissions melt greenhouse greenhousegases gases Glacier greenhouse gases Local emissions of melt Impact Impactofofof Impact greenhouse gases droughts droughtsand and droughts and Climate Climatewarming warming Climate warming Impact of extreme weather extreme weather extreme weather and stress andheat heat stress and heat stress droughts and Climate warming extreme weather and heat stress Ecosystem Ecosystem Ecosystem changes changes changes Ecosystem changes

Hydrological Hydrological Hydrological changes changes changes Hydrological changes

Desertification and Desertification and Desertification and soil moisture changes soil moisture changes soil moisture changes Desertification and soil moisture changes

Climate change impacts, trends and responses

Trend globalaverage averagesurface surfacetemperature temperature Trend ininin global Trend global average surface temperature Trend in average surface temperature Differences inintemperature, C°C° °C Estimated actual Differences temperature, Estimated actualglobal global Differences inglobal temperature, Estimated actual global

Climate change impacts Climate impacts Climatechange change impacts Climate change impacts

Global annual temperature change during 1991–2012 Global annual temperature change during 1991–2012 Global annual temperature change in 1991-2012 Global annual temperature change during 1991–2012

INDICATORS

mean temperature, meantemperature, temperature,C°C° mean °C Estimated actual global 14.6 14.6 14.6 mean temperature, C°

0.6 0.4 0.4 0.4

14.6 14.4 14.4 14.4

0.4 0.2 0.2 0.2

Surface air temperature

Baseline Baselineclimate climateperiod period1961-1990 1961-1990 Baseline climate period 1961-1990

no data

Policy instruments and actions on adaptation

Melting ice

National reporting to the UNFCCC

0.2 000

14.2 14.0 14.0 14.0

Damage from extreme weather events

0 -0.2 -0.2 -0.2

14.0 13.8 13.8 13.8

-0.2 13.8 -0.4 13.6 -0.4 13.6 -0.4 13.6 2011 2011 2011 -0.4 13.6 -0.6 13.4 -0.6 13.4 2011 -0.6 13.4 1880 1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000 1880 1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000 1880 1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000 13.4 -0.6 Source: NASA Visible Earth 1880 1900 1920 Source: NASA Visible Earth Source: NASA Visible Earth

1940

1960

1980

2000

increase, intensification 1950-2010

Energy

Global Globalannual annual temperature anomalies 2012 Global annualtemperature temperatureanomalies anomaliesininin2012 2012 Global annual temperature anomalies in 2012

Baseline Baselineclimate climateperiod period1961-1990 1961-1990 Baseline climate period 1961-1990

no data

Baseline climate period 1961-1990

-1-1 -1

-0.5 -0.5 -0.5

-0.2 -0.2 -0.2

0.2 0.2 0.2

0.5 0.5 0.5

11 1

22 2

4°C 4°C 4°C

-4-4 -4

-2-2 -2

-1-1 -1

-0.5 -0.5 -0.5

-0.2 -0.2 -0.2

-4

-2

-1

-0.5

-0.2

0.2

0.5

1

2

4°C

-4

-2

-1

-0.5

-0.2

tonnes tonnesper perperson person 2 energy-related CO2 emissions, tonnes per person tonnes per person 12 12 KAZAKSTAN 12 KAZAKSTAN KAZAKHSTAN 12

KAZAKSTAN

1010 10 10 88 8 8 66 6 6 44 4 4 22 2 2 00 0 0

56

GERMANY GERMANY GERMANY

GERMANY

Global 2 2emissions GlobalCO CO emissions Global CO 2 emissions Greenhouse gas Greenhouse gas Global COCO 2CO emissions energy-related 2 emissions, energy-related 2 emissions, energy-related CO emissions, billion tonnes billion tonnes emissions ininAfghanistan emissions Afghanistan energy-related CO 2 emissions, billion tonnes 2

billion tonnes 35 35 tonnes million ofofCOCO 2 equivalent million 2 equivalent 35 tonnes 2020 35

3030 30 30 16 16 2525 25 25

Waste Waste

Agriculture Agriculture

2020 1220 12 Industrial Industrial that Theemissions emissions that 20 The CHINA processes processes cause warming causeglobal global warming The emissions that 1515 are areincreasing, increasing,but but 15 cause global warming Afghanistan's and Afghanistan's and UZBEKISTAN UZBEKISTAN 15 are increasing, but UZBEKISTAN Tajikistan'semissions emissions 8 8 Tajikistan's Afghanistan's and ofof UZBEKISTAN a asmall are smallfraction fraction 1010 are Tajikistan's 10 the total. the total. emissions of Land Landuse use 10 are a small fraction change the total. change 54 54 and and TAJIKISTAN TAJIKISTAN 5 forestry forestry TAJIKISTAN 5 TAJIKISTAN AFGHANISTAN AFGHANISTAN Energy Energy AFGHANISTAN 00 02000 AFGHANISTAN 2000 2005 2010 2005 2010 0 2000 0 2005 2010

CHINA CHINA CHINA

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration http://www.eia.gov/ Source:http://www.eia.gov/ U.S. Energy Information Administration Source:http://www.eia.gov/ U.S. Energy Information Administration http://www.eia.gov/

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration 2005 2000 2010 2005 http://www.eia.gov/ http://www.eia.gov/ Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration Source: Afghanistan’s Initial National Source: Afghanistan’s Initial National Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration http://www.eia.gov/ http://www.eia.gov/ Communication to the UNFCCC, 2013 Communication to the UNFCCC, 2013

Buildings

Baseline climate period 1961-1990

-2-2 -2

0.2 0.2 0.5 0.5 0.2 0.5 0.2

0.5

11 1

22 2

4°C 4°C 4°C

1

2

4°C

Greenhouse Greenhousegas gasemissions emissionsby bysector sectorininTajikistan Tajikistan Greenhouse gas emissions by sector in Tajikistan Greenhouse gas emissions Greenhouse gas emissionsbybysector sectorininTajikistan Tajikistan million tonnes 2 equivalent million tonnesofofCO CO 2 equivalent million tonnes of CO2 equivalent

million tonnes of CO2 equivalent

2525 25 2525 2020 20 2020 1515 15 1515

Waste

Agriculture Agriculture Waste Waste Waste Agriculture Industrial processes Industrial processes Agriculture Agriculture Agriculture

Industrial processes

Energy Energy Industrial Industrial processes Industrialprocesses processes Energy Land use Land usechange changeand andforestry forestry Energy Energy Energy

Land use change and forestry use change and forestry Land Landuse usechange changeand andforestry forestry

Agriculture

55 5 55 00 0 -20-20

-2 1990 20000101 0202 2003 2003 19909191 9292 9393 9494 9595 9696 9797 9898 99992000

-2-2 1990 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 2000 01 02 2003 Source: Tajikistan’s Second National Communication, 2008 Source: Tajikistan’s Second National Communication, 2008

1919 997 898 2000 1990 982000 99 2002 2000 1990 1992 92 1994 91 93 95 96 200201 1990 1992 1994941996 1996

Source: Tajikistan’s Second National Communication, 2008 Source: Tajikistan’s Second National Communication, 2008; preliminary data forfor 2004-2005 Source: Tajikistan’s Second National Communication, 2008; preliminary data 2004-2005 Source: Tajikistan’s Second National Communication, 2008

022005 2003 2005

Research and systematic observation2)

2000-2010

decrease 3)

Public awareness of climate change mixed trends

food crops, farmers, livestock, water availability

Sources: First and Second National Communications of Tajikistan to the UNFCC; National Action Plan of Tajikistan on climate change mitigation; Pilot Programme on Climate Resilience; UNEP 2009.

some progress advanced progress

• Improved efficiency of coal-fired plants • Increased energy prices, reduction of subsidies • Development of hydro, solar and wind energy potential • Minimizing gas flaring in fossil energy production • Reduction of heat, electricity and natural gas losses in local and national energy networks • Hybrid and more fuel-efficient vehicles • Development of railways • Shift from individual to public transport • Cycling and walking • Transport planning, improved quality of roads • More efficient appliances • Efficient lighting, use of daylight • Improved insulation • Passive and active solar design

Industry

Agriculture

forestry

Waste

• More efficient electrical equipment • Heat and power recovery • Material recycling and substitution • Control of non-CO2 emissions • Improved crop and pasture management to increase soil carbon storage • Restoration of degraded lands, sustainable farming • Improved rice-growing techniques and livestock and manure management to reduce methane emissions • More efficient application of nitrogen fertilizers • Afforestation and reforestation; agro-forestry • Reducing deforestation • Improved management of forest resources • Recycling and minimizing waste • Composting organic waste • Waste incineration with energy recovery

Climate change adaptaion options

Waste Waste

1010 10 1010

2)

Based on compilation of information from the Second National Communications to UNFCCC, National Action Plans on Climate Change and IPCC 2007

Water use

million 2 equivalent milliontonnes tonnesofofCOCO 2 equivalent

2)

Tajikistan

Climate change mitigation options

Source: NASA Visible Earth

nono data data no data

1)

Impact on food security and livelihoods3)

1)

Afghanistan

Policy instruments and actions on mitigation

1)

14.4 14.2 14.2 14.2

-4-4 -4

CO CO2 2emissions emissionsinin2010 2010 CO 2 emissions in 2010 CO2 emissions in 2010 energy-related CO 2 emissions, energy-related CO 2 emissions, energy-related CO emissions,

INDICATORS

Tajikistan

Rainfall and snow 1)

Transport

nono data data no data

Afghanistan

• Improved climate and water monitoring and forecasting • Integrated water resource management (IWRM) • Revision of water consumption limits and regulations • Broad introduction of efficient irrigation technologies • Water reuse and water conservation • Improved water quality and pollution prevention • Water saving incentives and training for farmers • Rehabilitation of water pipelines and canals • Improved agrometeorological and veterinary services, training, scientific and technical support for farmers • Introduction of drought-resistant crops; pest control • Conservation of valuable agrobiodiversity • Water storage for reliable water supply in dry years • Crop rotation and shift towards more suitable areas • Rehabilitation of degraded pastures and croplands • Remote sensing and mapping of pasture conditions • Insurance, strategic food and forage reserves

Health

Transport and Energy

Ecosystems Disaster Risk Reduction

• Malaria prevention and control • Improved drinking water quality and sanitation facilities • New regulations for farmers working in the field in summer • Public awareness and early warning • New urban planning principles, better microclimate control • Adjustment of hydropower plant operation according to stream flow change and projected climatic impacts • Improved security of energy supply and transfer networks • Revised road construction norms and traffic load • Protection of vulnerable transport infrastructure • Conservation of priority ecological areas and species • Monitoring and research • Monitoring and forecasting of extreme weather events • Engineering measures and early warning systems • Insurance and risk management; public awareness

Based on compilation of information from the Second National Communications to UNFCCC, National Action Plans on Climate Change and IPCC 2007

Dushanbe TAJIKISTAN

Bukhara

Dushanbe TAJIKISTAN

TURKMENISTAN

Khorog

Katta-Kurgan

CHINA Ka U Z B sh ka da ry a

Khorog

Mazar-i Sharif

Dushanbe

Am

Kandahar

PA K I S TA N 2.0

2.5

2.0

Map produced by ZOÏ Environment Network, March 2013

Bukhara

2.5

Sheberghan

3.0 3.5° C

Map produced by ZOÏ Environment Network, March 2013

KYRGYZSTAN Dushanbe TAJIKISTAN

TURKMENISTAN

CHINA

Bukhara

Dushanbe TAJIKISTAN

PA K I S TA N

Map produced by ZOÏ Environment Network, March 2013

Islamabad

Kandahar

PA K I S TA N -50

Source: regional climate model REMO

-25

0

25

50 100 %

Map produced by ZOÏ Environment Network, March 2013

Source: regional climate model REMO

Data kindly provided by Central Asian Water research network (→ www.cawa-project.net) and University of Würzburg

Note: Changes are based on differences between climate baseline simulation for 1991–2010 and climate projections generated by the REMO model (IPCC A1B scenario) for 2051–2070.

