Elvira Kadyrova and Liliya Zhirnova Turkmenistan, a largely arid Central Asian nation bordered by the Caspian Sea, Iran, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan, is far more than a desert landscape of sand dunes and sparse vegetation. It is a significant biodiversity hotspot, home to a rich and distinctive flora that includes more than 450 endemic vascular plant … [Read more...]
Koytendag Caves: a unique natural treasure on the way to World Heritage Status
On 15 February, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan hosted a meeting of the National Commission of Turkmenistan for UNESCO Activities. An important international project was discussed at the meeting – the preparation of a joint Turkmen-Uzbek nomination for the Koytendag mountain ecosystem to include this transboundary territory in the UNESCO World Heritage … [Read more...]
Center for Large Landscape Conservation – Exploring the Wonders of Central Asia: Field Expedition in Turkmenistan
On the border with Uzbekistan, and close to the border with Afghanistan, Turkmenistan’s “Mountain Ecosystems of Koytendag” (MEK) make up one of the most distinctive and richly biodiverse landscapes in Central Asia. However, the area faces mounting threats to its conservation, including agricultural expansion, overgrazing, illegal hunting, and unmanaged tourism. As part of our … [Read more...]