Turkmenistan and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) have agreed to strengthen long-term cooperation in environmental protection and biodiversity conservation. Turkmenistan's Minister of Environmental Protection, Ovezgeldi Goshjanov, and WWF Regional Director for East, Central Asia, and the Pacific, Jean-Paul Paddac, signed a Memorandum of Understanding via videoconference, the Turkmen Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported.
The document provides for the development of a Plan of Joint Projects and Activities for 2026–2030. Priority areas include wildlife conservation, improving the system of specially protected natural areas, biodiversity monitoring, and the conservation of populations of the Persian leopard, kulan, Bukhara deer, goitered gazelle, and Amu Darya shovelnose sturgeon, as well as rare bird and plant species.
Particular attention will be paid to the development of ecological corridors and buffer zones, the restoration of natural landscapes and ecosystems, environmental education, scientific exchange, and the transfer of best conservation practices. The parties also intend to strengthen cross-border cooperation with Central Asian countries.
For Turkmenistan, partnership with WWF is important, as it allows for the attraction of international expertise, scientific knowledge, and the necessary resources to preserve the country's unique natural heritage.
The regional dimension of the agreement is also particularly important: animal migration routes and many ecosystems are not limited by state borders, so their effective protection requires coordinated action by all Central Asian countries. The memorandum creates a foundation for more systemic environmental cooperation and can contribute to strengthening environmental security and sustainable development in the region.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
September 1, 2026