Other scenarios and models may produce different results.

Kunduz

Shift of the peak river flow (from Taloqan June-July to May-June). Reduced river flow in summer

Baghlan

H

i

n

Generally stable and less vulnerable Most vulnerable to melting in the next 50-100 years

s K

u

d

Somewhat vulnerable

h

u

Significant changes in rainfall and snowfall patterns in winter and spring seasons; increase in annual rainfall and decrease in snowfall Projected increase in annual mean Gilgit temperature in the river basin from 2000-2010 to 2050-60 / 2090-2100

Chitral

Increasing intensity ofIndrain us and risk of flash floods Risk of water shortage

Bamyan

Charikar Ku

Kabul Jalalabad

na

Mingora t Swa

r

PAKISTAN

Kab ul

Watershed 0

50

100 km

Map produced by ZOÏ Environment Network, March 2013

Mardan

Glacier area Glacier and area volume andchange volumeinchange the Upper in the Amu Upper Darya Amu basin Darya basin

ProjectedProjected hydrological hydrological changes in changes the Upper in the Amu Upper Darya Amu basin Darya basin

glacier surface glacierarea, surface km²area, km²

average monthly average water monthly discharge, water discharge, m³/sec m³/sec

4 000

4 000

3 500

3Panj 500

3 000

3 000

2 500

2 500

2 000

2 000

1 500

1 500

1 000

1 000

500

500

0

basin

Panj basin Vakhsh basin

projection projection

? ?

Vakhsh basin

0 50 years ago Today 50 years ago

Today Next 50 years Next 50 years

250 200 150

250

200 Panj basin

150

100

100

50

50

0

? ?

Vakhsh basin

0 50 years ago 50 years agoToday

Source: Hoelzle et Source: al. 2010 Hoelzle et al. 2010

2 500

uncertainty uncertainty

projected projected flow future flow 2 500 future in 2090–2100in 2090–2100

2 000

2 000

1 500

1 500

1 000

1 000

500

500

0

0 F

J

historical flow historical flow in 2000–2010 in 2000–2010

Panj RiverPanj at Nijni RiverPanj at Nijni Panj MJ

1 200

1 200

projection projection Vakhsh basin Panj basin

3 000

3 000

FA

M M

AJ

JM

AJ

SJ

A O

S N

O D

N

average monthly average water monthly discharge, water discharge, m³/sec m³/sec

ice km³ volume, km³ ice volume, Because mountain ecosystems are particularly sensitive to environmental changes, climate observations at high elevations provide the first indications of global climate change. Local factors that influence precipitation, soil cover and moisture and evapotranspiration interact with snow cover, sun reflection and melting glaciers and permafrost in complex ways. For Central Asia, strong warming together with decreasing precipitation would be the worst-case climate change scenario.

Vulnerability of glaciers (Tajikistan)

Langar

ha

Pol-e Khomri

CHINA

Kabul A F G H A N I S TA N

50 100 %

z

kc

nt

International boundary

KYRGYZSTAN

Herat

Islamabad

Samangan

Tashkurgan

Khorog

Feyzabad

Murghab

1.4° C / 3.0° C -0.7° C

A F G H A N I S T A N

Mazar-i Sharif

Kabul

25

Mazar-i-Sharif

du

Ko

r Murghab

u b a s i n G

Pa n j

Khorog

Kandahar

0

Source: regional climate model REMO

TURKMENISTAN

Mazar-i Sharif

-25

Sar-e Pol

Shar-i Tuz

Kholm

i

an a rt

Khujand

UZ BEKI STAN

Khorog

A F G H A N I S TA N

Balkh

B

Vose

Qurghonteppa Farkhor Pa nj

un

Projected summer precipitation changes Khujand

Herat

Termiz

rya

PA K I S TA N

3.0 3.5° C

U ZB E K I S TA N

u Da

Nurek Reservoir

nj Pa

Kandahar

Islamabad

m Lake Sarez

Kulob

Vakhs h

Islamabad

rya

A F G H A N I S TA N

TURKMENISTAN Atamyrat

a

Savnob

Kalai Khumb

Shift of the peak river flow (from June-July to May-June). Reduced river flow in summer Surk han da

Herat

Kara Kul

Vakhsh basin

P

Vahdat

Tursunzoda

Denov

h

A F G H A N I S TA N

1.5

Hisor

B alk

Herat

C H I N A

T A J I K I S T A N

Shahrisabz

Kabul

Kashgar

Karakul

Jirgatol Gharm

Mazar-i Sharif

Kabul

5.3° C / 6.9° C 3.3° C

Panjakent

E K I S T A N

Karshi

Projected winter precipitation changes

58

Istaravshan

Kashgar H e

Sary-Tash

g

CHINA

KYRGYZSTAN

Zara fsha n Samarkand

K Y R G Y Z S T A N

Batken

Jizzakh

Chit ral

UZ BEKI STAN

KYRGYZSTAN

TURKMENISTAN

Khujand

Isfara

Khujand

Navoiy

K

Future regional climate projections

Khujand

U ZB E K I S TA N Bukhara

Projected summer air temperature changes

Climate change impacts on glaciers and rivers

Projected winter air temperature changes

Today

Next 50 years Next 50 years

1 000 800

uncertainty uncertainty

1 000 projected projected future flow future flow in 2090–2100in 2090–2100 800

600

600

400

400

200

200

0

0 F

J

D

historical flow historical flow in 2000–2010 in 2000–2010

Vakhsh River at Komsomolabad Vakhsh River at Komsomolabad MJ

FA

M M

AJ

JM

AJ

SJ

A O

Source: Pilot Programme Source: Pilot for Climate Programme Resilience for Climate studyResilience in Tajikistan study 2012in Tajikistan 2012

S N

O D

N

D

59

The applications of different scenarios and models often result in completely different projections of the effects of climate change in the mountains. This means that the way that climate change will affect the region is highly uncertain.

yl Suu Kyz

Global warming encourages the spread of Lenin Peakto higher elevations and malaria Karakul other previously cooler places.

The effectiveness of control Kara Kul measures of such vector-borne diseases depends on a regional approach – another area for cooperation and coordination.

7134

Jirgatol Gharm

When men migrate to find work in response to the effects of climate change, extra burdens fall on women and children.

Dushanbe

Sur

kho

b

7495 Ismoil Somoni Peak

Kalai Khumb

Savnob

Lake Sarez

Murgha b

C h i n a

Murghab

Aq su

Ba

rt a n

g

Nurek Reservoir

Yashilkul

il s u

Kulob

T a j i k i s t a n

K iz

Vose

Vak hs

Farkhor

Pa nj

Langar

Feyzabad

kc

j

ha

P an

Ko

Ishkashim Taloqan Kunduz

Ku

ndu

z

a f g h a n i s t a n

Baghlan Pol-e Khomri

Climate models predict increased risk of droughts in the southern part of the Amu Darya basin, and more frequent infestations of locusts may be linked to climate change.

The effect of drought on rural workers is high stress related to the relentless sun.

Pam

Khorog

ir

h

Qurghonteppa

Gunt

Because of the vertical contrast and high biodiversity in the mountains, changes in mountain ecosystems are more visible. The range of habitats varies among species; some may benefit from climate change, while others may suffer.

Wakh a

n

The melting of glaciers may change the local hydrological cycle and lead to the formation of new glacial lakes and to sudden floods.

Infrastructure is particularly vulnerable to climate change. Landslides resulting from heavy rains and changing environmental conditions in the mountains can lead to a variety of failures. And when the permafrost melts, so do the roads built there.

Climate Change Concerns and Vulnerability

Tajikistan’s potential for hydropower production may decline or increase by 20 per cent relative to current levels, an uncertainty that policy makers and engineers should take into account. If precipitation becomes more intense, the build-up of sediments is likely to increase.

Small dams have traditionally been used in Central Asia as a hedge against water deficits; now they are considered to be viable adaptation options in light of climate change disruptions to the hydrologic cycle.

Bamyan 4951 Foladi peak

Kabul

61

Zara fshan Katta-Kurgan 1 000 mm

Reconstructed mass balance

Instrumental record

500 mm

Mass gain

Samarkand Data analysis: M. Barandun University of Fribourg Panjakent

0 Urgut - 500 mm

Khaidarkan

K Y R G Y Z S T A Nu yl Su Kyz

1

Daroot-Korgon

7134

Karakul Jirgatol

Gharm

Su

ob rkh

7

7495

Ismoil Somoni Peak

Shahrisabz

- 1 500 mm Source: Uzbek Hydrometeorological Service and SANIGMI

P Dushanbe

2

a

Kalai Khumb

Vahdat

Hisor

Tursunzoda

8

m

Ba

rt a n

g

T A J I K I S T A N

Vak hs

Pam

il s u K iz

Pa nj

ir

h

Kofarni hon

Surkha ndar ya

Gunt

Vose

Langar

Feyzabad Ko

kc

ha

s

Taloqan

K

Kunduz

N

I

S

T A

Baghlan

ul m

3 Kh

N

Pol-e Khomri

i

H

n

u

d

7708 Tirich Mir

Chi tra l

A

Hunz

a

Gilgi t

Gilgit

Indu

s

Balk hab

Ku

Sar-e Pol

H

n

4 / Glaciers in the Upper Amu Darya basin now cover almost 7 000 km2, hold 400 km3 of ice and define the iconic landscape: without the glaciers, the Pamirs are not the Pamirs.

