Rehabilitating the environment discussed in Tashkent
When
Where
They discussed international experience in water management, the rehabilitation of the Aral Sea, environmental monitoring, the role of NGOs and the effects of uncontrolled use of pesticides and fertilizers on fishing, technogenic pollution and public health.
The shrinking of the Aral Sea, desertification, the legacy of an extensive use of pesticides and the dominance of cotton production were important issues for Uzbekistan.
In Kyrgyzstan, nuclear waste deposits in the mountainous areas represent a serious danger. In Kazakhstan, the Semipalatynsk area is considered to be an ecological disaster zone. Over 500 explosions were carried out in the 40 years before it was closed in 1991.
Turkmenistan outlined its concern about industry and energy-related environment risks. Tajikistan suffered from the disruption of its water supply and irrigation network due to civil war, along with numerous other related environmental hazards.