Environmental issues in Turkmenistan
Environmental issues in Turkmenistanare most visible in three significant areas:desertification,the drying of theAral Sea,and chemical pollution. All three of these areas are directly linked toagriculturalpractices in the country.[1][2]
Only theSahara DesertinAfricahas a higher rate of desertification than that of Central Asian deserts. Of these, theKarakum DesertandKyzyl Kum DesertinTurkmenistangrow by hundreds of thousands of acres annually. These conditions persist due to inefficient agriculturalirrigationand cattle grazing practices, which have led to the salinization of soil and the removal of ground cover plants respectively.
Inefficient irrigation techniques on theAmu Daryaalso contribute to the continued drying of theAral Sea.[3][4]Daşoguz Provinceexperiences the most problems due to this drying. Drinking water quality has plummeted, bacteria levels in water have risen, and rates of infant mortality, hepatitis, and illness have risen.[5]
Competition with neighbouring countries is also contributing to depleting water resources. Afghanistan is building a canal to divert water from the Amu Darya away from Turkmenistan.[6]
Excessive use of fertilizer oncottonand other crops, as well as the use of pesticides such asDDTcauses a large chemical pollution problem. Many fertilizers and pesticides have entered groundwater supplies via leaching or runoff from farms due to excessive or improper use.[7]
Over 4 million tonnes ofmethane,agreenhouse gaswhich causesclimate change,was vented or leaked in 2022. This has a greenhouse effect equivalent to 366 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, which was more than the UK’s annual emissions.[8]
The country is cooperating with theEuropean Union,its member states and theOrganization for Security and Co-operation in Europe(OSCE) to reduce and manage the impact of these environmental problems.[9][10]However as of 2023 it has not joined theGlobal Methane Pledgeor theOil and Gas Methane Partnership.[8]
References[edit]
- ^"Turkmenistan combating desertification".AzerNews.az.2017-06-20.Retrieved2021-08-12.
- ^"Environmental issues in Turkmenistan".naturvernforbundet.no(in Norwegian). Archived fromthe originalon 2021-08-12.Retrieved2021-08-12.
- ^"World of Change: Shrinking Aral Sea".earthobservatory.nasa.gov.2014-09-24.Retrieved2021-08-12.
- ^"The Aral Sea Crisis".www.columbia.edu.Retrieved2021-08-12.
- ^Wæhler, Turid Austin; Dietrichs, Erik Sveberg (2017-10-02)."The vanishing Aral Sea: health consequences of an environmental disaster".Tidsskrift for den Norske Legeforening.137(18).doi:10.4045/tidsskr.17.0597.ISSN0029-2001.PMID28972331.
- ^"Turkmenistan: Going south fast".Eurasianet.Apr 25, 2023.Retrieved25 April2023.
- ^K.R.Masilamani · (2020-11-06)."World's largest stockpiles of toxic pesticides buried in Central Asia".The Third Pole.Retrieved2021-08-12.
- ^abCarrington, Damian (2023-05-09)."'Mind-boggling' methane emissions from Turkmenistan revealed ".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Retrieved2023-05-09.
- ^"Turkmenistan expands international cooperation in environmental protection".AzerNews.az.2020-03-01.Retrieved2021-08-12.
- ^"OSCE promotes environmental awareness in Turkmenistan".osce.org.Retrieved2021-08-12.
External links[edit]
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