7690 Noshaq

z

Safid

Samangan

G

ndu

F

Wakh a

u

Ishkashim

A

5 / In the Pamir Mountains, many rock glaciers – frozen rocks that hold ice Tashkurgan just as permafrost does – provide additional melt in the summer.

j

Sheberghan

Yashilkul

P an

Andkhvoy

Aqsu

5

Khorog

Termiz

3 / Smaller glaciers in the Hindu Kush and Pamir are melting fast, and some are disappearing. When precipitation Balkh levels are low, these glaciers Mazar-i-Sharif provide water security, and their Kholm disappearance leaves communities without natural water storage in the mountains.

Murghab Murghab

4

Farkhor

Shar-i Tuz

r

Lake Sarez

Kulob Qurghonteppa

i

Savnob

Nurek Reservoir

Denov

Amu Da rya

Kashgar

Kara Kul

Chimtarga

2 / Snow Covered Mountains Most of the water that flows from the mountains comes from snow not from glaciers.

6

CHINA

Kashgar He

Lenin Peak

5490

- 1 000 mm

Mass loss

Batken

1 / The World Glacier Istaravshan Monitoring Service (WGMS) has collected data on the Abramov glacier – the only glacier’s mass balance in the Amu Darya basin to be monitored – since 1969 (with an interruption between 1998 and 2012, since corrected).

Gez

Navoiy

Jizzakh

h

Abramov glacier mass balance (1969–2012)

6 / The Alai glaciers and permafrost are tourist destinations for alpinists. Easily accessible, Sary-Tash these areas are visited by professional climbers, and are an important attraction for the region.

Isfara

Chitral

In

hir njs Pa

s du Neelum

Charikar

t Swa

Bamyan 0

50

100 km

Map produced by ZOÏ Environment Network, March 2013

Foladi peak 4951

Ku

Kabul Jalalabad

Mingora

I N D I A Wular Lake

nar

Kab ul

glaciers

Khujand

Mardan

Tarbela Reservoir

PAKISTAN Abottabad

J h el

um

Srinagar

63

7 / At 70 km long and 740 km2 in area, the Fedchenko glacier is one of the largest glaciers in Eurasia and a key geographic landmark of the region. Because of its size, it melts slowly, but is nevertheless affected by global warming.

Fedchenko glacier retreat Central Pamir Mountains, Tajikistan

Glacier terminus

1928 1933

1958

2006 2006

Medveji glacier

8/ As a “surging� glacier, the Medveji glacier advances and retreats periodically. In narrow valleys, such glaciers block rivers, form large lakes and cause flooding when glacial dam melts.

Isfara Batken

Katta-Kurgan

K Y R G Y Z S T A Nu

Istaravshan

yl Su Kyz

Kok Suu-Abramov glacier (non-functioning)

Zara fshan

Daroot-Korgon

Samarkand

KamarobKaramandi

U Z B E K I S T A N

Chimtarga

Sarbog-Sangimaliki

Komsomolabad Surkhsuu(Nurobod) Shahob

hs u

Ya k

Nurek

Nurek Reservoir

h

Vak hs

Kofarnihon

Kelif (AFG)

Termiz

g

ha

il s u

Alichur

Toguzbulak-Duzakhdara

Zorkul

Shakhdara-Javshangoz

Shakhdara-Khabost

Pam

Durumdara-Sejd Sust

Wakh a

n

j

Jurm Keshem

TJK

Ishkashim

h

Taloqan

Pul-i-Chugha

Ba

Kunduz

Bangi

Farkhar

Ishkashem (AFG)

Hunz

7690 Noshaq

ad nab K ha

Namakab

Safid

ndu

z

Gilgit

Chitral

Pol-e Khomri

ul m

Indu

Baghlan

s

Balk hab

Ku

Sar-e Pol

a

Gilgi t

7708 Tirich Mir

Chi tra l

Gerdab

Samangan

Baharak

Tashkurgan

P an

kc

Aq

Murgab

Yashilkul

Langar

Kokcha

Kholm

Ko

Murghab

Sharipdara-mouth

SharvdaraTusen

Feyzabad

em sh Ke

Mazar-i-Sharif

Char Dara

Khojaghar

Jojan

Yashilkul

Gunt

Kisht-i-Jarob-Langar Garmchashma-Garmchashma

i ng

Sheberghan

Khanaba d

Ai-Khanum (AFG)

Murgha b

Layngar-mouth

Ravmedara-Khijez

Khorog

c Wardu

Andkhvoy

Sheghnan (AFG)

Lake Shewa

Pan j

Shir Khan Bandar (AFG)

Kulukh Khush Teppe Teppa (AFG)

Balkh

Rawan Jab Yalor

GuntKhorog

Usoi

T A J I K I S T A N

Patkhur-Patkhur

Tazqarcha

Tigrovaya Balka (Beshai Palangon) Aivaj (TJK)

Khairaton (AFG)

Tangi Shewa

Farkhor

Nijnyi Panj (Panji Poiyon, TJK)

Shar-i Tuz

Vomardara-Rushan Shidz (TJK) Shujand

Pshart

Lake Sarez

VovzitBarchadiv

Sardem

Vose

Samonchi

Surkha ndar ya

Amu Da rya

Aghram Kofab

Yakhsu-Vose

K iz

Qurghonteppa

Nisur

Yazgulem-Motravn

Yakhsu-Karboztonak Khirmanjo Kulob (TJK)

Kizilsu-Kurbonshahid

Savnob

Jaway Khughaz

Kizilsu-Bobohonshahid

Tairsuu-Shahbur

TURK M E N I S TA N

Nusai (AFG)

Kudara-Rukhch Bartang-Barchadiv

Vanch-Bichkharv

Ba

DaganaGofilabad

Denov

Obivisharvi-Khurk

Kalai Khumb

Rang Kul

Tanymas-Kudara Kokuibel-Kudara

su

Tursunzoda

7495

Tekharv-Shavru

Khingob-Tavildara Khumbob-mouth

Vahdat

Hisor

A

Sariob-Kalaisang

Obigarm-Obigarm

Dushanbe

N

Ismoil Somoni Peak

Khingob-Sangvor

T A J I K I S T A N

Karshi

Atamyrat

Gharm

I

Kara Kul

Shurak-Kapali

Sangikar-Sangikar

Shahrisabz

Koson

Yarhych-Khoit

S u r k h ob

H

Karakul

Dombrachi Muksu-Davsear

Jirgatol

rt a n

5490

C

Lenin Peak

Sh ew a

Ka shk ad ary a

Panjakent

Kashgar

7134

Pitaukul-Yarmazor

Urgut

Kashgar He

Sary-Tash

ir

Navoiy

Khaidarkan

Gez

Jizzakh

Kh

Operational hydrological stations and gauges Temporarily closed or non-functioning stations

F

G

H

A

N

I

N

S

T A

Hydrological stations on the Panj River in Tajikistan

Pa

P A

hir njs

K

I S

Surkhab

T A In

A

Pul-i-Konda Sang

rab Anda

Temporarily closed or non-functioning stations

N

s du

Automatic hydrological station in Afghanistan - operational Automatic hydrological station in Afghanistan - planned

Dasht-i-Safed Dashi

Neelum

Bamyan

Stations transmitting daily (real-time) hydrological data

Charikar

t Swa

Bamyan 4951 Foladi peak

a Kun

Kabul

Kudara

Mingora

Freshwater lake 0

Jalalabad

Underlined labels indicate river name Salt lake

r

Kab ul

Mardan

Tarbela Reservoir

  River density and hydrological monitoring network

Khujand

Abottabad

50

I N D I A

Wular Lake

100 km

lu m

J h e July 2013 Map produced by ZOĂ? Environment Network,

Srinagar

69

Isfara

Jizzakh Navoiy Katta-Kurgan

Batken

Khaidarkan

Istaravshan

Zaraf shan

Kashgar He

Source of Kyzyl Suu

K Y R G Y Z S T A Nu yl Su Kyz

Kashgar

Sary-Tash

Daroot-Korgon Samarkand Zarafshan

h Vak hs z

ndu Ku

ul m

Kh

g rt a n il s u

K iz

Gez

l

Source of Pamir

ar a

Chakmaktyn Kul Source of Wakhan

Panj

Wa k h a n

Langar

s u

K a r a k o za

7690 Noshaq

K

Hun Gilgi t

7708

u

Khanabad

Tirich Mir

Gilgit

d

Baghlan

Source of Khanabad

H

rab Anda

T A

N

n

i

Indu

Chitral

P A K I

Source of Kokcha

hir njs a P

r u

s

Balk h

Engels Peak

j

I S

Source of Alichur

Pam

Shakhdara

Tashkurgan k Isty

ur Alich

Gunt

ak

Source of Khulm

Na

Kunduz

N

T A J I K I S T A N

h

Taloqan

Pol-e Khomri

A

Aq

Lake Sarez

Kokcha

Surkhab

In

Source of Safid

G H

Murghab

Murgha b

Ishkashim

ad nab K ha

Suf

A F

Bartang

Savnob

Feyzabad

n hri

Khulm

Rang Kul

l

Khorog

hd

ha

Bangi

Safid

Sar-e Pol

Balkh

Lake Shewa

Source of Rustaq

Kunduz

Samangan

ku

P an

kc

Upper Amu Darya basin

Safid

gh

Kokcha

Kholm

r

Yashilkul

Sh

Ko

Khanaba d

Mazar-i-Sharif

Ko

Gunt

Rustaq

Mu z

i

b

m she Ke

Sheberghan

fA

Panj Ra

i n a g e )

Balkh

Ku

Vose

Pan j

Andkhvoy

Yazgulem

m

m ule zg Source of a Y Yazgulem

Farkhor

Shar-i Tuz

Vanj

nj

c Wardu

D a Termiz s h t - i S ( n h o r t o e p a d r a

Qurghonteppa

a

Source of Vanj

Kulob

Rustaq

Surk han dar ya

Kofarni hon

Sherabad S h erabad

Amu Da rya

Yak hs

Tai rsu

a

Atamyrat

Kalai Khumb

u

Machay Dary

T URKMENISTA N

P

Kizilsu

Nurek Reservoir

Denov

Ismoil Somoni Peak

ir

Surkhandarya

Hisor

Kokuibel Pass

7495

Vakhsh

A

su

Source of Machay Darya

Source of Kizilsu

Vahdat

b

h

Dushanbe

Tursunzoda

N

While the Karakul and Rang Kul sub-basins are geographically associated with the Amu Darya basin, they are both closed drainage basins

Kara Kul

Chi tra l

ata g

a

K ar

y radar Katta A

kho

ob ing Kh

Kofarnihon

Kashkadarya

Karshi

Sur

T A J I K I S T A N

Source of Karatag

Source of Surkhandarya

Gharm

Source of Kofarnihon

Karakul

be

Chimtarga

d Sources of hka Kas Shahrisabz Kashkadarya

Muksu

Ba

U Z B E K I S T A Narya Koson

Yagnob

5490

I

Karakul Jirgatol

Zarafshan

Va

Panjakent

H

l ko

Ka sh ka da rya

Lenin Peak

She wa

Urgut

C

7134

Zarafshan glacier

S

T A N

s du Neelum

Bamyan

Source of Surkhab Band-e Amir 0

50

100 km

Map produced by ZOÏ Environment Network, March 2013

Charikar

t Swa

Bamyan Source of Bamyan 4951 Foladi peak

Mingora

I N D I A

Jalalabad

Kab ul

m

Wular Lake

ar Kun

Kabul

watersheds

Khujand

Mardan

Tarbela Reservoir

Abottabad

J h el

um

Srinagar

71

Groundwater in the mountains contains a wide range of minerals and is used for medical treatments (hot springs, cold springs and spas).

