The five Central Asian countries – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan – have come together to support the Central Asia Water-Land Nexus (CAWLN) programme. This initiative aims to combat land degradation, strengthen water security, and promote sustainable livelihoods across the region.
Central Asia is home to fragile ecosystems, including high mountain ranges, wetlands, and extensive grasslands, which are under mounting pressure from climate change, unsustainable development, and resource overuse. Land degradation alone is estimated to cost the region nearly $6bn annually.
In response, the CAWLN programme—backed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)—seeks to build a science-based, integrated framework for water and land management. The programme will focus on enhancing agricultural land health, reducing deforestation, supporting rural economies, and protecting biodiversity.
“FAO has been supporting the countries in Central Asia in their efforts to improve sustainable natural resources management,” said Carolina Starr, FAO Agricultural Officer and Lead Technical Officer for CAWLN. “This programme will increase coordination and cooperation among the Central Asian countries while promoting ecosystem services and strengthening livelihoods.”
The CAWLN initiative comprises seven projects: two regional projects addressing transboundary issues in the Amu Darya and Syr Darya basins, four national projects targeting country-specific land and water challenges, and a coordination project to align policies and facilitate cross-border knowledge sharing.
By fostering joint planning and monitoring tools, such as satellite-based systems, and incorporating gender-responsive and community-based approaches, CAWLN aims to transform water and land governance across the region.
The programme’s launch was marked by a high-level event in Dushanbe, where top officials from the five countries reaffirmed their commitment. Among them were Yerlan Nyssanbayev, Minister for Ecology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan; Meder Mashiev, Minister of Natural Resources of Kyrgyz Republic; Umed Ulugov of Tajikistan’s Committee of Environmental Protection; Magtymguly Akmyradov of Turkmenistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Gayrat Mukhammedov of Uzbekistan’s Center for State Environmental Expertise.
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