The International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) held a workshop in Tashkent to discuss implementation of the Decision Support Tool (DST) to tackle complex issues related to the Aral Sea Basin, ICARDA Uzbekistan office said in a press release.
The Aral Sea Basin, once teeming with vibrant ecosystems and resources, has faced severe environmental decline over recent decades. This degradation is a result of unsustainable water management practices, which have deeply impacted the region’s delicate balance of water, energy, food, and ecosystems-a complex web often referred to as the WEFE nexus.
In the predominantly agricultural region, the overuse of water for irrigation has led to the dramatic shrinking of the Aral Sea. This decline has had cascading effects: reduced water availability has compromised hydropower generation, which is crucial for local energy needs.
Additionally, diminished agricultural productivity has contributed to food shortages and malnutrition, while environmental damage has resulted in soil salinization, desertification, and a significant loss of biodiversity. Off-site impacts are immense, such as increased health risk through salt particles in the air.
Given these intertwined challenges, developing effective and sustainable strategies for the Aral Sea Basin has become more critical than ever. A crucial aspect for sustainability is the engagement and inclusivity of stakeholders instead of competing interests and conflicting policies or incentives.
One innovative tool designed to tackle these complex issues is the DST. Developed under the Nexus Gains initiative by ICARDA, the DST helps stakeholders navigate the multifaceted interactions between water, energy, food, and ecosystems. The tool allows to identify optimal land management practices that address these interdependencies, providing insights into trade-offs and synergies as perceived by engaged stakeholders, to support sustainable decision-making.
ICARDA.
The workshop, second of its kind, brought together 25 key stakeholders from various ministries, including the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Climate Change, Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Water Resources, and Ministry of Agriculture.
The participants learned about the DST’s functionality and its relevance to the region’s WEFE nexus, and discussed the recent survey results, which included responses from 40 experts across various ministries. The aim was to gather feedback on the priorities and weights assigned to different WEFE criteria within the DST framework.
Moreover, the experts reviewed the list of good practices included in the tool and emphasized the importance of adapting the DST to local conditions.
“By fostering collaboration and incorporating local knowledge, the DST has the potential to drive sustainable development and address the complex challenges facing this vital region,” ICARDA said.