In both countries, groundwater is an important drinking water source, and especially in lowland Afghanistan is used for irrigation.

Karakul

yl Suu Kyz

7134 Lenin Peak Jirgatol

Kara Kul Gharm

2 / The Nurek reservoir in central Tajikistan, built in the 1970s with a storage capacity of up to 10 km3, is the largest reservoir in the basin.

Su

ob rkh

7495 Ismoil Somoni Peak

Kalai Khumb

6

2

Murgha b

Murghab

9

Aq

Ba

rt a n

g

Nurek Reservoir

Lake Sarez

su

10 / With a surface area of 380 km2, Karakul is the largest lake in the Amu Darya basin.

Savnob At almost 4Â 000 m in elevation, Karakul fills the ancient crater created by a meteorite.

1

Dushanbe

10

Yashilkul

il s u

4 K iz

Vose

Vak hs

Farkhor

Pa nj

Langar

Feyzabad Ko

kc

ha

j

3

Ishkashim

8

9 / Sarez lake in Tajikistan formed in 1911 as result of a landslide. n Wakh a The height of the natural dam is more than 600 m, and the lake holds 17 km3 of water.

Taloqan Kunduz

Ku

ndu

z

a f g h a n i s t a n

5

6/ The Panj river flows mainly through narrow canyons, and forms a border between Tajikistan and Afghanistan.

Baghlan Pol-e Khomri

7 / Shiva lake in Afghanistan formed as result of an ancient landslide.

8/ Another source of the Amu Darya, the Wakhan River flows through high mountain terrain in areas of low population.

Bamyan

Foladi peak

Pam

Khorog

7

5 / The Kunduz and Kokcha rivers in Afghanistan flow into the Amu Darya, and provide vital water for a large population.

4951

T a j i k i s t a n

P an

3/ The Amu Darya river starts at the confluence of the Vakhsh, Panj, Kunduz Rivers.

4 / Red soils suspended in the turbid waters of the Kyzylsuu River in southern Tajikistan give the river its distinctive colour. When water levels are low, the Kyzylsuu looks peaceful, but heavy rains bring devastating floods.

Gunt

ir

h

Qurghonteppa

Kulob

Kabul

  GROUNDWATER, RIVERS, LAKES AND RESERVOIRS

1/ The source of the Vakhsh River is in Kyrgyzstan, where it is called Kyzylsuu. A series of dams make the lower part of Vaksh the most developed river in the basin.

73

Suu Kyzyl

Istaravshan Samarkand

Source: Tajik Hydrometeorological Source: Tajik Hydrometeorological Service Service

120

100

100

80

80

60

60

40

40

20

20

0

0

m g

Yak shu

su ls u

Ta ir

Kiz i

Medium risk

Chit ral

Kofarni hon Vakhs h

Shew a

High risk of floods and mudflows to populated areas and infrastructure

Lake shape in 2010

1990

2000

Gilgit Rapid melting of glaciers due to high temperatures and glacial lakes outburst floods Indus

2010

Chitral

Heavy rainfall Rapid snowmelt Steepness of the river sub-basin

Charikar

Bamyan

Map produced by ZOÏ Environment Network, July 2013

average annual water discharge, m3 / sec 800 Navoiy Katta-Kurgan

BartangBartang

700

Ka U Z B sh ka da ry a

E K I S T A N

600

Gunt Gunt 500

TURKMENISTAN Atamyrat

Am

Yazgulem Yazgulem

u Vakhsh D ar y a

Hydrograph of the Panj River in 2005

400 in Khamadoni district, Tajikistan Flood

Shakhdara Shakhdara 1950 Water1940 discharge, m3/sec

Sheberghan

1960

5 000 Source: Tajik Hydrometeorological Peak flood in JuneService

3 000

1 000 0

J F M A M J J A S O N D

K Y R G Y Z S T A N

120 35-40 hours Kalai Khumb

Vahdat

100

Nurek Reservoir Qurghonteppa Vose Farkhor

Shar-i Tuz River at Komsomolobad Termiz

un

du

15-20 hours 5 m Savnob

2m

Dushanbe

Tursunzoda

80

z

Kunduz

Kulob

60

25 hours 2m

40 hours 65-75 2m Ko kc ha 20

Lake Sarez

Murghab

Murgh ab

5 hours 8m

Tashkurgan 1 km³ of rock into the lake.

Generation of large wave and overtopping flood with a volume of 87 million m³ of water

Possibility of formation of a temporary dam Yazgulem at the Panj River by Sarez flood debris Khorog Langar

Feyzabad

1960

1950

1940

Source: Tajik Hydrometeorological Service

Shakhdara

level fluctuation

1970

1980

1990 95

Chitral International boundary Amu Darya watershed

3 255 3 250

Bamyan

C H I N A

Taloqan0

Lake Sarez water m Baghlan 3 265 Monthly Pol-e Khomrifluctuations 3 260

3 245

Kashgar H e

Gunt Slope instability and possible sliding of

A F G H A N I S T A N

1970Mazar-i-Sharif 1980 Kholm 1990 95 Samangan

100 km

Karakul Jirgatol Kara Kul 1.5-2.5 m/s estimated flood wave velocity for the mountainous part of the Bartang and Panj Rivers

Gharm

T A J I K I S T A N

Sar-e Pol Sarez Lake is prone to several risk factors, the likeliest of which is a rock-­ slide that triggers a wave capable of overtopping the dam. The volume of rocks sliding into the lake, the weather conditions and many other factors would determine the actual flood behaviour.

50

Map produced by ZOÏ Environment Network, March 2013

Bartang

140

Balkh

0

Sary-Tash

160

Panjakent

Denov

PA K I S TA N

180

Istaravshan

Hisor

t Swa

Kab ul variability Mardan River flow in the Panj basin

Batken

Karshi

r

average annual water discharge, m3 / sec Isfara 200

Jizzakh

Shahrisabz

na

Mingora

Jalalabad

Khujand

Zara fsha n Samarkand

Ku

Kabul

River flow variability in the Vakhsh basin

2 000

74

ry a

100 km

4 000 1970 1970 95 1980 1980 1990 1990 95 1940 19401950 19501960 1960

Source: Tajik Hydrometeorological Source: Tajik Hydrometeorological Service Service

Kokcha

a

120

anda

rya Kofa rnihon Vakhs h

1970 1970 95 1980 1980 1990 1990 95 1940 19401950 19501960 1960

140

u

K

u

1980

i

h

s

Pan j

Balk h

400

140

Langar

UpperusAmu Darya watershed d Early warning system installed on lake dam, Bartang Valley and Dushanbe In

400

50

S aigh a n

K

at Komsomolobad VakhshVakhsh River atRiver Komsomolobad

160

Tashkurgan Gunt

nj Pa

500

160

n

ew

d

n 1960 1970

H

nj Pa

500

600

180

r ta

Andarab

average dischange, average annualannual water water dischange, m³/secm³/sec

180

le

Surkhab

variability the Panj RiverRiver flow flow variability in theinPanj basinbasin 200

Z ard

3 240 1950

Pol-e Khomri

Murghab

Lake Sarez

A F G H A N I S T A N

Mardan

200

J F M A M J J A S O N D

Scale of average annual flow (m³/s) 0

Monthly fluctuations Feyzabad

Ko 3 260 kc ha

rin

r

Murgh ab

Chit ral

600

700

1000

ah

Baghlan

Vakhs h

700

800

PA K I S TA N

0

gu

Ba

3 245

Samangan

i

Kashgar

Lake shape in 2010

Charikar

3 240 1950

1960 1970

Kabul

1980

1990

na

r

u 2000 K2010

Jalalabad

Kab ul

Mingora wat 0S

PAKISTAN Mardan

50

100 km

Map produced by ZOÏ Environment Network, March 2013

Sarez Lake flood risk scenario

800

r

Kab ul

Jalalabad

average discharge, average annualannual water water discharge, m³/secm³/sec

na

600

400

z

Ab

Rag

ba Khana d Taloqan an 3 250 Kunduz gi

an Bamy

Ku

Mingora t Swa

2010

200

800

Kholm

m

Khorog Lake Sarezhwater level fluctuation

3 255

du

a

Savnob

nj Pa

0

Indus

un

1 000

Snow-glacier feeding Gilgit Snow-rain feeding

Lake Lake shape shape in 2010 in 2010

3 240 3 240 1950 1970 1960 1980 1970 1990 1980 2000 1990 2010 2000 1950 1960

Kabul

variability the Vakhsh RiverRiver flow flow variability in theinVakhsh basinbasin

Glacier-snow feeding

Chitral

3 245

3 245

uD a rya

P

h uc

3 250

3 n250

Charikar Bamyan

u

Shar-i Tuz

m 3 265

3 000

2 000

nj Va

rd Wa

3 255

d

Farkhor Pa nj

Kulob Vose

ad sh

N I S T A N

4 000

an Wakh

Langar

Qurghonteppa

Kuf

Ma

0 A F G H A J F M A JMF JMJ AA MS JO JNADS O N D

Water discharge, m /sec 5 000 Peak flood in June

ir Pam

Kara Kul

z Ya

q

H

Pol-e Khomri

3

Nurek Res.

