Peace Forest Initiative Paves the Way for Transboundary Cooperation in Sustainable Resource Management for Central Asia
August 22, 2024
Bishkek, August 22, 2024 – The second Peace Forest Initiative (PFI) workshop on transboundary cooperation in Central Asia concluded yesterday in Bishkek, marking a significant step forward in addressing environmental challenges and promoting regional stability.
Co-organized by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Global Mechanism and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the workshop gathered representatives from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, along with key development partners, to formulate actionable plans for sustainable resource management in climate-security hotspots, particularly in the Ferghana Valley and high mountain areas.
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Participants from Central Asian countries working in a group
The event, held from August 19 to 21, 2024, focused on promoting sustainable resource management in the Ferghana Valley and high mountain regions as well as connected ecosystems, which include the vital Amu Darya and Syr Darya river systems — a priority identified during the first PFI workshop for Central Asia held in March 2024. This initiative was crucial, as Central Asia faces increasing environmental degradation and resource scarcity, exacerbated by the impacts of climate change and land degradation.
During the three-day event, participants engaged in intensive discussions, breakout sessions, and collaborative planning aimed at identifying pilot areas of transboundary significance and developing integrated solutions that foster cross-border dialogue and social cohesion through ecosystem restoration and climate resilience.
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Participant from Kyrgyzsyan during his presentation
In the opening remarks, key speakers underscored the importance of regional cooperation in tackling the interconnected challenges of environmental degradation, resource management, and climate change. They also highlighted the critical role that cross-border initiatives like the PFI can play in building confidence and promoting peace and sustainable development for the future.
“Central Asia is one of the most vulnerable regions to climate change. Changes in temperature increase ecosystem stresses, aridity, which leads to degradation of soil cover of agricultural land vegetation, threatening food security and the livelihood of the region’s population. Therefore, the Peace Forest initiative draws increased attention to addressing the problems of mountainous countries, including Kyrgyzstan,” said Samat Nasirdinov, Deputy Minister of Agriculture.
The workshop resulted in a conceptual framework including identified pilot sites of regional importance, a preliminary work plan for building cross-border dialogue and social cohesion, and a strategy for mobilizing financial resources.
UNDP has been actively supporting Kyrgyzstan in the sustainable management of the country’s resources, providing support over the past decade in expanding protected areas, strengthening the sectoral legal framework, and mainstreaming environmental norms and standards into the country’s policies and the daily lives of its people.
“The Peace Forest Initiative represents a unique opportunity for Central Asian countries to come together and address shared environmental challenges in a way that promotes peace and stability. The outcomes of this workshop will lay the groundwork for concrete actions that can make a real difference in the lives of the people in this region. At UNDP, we are committed to supporting climate action, sustainable land and water management, ecosystem conservation and combating land degradation in Kyrgyzstan and across Central Asia,” said Alexandra Solovieva, UNDP Resident Representative in Kyrgyzstan.
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Alexandra Solovieva during her opening speech
As a next step after the workshop, the Central Asian countries, with the support of UNCCD, will organize a joint side event at the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNCCD in December 2024 to present the final concept notes and help mobilize resources.
“Cooperation is key to building resilient communities, and the Peace Forest Initiative serves as a powerful stimulus for promoting ecosystem restoration and sustainable cooperation across Central Asia. The initiative focuses on the collaborative design and implementation with local stakeholders and communities of regional environmental priorities, which can transform common environmental challenges into opportunities for lasting stability and prosperity in the region,” said Utchang Kang, Programme Manager at the UNCCD Global Mechanism.
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Flags of Central Asian countries and the UN
The PFI is designed to act as a catalyst for transboundary cooperation between countries to address conflict risks related to the degradation of land-based resources. Its primary objective is to provide a platform for concerned parties and communities in degraded or conflict-affected cross-border areas to co-design the conservation, sustainable management, and restoration of natural resources as shared assets, promoting sustainable development, resilience, and peacebuilding.
The PFI will continue refining its action concepts in the coming months, with the goal of mobilizing resources and expertise and launching pilot projects in 2025. These efforts are a testament to the region’s commitment to sustainable development and the promotion of peace through environmental cooperation.
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All participants are on a group photo