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

Other settlement: Yerbent

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 (nearly 842,000 hectares; population of 8,000 people) is located in the Central Kara Kum Desert. The relief is represented by the combination of “barkhans” (sand dunes) of various forms and “takyr” (dry-type playa) depressions. The majority of the area is covered by desert pastures.

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

As soon as people began to lead a settled life, they shifted away from the traditional way of livestock grazing. The land became subject to strenuous exploitation, especially near settlements and watering sites.  Saxaul thickets were cut down for heating and cooking purposes.  The thickets were unable to restore over time due to overgrazing. Frequent movement of sand dunes and severe sandstorms threaten not only dwellings and social infrastructure, but also degrade soil and destroy the limited number of available water wells. Degraded pastures fail to yield enough livestock forage. The shortage of watering sites leads to consolidation of large numbers of animals around existing wells.  Structural changes in livestock production (more goats and cattle instead of camels; more unprotected pastures around settlements instead of distant pastures) lead to vegetation cover degradation, in particular, around settlements and watering sites.

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

Technology for combatting desertification and droughts by proper management of wells and watering sites (construction and repair of wells, building mechanical protection from reed mats and Saxaul saplings)

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:

8 new wells built and 6 existing wells repaired, and mechanical protection (reed mats and Saxaul saplings) set up on the territory of 27 hectares.  Water wells also underwent small-scale repair and construction to expand the area of pasturable land and prevent localized degradation.

Results:

After the restoration of wells, desert pastures became subject to even and rational use; installation of mechanical protection allowed to stop the approaching sand dunes around settlements.

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:

The capacity of watering sites was increased by way of improving the existing infrastructure and, where possible, building new wells infrastructure.  The newly drilled wells significantly aid local population in maintaining their livestock and households.

Recommendations:

It is necessary to test traditional drought-resistant grain crops.

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

• 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: farmers and representatives of local executive bodies in several settlements.

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