Rust a

0

1 000

i

Flood in Khamadoni district, Tajikistan

3 265 u 120 fluctuations Monthly Monthly fluctuations K 3 260

3 260

Baghlan

Samangan

Gunt

Denov

Hydrograph of the Panj River in 2005

Tashkurgan

Kalai Khumb

Vahdat

Tursunzoda

Karakul

T A J I K I S T A N

Dushanbe

Hisor

N

1 000

2 000

CHINA

Aq

Shahrisabz

Karshi

h Lake Sarezlevel water levelsfluctuation LakemSarez water fluctuation

3 255

Sar-e2Pol 000

r

34

198 Taloqan

z Kunduz

ta n

Feyzabad m 3 265

Murghab

Murgh ab

104 Khorog

h

C H I N A

Jirgatol

B

du

r

K

Kholm

K

i

b Surkho Gharm gob n Khi

Am

3 000 Mazar-i-Sharif

un

c ok

Savnob

m

nj Pa

106

795

a

Lake Sarez Ba

P a nj

K i z il s u

3 000

4 000

Kulob

1010

K

Sheberghan

51

Vose

Farkhor

563

3 3 Water m discharge, m /sec Water discharge, /sec Shar-i Tuz 5 000 5 000 Termiz ry a Peak flood in June Peak flood in June 1950

Balkh

Va

P

36 133

Qurghonteppa

u Da

4 000

Kalai Khumb

Nurek Reservoir

T URK ME N IS TA N Hydrograph the Panj River in 2005 Hydrograph of the PanjofRiver in 2005 Atamyrat Flood in Khamadoni T 162 ajikistan Flood in Khamadoni district, T district, ajikistan

Am

Vahdat

Tursunzoda

Surk han da

Denov

160

rkh

U Z B E K I S T A N

T A J I K I S T A N

Su

Dushanbe

Hisor

313 ob Gharm hing K

Panjakent

E K I S T A N

rya

Karshi

h

Ka U Z B sh ka da ry a

Kara Kul

Surk han da

S urk 604

Karakul

112 M uksu

g

Shahrisabz

ob

nj

Panjakent Ka sh ka da ry a

uu Kyzyl S

Istaravshan

Kashgar H e

Sary-Tash

74

Jirgatol

h

Zarafshan

K Y R G Y Z S T A N

Batken

Jizzakh

Zara fsha n Samarkand

Katta-Kurgan

Chit ral

Katta-Kurgan

Sary-Tash

B alk

Jizzakh

Isfara

Khujand

Navoiy

Kashgar H e

su

Annual river flow

K Y R G Y Z S T A N

Batken

Environmental factors controlling floods

Isfara

Khujand

Navoiy

Kashgar

75

Isfara

Jizzakh Navoiy Katta-Kurgan

Batken

Khaidarkan

K Y R G Y Z S T A Nu

Istaravshan

Zara fshan

Kashgar He

Sary-Tash

Kashgar

yl Su Kyz

Daroot-Korgon Samarkand

C

7134 Lenin Peak

N

Karakul

Panjakent

Jirgatol Chimtarga

Shahrisabz

A

Kara Kul

5490

U Z B E K I S T A N

Ka sh ka da rya Koson

I

Gez

Urgut

H

Gharm

Su

ob rkh

7495 Ismoil Somoni Peak

T A J I K I S T A N

P

a

m

i

r

Karshi

Dushanbe Hisor

Lake Sarez

Savnob

Murgha b

Murghab Aq

su

Tursunzoda

Kalai Khumb

Vahdat

T A J I K I S T A N

Ba

rt a n

g

Nurek Reservoir

Denov

Tashkurgan

Yashilkul

Pam

ir

Khorog

Langar

Feyzabad

Pan j

kc

j

ha

Mazar-i-Sharif

K

Kunduz

Kholm

Safid

ndu

z

Samangan

Baghlan

i

ul m

Pol-e Khomri

Kh

H

n

u

d

m

Gilgi t

7708 Tirich Mir

Gilgit

Indu

Seismic risk Chitral

P A

r u

s

Balk hab

Ku

Sar-e Pol

Hun

7690 Noshaq

Chi tra l

Sheberghan

Taloqan

K a r a k o za

u

Ishkashim

Andkhvoy Balkh

Wa k h a n

s

P an

Ko

h

h

Farkhor

Shar-i Tuz

Termiz

Gunt

Vose

K iz

Qurghonteppa

Vak hs

Amu Da rya

Surkha ndar ya

Atamyrat

Kofarni hon

TURK M E N I S TA N

il s u

Kulob

  Extreme Weather Events and Natural Disasters

Khujand

very high

K

I

S T A

high

N

moderate Epicentres of significant earthquakes (from 1900 to present)

F

G

H

A

N

I

S

T A

N

Pa

In

A

hir njs Risk of landslides

s du

Risk of flooding and mudflows

Neelum

Risk of major avalanches Harsh winters

Charikar t Swa

Bamyan 4951 Foladi peak

Glacial lakes and lake outburst flood risk areas

Mingora

ar Kun

Kabul Jalalabad

Kab ul

0

Mardan

I N D I A

Locust invasions

Tarbela Reservoir

50

100 km

Map produced by ZOĂ? Environment Network, Marche2013 lu m

Abottabad

Jh

Wular Lake

Srinagar

77

yl Suu Kyz

7134 Lenin Peak Karakul Jirgatol

7 Gharm

Su

Kara Kul

ob rkh

4

7495

7 / Earthquakes associated with intense geologic movements may not occur very often, but they can cause significant damage when they do occur.

Ismoil Somoni Peak

1

Dushanbe

Kalai Khumb

Savnob

Lake Sarez

Murgha b

Ba

rt a n

g

Nurek Reservoir

Aq

su

6

Murghab

T a j i k i s t a n Yashilkul

h

Vose

K iz

Qurghonteppa

Vak hs

5

2

Farkhor

Pa nj

Langar

a f g h a n i s t a n

Ishkashim

Taloqan Kunduz

Ku

ndu

z

3

Baghlan Pol-e Khomri

3 / Droughts, which occur on average once per decade and affect large areas, trigger migration and may lead to water disputes at the local or interstate level. Unprepared for the lack of water, people suffer serious economic damages.

Bamyan 4951 Foladi peak

Kabul

n

j

ha

Wakh a

P an

kc

Pam

Khorog

Feyzabad

Ko

2 / Flash floods cause serious damage.

New settlements in flood-prone areas by people who either do not know the rules or ignore them, and a limited early warning and forecasting system make the situation worse.

Gunt

ir

il s u

Kulob

4/ A glacier avalanche occurs when an unstable surging glacier such as Didal, at the top of a mountain collapses and goes downhill, destroying everything in its path. Such events are rare, but cause considerable local damage.

6 / Sarez lake is located in a seismically active area, and an earthquake may damage the dam resulting in the release of a large amount of water. A huge rock collapse into the lake may cause a tsunami.

5/ In many locations in the mountains, glacial lakes form in front of, on top of, or hidden under glaciers. If the ice dam suddenly breaks, the outburst flood can cause significant damage.

  Impacts of natural disasters

1/ Snow avalanches occur in many parts of the Amu Darya basin, and present real hazards for roads and other infrastructure in some areas.

In severe winters avalanches can cause many casualties.

79

yl Suu Kyz

7134 Lenin Peak Karakul

In the harsh desert environment, both wild and Kara Kul domestic animals browse the Murgab Teresken bush. With no other energy source, the population uses teresken as fuel. Under these pressures, the slow-growing teresken may be eradicated.

Jirgatol Gharm

Dushanbe

kho

b

7495 Ismoil Somoni Peak

Kalai Khumb

The melting of glaciers due to the accumulated effects of climate change adds to other environmental concerns.

Lake Sarez

Murgha b

Murghab

Aq

Ba

rt a n

g

Nurek Reservoir

Savnob

su

T a j i k i s t a n Yashilkul

Kulob

il s u

h

Vose

K iz

Qurghonteppa

Gunt

Vak hs

Farkhor

Pam

Khorog

Pa nj

Langar

Feyzabad

kc

Wakh a

n

The illegal hunting or collecting animals and plants is difficult to control in remote mountain conditions.

Because the poachers and collectors cross borders, a common approach is necessary.

P an

Ko

ir

Improper irrigation practices in Tajikistan have eroded large areas and built up salts in the soil.

Central Asia farmers can learn from the example of Afghanistan.

Municipal waste management systems are non-existent in Afghanistan, and underdeveloped in Tajikistan.

While progress is limited, the problem is not yet great, but will increase as urban populations grow.

Sur

j

ha

Ishkashim Taloqan Kunduz Local pollution

a f g h a n i s t a n Groundwater in the region is under growing stress.

In Afghanistan the pumping of groundwater for irrigation, the demands of a growing population and the lack of sanitary controls all affect groundwater availability and quality, while in Tajikistan pollution related to poor waste management practices leads to groundwater contamination.

Ku

ndu

z

hotspots require action by citizens and authorities in both countries.

Baghlan Pol-e Khomri

Deforestation, overgrazing and soil compaction in mountain areas have caused significant damage in Afghanistan.

Similar damage is on the rise in Tajikistan.

Bamyan 4951 Foladi peak

Kabul

Both Afghanistan and Tajikistan have suffered through wars that resulted in environmental degradation.

Because of the lack of attention to the environment, the impacts still echo across the countries.

  Key Environmental Concerns

Tajikistan has more legacy hazardous waste than Afghanistan, where military waste is a serious local issue that has not been addressed.

81

K y r g y z s t a n

7134 Lenin Peak Karakul Jirgatol Gharm

Dushanbe

Su

ob rkh

Kalai Khumb

Kara Kul

In the Soviet era, 7495 glaciers were well researched, Ismoilmonitoring Somoni Peak but after independence was neglected. Now monitoring – both manual and automatic – is being restored, an important development because glaciers determine water conditions in the basin.

Savnob

Lake Sarez

Murgha b

Murghab Aq

su

Ba

rt a n

g

Nurek Reservoir

The countries have recently advanced their relations on environmental matters, and have signed useful agreements on cooperation.

Now that the paperwork is done, they are ready to move on to more practical measures.

T a j i k i s t a n Yashilkul

il s u

Kulob K iz

Vose

Vak hs

Farkhor

In spite of sharing their m Tajikistan rivers, AfghanistanP aand have had only limited exchanges of forecasting and hydrological information, a situation that has Langar n put constraints on both countries, Wakh a but the growing cooperation is helping to improve information exchange.

Khorog

Pa nj

ir

h

Qurghonteppa

Gunt

Feyzabad

kc

j

ha

P an

Ko

Ishkashim Taloqan Kunduz

a f g h a n i s t a n The planting of forests was first practiced for village amenity values, and now includes the use of wood for construction and fuel. Experience exchange may improve these centuriesold reforestation techniques.

z

ndu Ku

Experience exchange and mutual training are key steps in advancing to the next stage of cooperation. The development of more operational and technical cooperation should be encouraged.

Baghlan Pol-e Khomri

Regional cooperation on Hydrometeorology and Environmental Protection

yl Suu Kyz

Bamyan 4951 Foladi peak

Kabul

83

Priority areas for cooperation Both Afghanistan and Tajikistan recognize the historical gaps in the hydrological monitoring that is crucial to the development of hydropower and agriculture and to interstate water relations. Both are taking steps to rectify the situation, but improving the monitoring on the Amu Darya is not a simple matter of installing equipment. The countries need to agree on a range of issues from methodology, measurements and data exchange to the placement of monitoring stations and the provision of security for the monitors.

