Comparison of practices

• Use of water resources
• Use of land resources
• Environmental protection

• Use of water resources
• Use of land resources
• Environmental protection

Country: Turkmenistan

Country: Turkmenistan

Province: Ahal Region

17,238 ha of barkhan (sand dune), takyr (dry-type playa) and solonchak (moist-type playa) sites of the Kara Kum Desert; deep ground water occurrence

The site (9,000 ha, natural juniper woods) is located in the southwestern section of the Central Kopetdagh – a mountain and agro-environmental zone close to the border with Iran with the population of about 12,000 people engaged in agro-livestock production.

Start date: 01.01.2012

End date: 31.12.2016

Start date: 01.01.2009

End date: 31.12.2010

Desertification and decreased productivity of desert pastures due to over-grazing around existing cattle watering sites

Natural juniper is cut down as heating timber, and water shortage is connected to poor precipitation. As a rule, villagers collect surface water flowing down the mountain slopes into the specially built tanks called “goudans”. In good years, goudans keep enough irrigation water for one season. However, during the last 5-6 years the goudans didn’t fill up due to insufficient rain.  Deforested slopes are unable to hold rainwater due to quick drain. Because of water deficiency, local population is gradually shifting away from agriculture and gardening and is increasingly focusing on livestock breeding. As a result of excessive use of pastures, fodder is not able to grow on the trodden land which leads to further erosion of mountain slopes.

Technology of building sardobas (stone-dome covered water collection and storage reservoirs) to enhance pasture water supply

Set of measures for collecting surface water drain on slope land (construction of a series of small dams; drip irrigation; planting out of juniper)

Main actions:

• mudflow and flood risk assessment and surveying local population regarding sardobas’ locations.

Actions:

• selection of takyrs to construct sardobas jointly with local cattle-farmers;
• construction of sardobas jointly with local cattle-farmers;
• cleaning takyr surfaces.

Results:

• pastures that were not previously utilized due to absence of water sources returned to pasture rotation;
• pastures destroyed due to over-grazing started to restore;
• increased herd productivity due to reduced passage distances and higher fodder value of pastures.

Actions:

• A series of small dams were built on the cleared slopes to increase soil infiltration by rain water (short-term solution). The dams built in gorges hold the water streams forming during heavy rain, thus, increasing soil moisture content which promotes vegetation restoration;
• A drip irrigation experiment (10 hectares of orchards) executed; further expansion up to 30 hectares is planned along with the reduction of livestock population;
• Planting out (transplanting) of juniper to enhance soil fixing and water retention;
• In Nokhur area, the initiative to develop vegetable and fruit farming supported to prevent pasture degradation, and necessary hydrogeological research conducted;
• In Kara Kum area, 8 new wells built and 6 existing wells repaired. Mechanical protection (reed mats and Saxaul saplings) set up on the territory of 27 hectares. 

Results:

• 17 dams of various size to prevent soil erosion built;
• fruit-trees planted on the area of 10 hectares;
• saplings of Turkmen juniper (“archa”) planted on the territory of 42 hectares to of restore juniper woods.

Lessons learnt:

Construction of sardobas in takyr areas allows enhancing pasture water supply, thus, leading to the restoration of over-grazed pastures.

Recommendations:

The practice requires long-term planning and an integrated response with the early-on engagement of desertification experts (designing a set of measures to protect takyrs from sand drifts), state agencies (technical assistance) and pasture users (observance of pasture rotation schemes, prevention of takyrs from contamination and pollution).

Lessons learnt:

Enhanced methods of collecting surface drain and saving water are necessary to compensate the growing water shortage in order to allow communities to go back to agriculture and make cattle breeding more sustainable.  They are also necessary to stop the increasing degradation of mountain slopes.

Recommendations:

Technologies for application in the future:

• water collection methods, for example, mid-size terracing of slopes, boundary fencing and circular embankments, nursery holes and plant barriers, restoration of infiltration water dams on small streams; for the purpose of water blocking and moisture retention, to test cespitose crops, soil consolidation and the possibility of minimal/zero soil treatment;
• in order to reduce evaporation and loss of moisture, to use wind-shelter strips, dry and rarefied crops, non-plowing methods, crop rotation and consolidation;
• enhance drip irrigation systems to improve water management.

Traditional tools transferred from generation to generation that proved their efficiency in modern conditions

Domestic tools (outcomes of research by domestic R&D organizations)

1. Cost of implementation: Low

2. Approximate cost of investment per 1 ha: $1,000-5,000

3. O&M costs: Low

4. Expert support: Needed at implementation stage

1. Cost of implementation: High

2. Approximate cost of investment per 1 ha:

3. O&M costs: High

4. Expert support: Not needed

Project title: Responding to climate change risks for dekhan farming system of Turkmenistan on national and local levels.

Project duration: 2012-2016. 

Project goal and objectives: build the adaptation capacity to respond to climate change impacts, including variability on local and national levels. 

Project beneficiaries: Bori Settlement (over 1,100 people) and Bo-Kurdak Settlement (about 4,500 people).

Project implementer: Ministry of Nature Conservation and UNDP

Project title: Local-level capacity building and investment for sustainable management of land resources.

Project duration: 2009-2010.

Project goal and objectives: combating desertification and droughts.

Project beneficiaries: population of Garavul and Konegummez daikhan settlements in Bakharly Etrap (district) of Akhal Velayat (Region).

Project implementer: Ministry of Nature Protection of Turkmenistan and German Technical Cooperation Agency (GIZ).

tm.undp.org

http://www.turkmenistan.ru/?page_id=3&lang_id=ru&elem_id=17207&type=event&layout=print&sort=date_desc 

SIC ICWC

SIC ICWC