Astana meeting focuses on regional monitoring and information exchange

The Regional Workshop on Monitoring, Assessment and Information Sharing in Transboundary Basins in Central Asiawas held in Astana, Kazakhstan on the 1st and 2nd of February 2023. Organised by the International Water Assessment Centre jointly with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, the workshop aimed to promote exchange between participants from different countries in the region on the topic of monitoring, assessment and data exchange. The workshop also aimed to support further cooperation between the countries in the protection and beneficial use of water resources.   

The workshop was  attended by experts from five Central Asian countries  - Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan - who represent national government or river basin organisations, scientific institutions, or international organisations.

It was noted at the workshop that effective joint water management of water resources underlies sustainable development in Central Asia. In the context increased water scarcity, the impacts of climate change, and growing anthropogenic pressure on water resources, a coordinated approach to the monitoring and exchange of data on the status of water resources is seen as being essential.

 Existing problems in the region include a heritage of insufficient attention to environmental safety and lack of institutional capacity, which have led to the degradation of ecosystems and the pollution of water bodies. As a result, water quality has declined, and measures are needed to ensure joint management and protection of water resources, including a system for the monitoring, assessment and sharing of information, based on international experiences.