Climate change, the protection of biodiversity and the preparation for natural disasters add more challenges. The geographic complexities of the region combined with the inherent uncertainties associated with global warming mean that the countries need to agree on a strategy for employing climate models. Climate scientists use many different models in making their projections because a wide range of model results leads to better forecasts, and the Afghan-Tajik cooperation may want to follow that example. The conflict-free management of water and food security is inextricably linked to land use, soil conservation and drought mitigation. Better knowledge and exchange of good practices on land and water resource management at the local and basin levels, the use of appropriate soil and water conservation technologies and agrometeorological advice may help improve the environmental security of the region. On biodiversity protection, the countries can take practical steps to adopt common standards, principles and monitoring to develop the most efficient interventions – ­reforestation in one location or the reintroduction of animal species in another, for example.

Natural disasters do not respect borders and can originate far from where they strike. Mutual forecasting and early warning systems can prevent or limit damage, and common emergency procedures and the provision of aid can ameliorate the suffering.

Differences in institutional responsibilities between the countries create the potential for confusion and inefficiency. One ministry in one of the countries may have responsibilities that are spread among three ministries in the other country. Successful collaboration does not depend upon the countries having identical administrative schemes, but each needs to be aware of how the other operates.

As Tajikistan prepares to host an international conference in Dushanbe to mark the United ­Nations International Year of Water Cooperation, this atlas of cooperation confirms the value of transboundary efforts to manage and protect the vast resources of the Amu Darya basin.

A framework for cooperation: Technical Task Force on hydrology and the environment On 25 October 2010, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Republic of Tajikistan signed the agreement, "On cooperation in the field of development and management of water sources of the Panj/Amu Darya River basin". The countries subsequently established a Technical Task Force (TTF) on hydrology and the environment. Existing agreements, meeting decisions and the Terms of Reference guide the TTF, and in carrying out its activities related to hydrology, the TTF will consider the guidance and consultation of the World Meteorological Organization. The responsibilities of the TTF include conducting a comprehensive analysis of the basin, and coordinating the planning and implementation of hydrological and environmental monitoring, research, assessments and joint activities in the common interest of the states. The underlying goals of TTF activities are to strengthen cooperation and to promote coherent hydrological and environmental policies between the countries. International organizations with relevant mandates may provide scientific, technical and other support to the cooperation process, as necessary.

Initial cooperation activities for 2013–2014 General activities

Compile a list of each country’s ongoing and planned projects and activities that have cross-border benefits or increase the scope for efficient collaboration on hydrological and environmental matters Facilitate procedures for members and observers of the Task Force (border access, visas) -

Hydrology activities

Compile fact sheets listing hydrological and data transfer equipment, locations and status of hydro­ logical stations, and the needs and plans for modernization (focus on Panj River) Establish points of contact, and draft procedures and agreements on the sharing and exchange of hydrological data – routine, historical and data for flood emergencies and forecasts Facilitate installation of the new automated hydrological station on Sherhan-Bandar bridge, Panj River; pilot data exchange; catalyse support for the new hydrological station at Ayvaj, Amu Darya River Establish snow cover monitoring, especially in the range of elevations of 2 000–4 500 m, using common approaches; collect and exchange data Conduct joint glacier survey and assessment; collect and exchange data -

Environment activities

Establish experience and data exchange on national communications and activities on climate change mitigation, adaptation and resilience Establish experience and data exchange for agrometeorological services, and conduct joint work on early warning and mitigation of extreme climate-related events such as locust infestations, droughts and floods Conduct joint work on conservation and monitoring of globally significant biodiversity in near-border protected areas, wetlands, migratory species habitats and ecological corridors Map genetic resources and important ecosystem services in the Upper Amu Darya basin Facilitate afforestation and reforestation programmes and sustainable land management, including documentation of good practices and their replication Conduct joint survey and assessment of environmental quality and the state of the environment in the Panj/Amu Darya basin, and elaborate common environmental indicators and priorities Provide capacity-building and training on environmental reporting and shared environment information systems in the Amu Darya basin countries and provinces Work jointly on raising awareness of environmental challenges, success stories and good practices in the Upper Amu Darya basin; conduct training for young professions and students Participate in international and regional environmental processes and relevant conventions

References Specific references and notes: p. 13 two graphs at the right bottom:

Amu Darya hydrograph 1950–2010

Data analysis: SIC ICWC (→ www.cawater-info.net). Data source: National hydrometeorological services of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan p. 14 map at the bottom:

Regional land and water issues

Sources: ENVSEC Amu Darya 2011; FAO LADA Land Degradation Assessment (→ www.fao.org/nr/land/degradation/en/); Central Asian Countries Initiative for Land Management; Environment and Security Initiative regional consultations in Ashgabat (Sep 2007) and Kabul (Nov 2007) and regional field missions (May 2008); National State of the Environment reports. Data analysis on drainage water use and discharge: SIC ICWC (→ www.cawater-info.net) p. 15, two maps on the top:

Change in temperature 1951‒2001 and Change in precipitation 1951‒2001

Sources: U.K. Climate Research Unit (data synthesis → www.cli matewizard.org) and compilation of information from the First and Second National Communications to the UNFCCC p. 15, map at the bottom:

Regional climate change and natural disaster impacts

Sources: First and Second National Communications to the ­UNFCCC; ENVSEC, 2011; UNEP, 2009; Zoi, 2009 p. 16, two graphs at the bottom:

Amu Darya freshwater withdrawals per country and Water inputs to Amu Darya

Data analysis: SIC ICWC (→ www.cawater-info.net). Data source: National hydrometeorological services of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Additional source: Diagnostic report on water resources in Central Asia SIC ICWC 2002 p. 17, map on the top:

Population

Sources: LandScan Global Population Database 2007, Oak Ridge, TN, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (→ www.ornl.gov/sci/lands can); World Gazetteer 2012 (→ www.world-gazetteer.com); Afghan Energy Information Centre (→ www.afghaneic.org) p. 17, map at the bottom:

Infrastructure

Sources: Central Asia Sustainable Mountain Development Report, 2012; Wikipedia, Rail transport in Afghanistan (→ en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Rail_transport_in_Afghanistan); CASA-1000 Project (→ casa1000.org); Electric power sector of Tajikistan, Barki Tojik, 2011; ­Afghan Energy Information Centre (→ afghaneic.org); Russian ­Atlas of the Energy Resources in the 21st Century

p. 40–41, map:

Land cover

Sources: Global Land Cover 2000 database, European Commission, Joint Research Centre, 2003 (→ bioval.jrc.ec.europa.eu/ products/glc2000/glc2000.php); GlobCover 2009, European Space Agency (→ ionia1.esrin.esa.int); Global Land Cover Characterization (→ edc2.usgs.gov/glcc/glcc.php); Tajikistan’s State of the Environment Report 2002 (→ enrin.grida.no/htmls/tadjik/soe2001/eng/); Land use map produced by Central Asian Countries Initiative for Land Management, 2010; Afghanistan land cover map produced by OCHA and AIMS (→ afg.humanitarianresponse.info/mapcentre); Hindu Kush / Himalaya land cover mapping (→ http://www.glcn. org/databases/hima_landcover_en.jsp)

Landsat 7, 1997–2003 (→ http://landsat.gsfc.nasa.gov)

Temperature in July

Sources: WorldClim (→ www.worldclim.org); national climate data

Main ecosystems

Source: World Wildlife Fund’s Terrestrial Eco-regions of the World (→ w orldwildlife.org/publications/terrestrial-ecoregions-of-theworld)­ p. 42, maps in the middle:

Vavilov’s centres of origin and Global biodiversity hotspots

Sources: National Geographic; Global biodiversity hotspots: (→ www.biodiversityhotspots.org/xp/hotspots/resources/Pages/maps. aspx) p. 43, map on the top:

High threats to human water security

Source: Rivers in Crisis database (→ riverthreat.net/nature.html).

Scientific background: Global threats to human water security and river biodiversity. C. Vorosmarty, P. McIntyre, M. Gessner, D. ­Dudgeon, A. Prusevich, P. Green, S. Glidden, S. Bunn, C.A. ­Sullivan, C. Reidy Liermann and P. Davies, Nature 467, 555–561 (30 September 2010)

Annual Precipitation

p. 64, false-colour satellite image:

p. 55, map at the bottom:

Source: NASA Visible Earth (→ visibleearth.nasa.gov/view. php?id=78967). NASA image created by Jesse Allen and Robert Simmon, using Landsat data from the USGS Earth Explorer

Sources: WorldClim (→ www.worldclim.org); national climate data

Meteorological stations

Sources: Tajik hydrometeorological service; Watershed Atlas of Afghanistan, 2004 p. 56, two maps in the middle:

Global annual temperature change in 1991–2012 and Global annual temperature anomalies in 2012

Source: NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (→ data.giss. nasa.gov) p. 58, four maps:

Future regional climate projections

Sources: REMO model results generated by the University of Wuerzburg in the framework of the CAWa project funded by the German Federal Foreign Office as part of the “Berlin Process”. B. Mannig, M. Müller, E. Starke, C. Merkenschlager, W. Mao, X. Zhi, R. Podzun, D. Jacob, and H. Paeth, 2013: Dynamical downscaling of climate change in Central Asia. Submitted to Global and Planetary Change

Climate change impacts on glaciers and rivers

Sources: National biodiversity strategies; National red lists; Wikipedia p. 44–45, map:

p. 60–61, map:

Flagship and migratory species

Protected areas

Sources: World Database on Protected Areas (→ protectedplanet. net); BirdLife International (→ www.birdlife.org); The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (→ www.ramsar.org) p. 52–53, satellite image:

Dust storm in Afghanistan, June 2008

Source: NASA Earth Observatory (→ earthobservatory.nasa.gov/ NaturalHazards/view.php?id=20079); NASA image created by Jesse Allen, using data provided courtesy of the MODIS Rapid ­Response team p. 54, map on the top:

Temperature in January

Sources: WorldClim (→ www.worldclim.org); national climate data

Fedchenko glacier in Tajikistan, October 2011

p. 65, photo and graph on the bottom:

Fedchenko glacier retreat

Data: A. Lambrecht, Ch. Mayer, V. Aizen, D. Floricioiu, A. Surazakov,­ 2012: The Fedchenko glacier evolution in the Pamir during eight decades. (→ www.asiacryoweb.org/wiki/pub/Publications/PapersPrepared/Lambrecht_et_al_Fechenko_ice_thickness_ submitted_2012.pdf); Iwata, Sh., 2010: Mapping Features of Fedchenko Glacier, the Pamirs, Central Asia from Space. Geographical Studies №84 (2009). Rikkyo University, Japan (→ www.ehs.unu. edu/palm/file/get/8432); Tajik hydrometeorological service. Note that glacier terminus retreat contours are generalized. p. 66, satellite image:

Medveji glacier in Tajikistan, July 2011

Source: NASA Visible Earth (→ visibleearth.nasa.gov/view. php?id=51498). NASA image created by Jesse Allen and Robert Simmon, using EO-1 ALI data provided courtesy of the NASA EO-1 team and USGS p. 68–69, map:

p. 59, map on the top:

Sources: Expert analysis of glacier vulnerability and changes by A. Yablokov, Tajik hydrometeorological service; Modelling of temperature and precipitation changes and hydrological responses: ADB, 2011: Climate Resiliency for Natural Resources Investments. Final Report

p. 44–45, map:

projects/CATCOS.html) Note: The values from 1994 to 2011 are based on model reconstruction and not on instrumental records.

