ASHGABAT - The Scientific Information Center of the Interstate Commission on Sustainable Development, together with the United Nations Development Program and relevant agencies of Turkmenistan, have begun integrating land degradation neutrality principles into state land use policy, Orient.tm reports.
The main focus of this work is the implementation of modern GIS technologies and satellite remote sensing, which aligns with the objectives of the state digital economy program for 2026–2028. Data collected during expeditions to the Lebap and Dashoguz velayats served as the basis for updating the monitoring system.
The information obtained allowed the identification of problem areas of pasture degradation, irrigated lands, and protected areas in accordance with the standards of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification. This information will serve as the basis for the creation of a unified digital database for assessing soil conditions and making management decisions.
At the same time, the country is preparing an updated national program to combat desertification and is considering the creation of a regional center for Central Asian countries, which could strengthen Ashgabat's role as an expert platform for environmental security in the region.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
May 20, 2026