Media expedition to save Lower Amu Darya ecosystems concludes

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — A three-day media expedition took place in Uzbekistan, covering key natural zones of the Bukhara and Khorezm regions, as well as the Republic of Karakalpakstan.

The event was organized within the framework of the large-scale Aral Sea Wetlands project, which is jointly implemented by the National Committee for Ecology and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

The main task of the press tour was to attract the attention of the media, the general public, and relevant government agencies to the critical need for legislative consolidation and practical implementation of ecological water release mechanisms in the Lower Amu Darya basin.

The essence of the initiative lies in reforming current water management regulations. Specialists insist that scarce water resources should be distributed not only in favor of the agricultural sector and municipal needs, but also directed toward regular, scientifically grounded watering of natural ecosystems, including lake systems, floodplains, and wetlands.

This media expedition served as a practical continuation of the regional agenda outlined in early June at the Eco Expo 2026 international exhibition in Samarkand, where the Concept of the Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) Plan for the Lower Amu Darya basin was officially signed.

According to Malika Ikramova, head of a laboratory at the Research Institute of Irrigation and Water Problems and Doctor of Technical Sciences, under conditions of fierce inter-sectoral competition for water, Uzbekistan is moving from theoretical concepts to their practical implementation at the level of specific hydrographic boundaries.

The basic legal foundation has already been laid by the country's adopted Water Code, and the next step will be the development of regulatory documents. Within the framework of the Aral Sea Wetlands project, pilot IWRM plans will be formed for the Alat and Karakulssky districts of the Bukhara region, as well as the Amudarya and Muynak districts of Karakalpakstan. The expert emphasized that the Concept takes into account the balance between food security, providing the population with drinking water, and preserving the vulnerable nature of the Aral Sea region.

During the expedition, journalists and environmental experts visited five critical ecological locations in the region. Using these locations as examples, they familiarized themselves with the technical support provided to protected natural areas, which received observation towers, camera traps, and field equipment for biodiversity monitoring from the project:

The first point on the route was Lake Dengizkul in the Alat district, which is included in the prestigious Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance. As noted by Khalilullo Sherimbetov, a Deserved Irrigator of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, this brackish lake, fed by collector-drainage waters, serves as a critically important site for the nesting and wintering of migratory birds. The instability of its hydrological regime clearly demonstrates the danger of coastal zone degradation without guaranteed ecological releases.

The second and third locations were the Kyzylkum State Tugai-Sand Reserve and the new Khorezm National Nature Park. These territories were created to protect unique tugai forests along the channel and delta of the Amu Darya. Tugai forests perform the function of a natural barrier against soil erosion and desertification, but they are the first to perish when groundwater levels drop.

The fourth point was the Lower-Amudarya State Biosphere Reserve in Karakalpakstan, recognized globally and included in the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves. Using its example, participants were shown the operation of digital wildlife tracking systems and methodologies for sustainable nature management.

The final point of the expedition was the legendary Lake Sudochye in the Muynak district. Once the largest body of water in the Amu Darya delta near the receded coast of the Aral Sea, it has transformed into a system of shallow lakes but still receives tens of thousands of rare birds. Sudochye has become the main symbol of the ecological vulnerability of the Aral Sea region.

As explained by environmental management expert Tura Kholikov, today the Aral Sea Wetlands project covers 11 of the 51 existing protected natural areas in Uzbekistan. Project manager Akmal Abdullayev summarized that specially planned water discharge into natural objects is the only effective way to preserve biological diversity, protect bird migration corridors, and improve the overall quality of life for the local population under conditions of global climate change.

The project press service expressed hope that the media campaign will help convey these findings to decision-makers in the water management sector.