Contributors and collaborators: Matthias Huss, Martin Hoelzle, ­Nadine Salzmann, Erlan Azisov, Ryskul Usubaliev, Abror Gafurov, Aleksander Merkushkin.

p. 55, map on the top:

p. 42, map at the top:

p. 36–37:

Landsat image

p. 54, map at the bottom:

Climate change concerns and vulnerability

Sources: Second National Communication of Tajikistan to the ­UNFCCC; Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, 2003: National Action Plan for Climate Change Mitigation; UNEP, 2009; Tajikistan’s Pilot Programme for Climate Resilience (PPCR), 2011: Improving the Climate Resilience of Tajikistan’s Hydropower Sector. Final Report. R. Wilby, M. Friedhoff, R. Connell, B. Rabb, N. Minikulov, A. Homidov, M. Shodmanov and N. Leonidova, eds. p. 63, graph:

Abramov glacier mass balance 1969–2012

Source of instrumental records 1969–1998: Uzbek hydrometeorological service and SANIGMI. Data analysis by Martina Barandun, University of Fribourg. Data acquisition at Abramov Glacier is ­financed by the Swiss project CATCOS (→ www.meteoschweiz.­ admin.ch/web/en/meteoswiss/international_affairs/international_

River density and hydrological monitoring network Sources: Tajik hydrometeorological service; Watershed Atlas of Afghanistan, 2004; Ministry of energy and water of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan p. 70–71, map:

Watersheds

Source: USGS HydroSHEDS (→ hydrosheds.cr.usgs.gov/) p. 74, map:

Annual river flow

Sources: Tajik hydrometeorological service; Atlas of the Tajik SSR, 1968; Atlas of the Tajik SSR, 1986; USGS 2010. p. 75, map on the top:

Environmental factors controlling floods

Sources: Tajik hydrometeorological service; Tajik committee for emergency situations; Flood research conducted by MNV Consulting, R. Johnson in the framework of Tajikistan flood management project in 2001 (→ mnvconsulting.eu/2009/12/31/mnv-in-asia-envi ronmental-factors-controlling-floods-in-tajikistan); Afghan disaster management authority; E. Hagen, NC3A, 2008: Afghanistan Flood Hazard Map v.2. 1:100 000; USAID iMMAP

p. 75, map at the bottom:

Sarez Lake flood risk scenario

Principal source: USGS, 2006: Usoi Dam Wave Overtopping and Flood Routing in the Bartang and Panj Rivers, Tajikistan. J. Risley, J. Walder, and R. Denlinger, eds., USGS Water Resources Investigations Report 03-4004. Additional sources: Sarez disaster: geophysical forecast by L. Papyrin (→ sarez-lake.ru/monograph/); ISDR, 2007: Sarez Lake. The latest achievements and unsolved problems. Data on water level: Tajik hydrometeorological service p. 76–77, map:

Extreme weather events and natural disasters

Sources: Global Seismic Hazard Assessment Program (→ www. seismo.ethz.ch/static/GSHAP); National Geophysical Data Center/World Data Service’s Significant Earthquake Database, Boulder, Colorado, U.S. (→ www.ngdc.noaa.gov/nndc/struts/ form?t=101650&s=1&d=1); Global Risk Data Platform, UNEP/ GRID-Geneva (→ preview.grid.unep.ch); Afghanistan natural hazards maps produced by OCHA (→ afg.humanitarianresponse.info/ mapcentre)

Second Assessment of Transboundary Rivers, Lakes and Groundwater. Available from: http://www.unece.org/?id=26343

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2010a: Global Forest Resources Assessment: Afghanistan.

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), 2012: Report and the Proceedings of the Regional Meeting on Environment and Hydrology Cooperation Between Afghanistan and Tajikistan, Dushanbe, Tajikistan, March 27–29, 2012

__________, 2010b: Global Forest Resources Assessment: Tajikistan.

National Biodiversity and Biosafety Centre and the Governmental Workgroup, 2003: Tajikistan’s National Strategy and Action Plan on Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity (NBSAP)

Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, 2008: Afghanistan National Development Strategy. Water Resource Management Strategy 2007–2012.

National Biodiversity and Biosafety Centre and the Governmental Workgroup, 2009: Tajikistan’s Fourth National Report on Implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity

Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, 2006: National Environmental Action Plan of the Republic of Tajikistan.

Shiklomanov A., 1999: World Water Resources and Their Use. A joint publication of the State Hydrological Institute of Russia (SHI) and UNESCO International Hydrological Programme. Available from: http://webworld.unesco.org/water/ihp/db/shiklomanov/

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), 2009: The 3rd United Nations World Water Development Report: Water in a Changing World. Available from: http:// www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/water/ wwap/wwdr/wwdr3-2009/downloads-wwdr3/ United Nations Environment Programme (UNDP), 2005: Severskiy, I., Chervanyov, I., Ponomarenko, Y., Novikova, N.M., Miagkov, S.V., Rautalahti, E. and D. Daler. Aral Sea, GIWA Regional assessment 24. University of Kalmar, Sweden. Available from http:// www.unep.org/dewa/giwa/areas/reports/r24/giwa_regional_assess ment_24.pdf United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and National Environmental Protection Agency of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (NEPA), 2008: Afghanistan’s environment 2008. Available from: http://postconflict.unep.ch/publications/afg_soe_E.pdf

p. 80–81, map:

Key environmental concerns

Sources: compilation of information from the State of the Environment reports of Afghanistan and Tajikistan, minutes and presentations of environmental meetings and expert interviews

Main background documents: Asian Development Bank, 2010: Central Asia Atlas of Natural Resources. Available from http://www.adb.org/publications/centralasia-atlas-natural-resources Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Afghanistan Information Management Service (AIMS), 2004: Watershed Atlas of Afghanistan. 1st edition. R. Favre, G. M. Kamal, eds. Available from: http://aizon.org/watershed_atlas.htm Hoelzle M. and S. Wagner, 2010: Glacier Volume Changes in the Panj and Vakhsh Basins. Application of simple parameterizations to estimate past and future glacier change in the Panj and Vakhsh river basins. Report for FAO. Available from: http://cashmereforum. files.wordpress.com/2010/06/glacier-volume-changes-in-the-panjand-vakhsh-basins.pdf.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), 2007: Fourth Assessment Report. Available from: http://www.ipcc.ch

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and National Environmental Protection Agency of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (NEPA), 2009: Afghanistan. National capacity needs self-assessment for global environmental management (NCSA) and national adaptation programme of action for climate change (NAPA). Final joint report. Available from: http://unfccc.int/resource/ docs/napa/afg01.pdf United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Regional Environmental Centre (REC) and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), 2011: Environment and Security in the Amu Darya River basin. Available at: http://www. envsec.org/publications University of Central Asia, Zoї Environment Network, Mountain Partnership, GRID-Arendal, 2012: Sustainable Mountain Development. From Rio 1992 to 2012 and beyond. Central Asia Mountains.

G. Hughes, ed. Available from http://msrc.ucentralasia.org/events. asp?Nid=355 USGS, 2010: Streamflow characteristics at streamgages in Northern Afghanistan and selected locations. S. Olson and T. WilliamsSether, eds. USGS Data series report # 529. Available from: http:// pubs.usgs.gov/ds/529/

National Geographic, 2008: National Geographic Visual Atlas of the World.

Additional references:

Tajikistan’s Pilot Programme for Climate Resilience (PPCR), 2012: Climate Resiliency for Natural Resources Investments. Final Report. Available from: http://www.ppcr.tj

Agaltseva, N. 2008. Prospective change of the Central Asian rivers runoff with glaciers feeding under different climate scenarios. In: Geophysical Research Abstracts, Vol. 10, EGU2008-A-00464.

Safarov N. and V. Novikov, 2003: Tajikistan’s State of the Environment Report 2002. On-line version produced by the Laboratory of Nature Protection under the Ministry for Nature Protection of the Republic Tajikistan. Available from: http://enrin.grida.no/htmls/­ tadjik/soe2001/eng/index.htm

Breu, Th. and Hurni, H., 2003: The Tajik Pamirs: Challenges of Sustainable Development in an Isolated Mountain Region. Centre for Development and Environment, University of Bern.

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), 2011:

Centre for Policy and Human Development (CPHD) of the Kabul University, 2011: Afghanistan Human Development Report. The Forgotten Front: Water Security and the Crisis in Sanitation.

__________, 2007a: Concept of transition to sustainable development of the Republic of Tajikistan. __________, 2007b: National development strategy of the Republic of Tajikistan to 2015.

Hagg W., 2010: Climate Impact Study on Stream Flow. Application of a hydrological model to simulate present and future streamflow in the Panj and Vakhsh river basins. Available from: http://cash mereforum.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/climate-impact-study-onstream-flow.pdf Haslinger, A., 2004: The Challenges of Nature Conservation in the Tajik National Park. Centre for Development and Environment, University of Bern.

Immerzeel W., A. Lutz and P. Droogers, 2012: Climate Change Impacts on the Upstream Water Resources of the Amu and Syr Darya River Basins. Technical report for Asian Development Bank study “Water and Adaptation Interventions in Central and West Asia”. Available from: http://www.futurewater.nl/wp-content/up loads/2012/03/Upstream_Report_FW_web.pdf Klein I., U. Gessner, C. Kuenzer, 2012: Regional land cover mapping and change detection in Central Asia using MODIS time-­ series. Applied Geography 35 (2012) 1–16.

Main Administration on Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring under the Ministry for Nature Protection of the Republic Tajikistan, 2002: Tajikistan’s First National Communication under the Framework Convention on Climate Change. Available from: http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/natc/tainc1.pdf Main Administration on Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring under the Ministry for Nature Protection of the Republic Tajikistan, 2003: Tajikistan’s National Action Plan on Climate Change Mitigation. B. Makhmadaliev, V. Novikov, A. Kayumov and U. Karimov, eds. Available from: http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/ nap/tainap01e.pdf Nosenko, G., Kotlyakov, V. et al. 2009. Assessment of glacier changes in mountain regions of the Former Soviet Union using recent satellite data and historical data sets. Proceedings of the International Workshop on the Northern Eurasia High Mountain Ecosystems, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, September 8–15, 2009.

Pamir-Alai Land Management (PALM), 2011: Strategy and Action Plan for Sustainable Land Management in the High Pamir and Pamir-Alai Mountains. Available from: http://www.cde.unibe.ch/ userfiles/PALM_SAP_eng_mini.pdf State Agency on Hydrometeorology under the Committee for Environmental Protection. The Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, 2008: Tajikistan’s Second National Communication under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Available from: http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/natc/tainc2.pdf

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), 2011: Natural Disaster Risks in Central Asia: A Synthesis. M. Thurman, ed.

Available from: http://europeandcis.undp.org/uploads/public1/files/ vulnerability/Senior%20Economist%20Web%20site/CA_Disaster_ Risks_-_MT_-_D5_11_04.pdf United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), 2012: Second Environmental Performance Review of Tajikistan. Available from: http://www.unece.org/index.php?id=31804 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), 2003: Afghanistan Post-Conflict Environmental Assessment. Available from: http://www.unep.org/pdf/afghanistanpcajanuary2003.pdf United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2003: Afghanistan’s Wakhan Corridor. Technical Report. Available from: http:// postconflict.unep.ch/publications/WCR.pdf United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Interstate Commission on Sustainable Development (ICSD), 2006: Appraisal Reports on Priority Ecological Problems in Central Asia.

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), 2006: The 2rd United Nations World Water Development Report: Water, a Shared Responsibility. Available from: http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/­ water/wwap/wwdr/wwdr2-2006/downloads-wwdr2/ United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), 2012: The 4th United Nations World Water Development Report: Managing Water under Uncertainty and Risk. Available from: http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/­ water/wwap/wwdr/wwdr4-2012/ World Bank, 2009: Adapting to Climate Change in Europe and Central Asia. Available from: http://siteresources.worldbank.org/ ECAEXT/Resources/258598-1243892418318/ECA_CCA_Full_­ Report.pdf Zoї Environment Network, 2009: Climate Change in Central Asia: A Visual Synthesis. V. Novikov, O. Simonett and Ch. Berthiaume, eds. __________, 2012: Biodiversity in Central Asia: A Visual Synthesis.

A. Kirby, V. Novikov and O. Simonett, eds. __________, 2013: Waste and Chemicals in Central Asia: A Visual Synthesis. V. Novikov, O. Simonett, A. Kirby, G. Hughes and G. Eigenmann, eds.

Online databases and information sources: Afghanistan Energy Information Centre: http://www.afghaneic.org/ water_mapbook.php Afghanistan Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock: http://mail.gov.af/en Afghanistan Ministry of Energy and Water: http://mew.gov.af/en/

International Hydrological Programme (UNESCO IHP): http://www. unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/water/ihp/ United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World Heritage List (UENSCO WHL): http://whc.unesco.org/en/list United Nations Environment Programme and World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP WCMC). World Protected Areas Visual Database: http://www.protectedplanet.net/#5_44.25_65.25_0 United Nations International Year of Water Cooperation: http:// www.unwater.org/watercooperation2013.html

Amu Darya Basin Network (ADBN): http://amudaryabasin.net Central Asia Environment and Sustainable Development portal: http://www.caresd.net Central Asia Water Information portal: http://www.cawater-info.net

United Nations Millennium Development Goals Indicators: http:// mdgs.un.org/unsd/mdg/Data.aspx United Nations Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform: http://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/

Photo credits Cover page: Panj River © M. Mergili (www.mergili.at) p. 13: Upper and Lower Amu Darya River © V. Novikov p. 14: Dry Aral Sea © O. Shipin pp. 18–19: Saukdara Glaciers and Lenin Peak, Tajikistan © M. Mergili (www.mergili.at) p. 20: Yapshorv and Roshkorv villages, Tajikistan © M. Mergili (www.mergili.at) p. 21: Vashnishar village, Afghanistan © M. Mergili (www.mergili.at) pp. 22–23: Agricultural scene in the Tajik Pamirs © M. Mergili (www.mergili.at) pp. 24–25: Local market in Bamyian, Afghanistan © L. Ashley pp. 26–27: Dasht-i-Jum pistachio forests, Tajikistan © V. Novikov pp. 28–29: Drainage patterns, Afghanistan and Tajikistan © V. Novikov p. 30: Traditional houses and trails along the Panj River, Afghanistan © V. Novikov p. 31, top: Kunduz River, Afghanistan © V. Novikov

Climate Wizard: Interactive web tool developed by The Nature Conservancy, The University of Washington and The University of Southern Mississippi http://www.climatewizard.org

USGS Afghanistan homepage: http://afghanistan.cr.usgs.gov/

p. 31, bottom: Afghan children © V. Novikov

Water Footprint Network: http://www.waterfootprint.org

pp. 32–33: Traditional water use activities, Afghanistan © O. Shipin

Ecological Footprint Network: http://www.footprintnetwork.org/en/ index.php/GFN/page/footprint_for_nations/ Federal Institute of Hydrology. Global Runoff Data Centre: http:// www.bafg.de/cln_031/nn_294112/GRDC/EN/02__Services/022__ GIS_20Layers/gislayers__node.html?__nnn=true

World Bank (WB) development indicators: http://publications.­ worldbank.org/WDI/

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Statistics (AQUASTAT): http://www.fao.org/nr/water/aquastat/gis/index2.stm Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Statistics (FAOSTAT): http://faostat.fao.org Global irrigated areas, dataset of the Goethe University, Frankfurton-the-Main, Germany: http://www.geo.uni-frankfurt.de/ipg/ag/dl/ datensaetze/index.html Global Water Systems Project datasets: http://wiki.gwsp.org/joom/ index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=34&Item id=63 GRID-Arendal: http://www.grida.no

p. 42, bottom: Local nuts and tulips © N. Safarov p. 48, top: Dasht-i-Jum Reserve © V. Novikov p. 48, bottom: Bashai Palangon (Tigrovaya Balka) Reserve © V. Novikov

World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Hydrology and Water Resources Programme: http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/hwrp/­ index_en.php

p. 49: Pamir and Hindu Kush, Afghanistan and Tajikistan © M. Mergili (www.mergili.at)

World Wildlife Fund (WWF) ECONET of Central Asia: http://www. wwf.ru/about/where_we_work/asia/closed/econet/maps

p. 65, top: Fedchenko glacier © M. Mergili (www.mergili.at)

Worldwide Hydrogeological Mapping and Assessment Programme (WHYMAP): http://www.whymap.org/whymap/EN/Map_Applicatio ns/map_applications_node_en.html

p. 92. Children of Afghanistan and Tajikistan. Photos by © S. Illarionov and M. Romanyuk

Zoї Environment Network: http://www.zoinet.org

p. 50, bottom left: Destroyed Buddhas of Bamyan © L. Ashley p. 50, bottom right: Ancient fortress in the Pamirs © V. Shakula p. 67: Medveji glacier © M. Mergili (www.mergili.at)

Credits for photo-maps, please read counter-clockwise: pp. 34–35. People and the economy. 1 © M. Mergili, 2 © N. Safarov, 3 © O. Shipin, 4–5 © S. Illarionov, 6–8 © M. Mergili pp. 38–39. Landscape diversity. 1–2 © V. Novikov, 3 © V. Lukarevsky, 4 © O. Shipin, 5 © V. Novikov, 6 © M. Mergili, 7–8 © V. Novikov, 9–12 © M. Mergili. pp. 44–45. Flagship and migratory species. 1 © A. Gaude, 2 © V. Ushakov, 3 © V. Lukarevsky, 4 © N. Beshko, 5 © V. Lukarevsky, 6 © G. Dushey , 7 © V. Ushakov, 8 © N. Beshko, 9 © B. Wald, 10 © V. Shakula

Humanitarian information portal of Afghanistan (OCHA Afghanistan): http://afg.humanitarianresponse.info/mapcentre

pp. 60–61. Climate change concerns and vulnerability. Nurek reservoir © L. Hislop, Women and children © M. Mergili, Locust infestation © N. Safarov, Rural men at work © O. Shipin, Mountain ecosystem © N. Safarov, Road blockage by landslide © V. Novikov, Glacial lake © M. Mergili, Vector-born disease research © N. Safarov

Mountain Partnership: http://www.mountainpartnership.org

pp. 62–63. Glaciers. 1 © GFZ, 2 © L. Hislop, 3 © V. Novikov, 4–5 © M. Mergili, 6 © V. Novikov

NASA Visible Earth: http://visibleearth.nasa.gov

pp. 72–73. Groundwater, rivers, lakes and reservoirs. 1–6 © V. Novikov, 7 © M. Mergili, 8 © A. Homidov, 9 © M. Mergili, 10 © V. Novikov

Rivers in Crisis database: http://www.riverthreat.net

pp. 78–79. Impacts of natural disasters. 1 (left) © A. Kayumov, 1 (right) © A. Homidov, 2 (top) © A. Homidov, 2 (bottom) © O. Shipin, 3 © N. Safarov, 4 © A. Yablokov, 5–6 © M. Mergili, 7 © A. Homidov

Tajikistan Committee for Nature Protection: http://www.hifzitabiat.tj Tajikistan Hydrometeorological Service: http://www.meteo.tj Tajikistan Ministry of Water Resources and Land Reclamation: http://www.mwr.tj/en/ Tajikistan National Biodiversity and Biosafety Centre: http://www.biodiv.tj United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), Environmental Policy homepage: http://www.unece.org/env/welcome United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

pp. 80–81. Key environmental concerns. Municipal waste © V. Ushakov, Obsolete pesticides dump © V. Novikov, Severe soil erosion in Tajikistan © L. Hislop, Local pollution in Afghanistan © V. Novikov, Deforestation and overgrazing in Afghanistan © O. Shipin, Post-conflict environmental impacts © V. Novikov, Snow leopard © V. Ushakov, Teresken bush © V. Novikov, Glacial water stream © M. Mergili pp. 82–83. Regional cooperation on hydrometeorology and environmental protection. Afghan-Tajik environmental meeting in Dushanbe, March 2012 © L. Hislop, Afghan-Tajik delegation in Nagoya, Japan, Convention on Biodiversity © N. Safarov, Hydrological monitoring experience exchange on the Vakhsh River © L. Hislop, Forest planting in Afghanistan © S. Illarionov, Hydrological stations on Panj and Vakhsh rivers in Tajikistan © A. Homidov, Automatic glacial and meteorological monitoring station at Abramov glacier © GFZ

This atlas is designed primarily for environmental professionals, but because it is highly visual, it may be interesting to schoolchildren, and may contribute to their education and general awareness of the region. The children of the Amu Darya basin deserve a good future, and taking care of the environment is one way of taking care of the children.