OREANDA-NEWS. March 12, 2008. The international workshop Preservation of Biological Diversity through the Biospheric Reserves and the World Natural Heritage Sites in the Arid Areas of the Region and the Karakum Desert closed in Ashkhabad.

The forum aimed at designing the effective approaches to preservation of the landscape and biological diversity of the Central Asian region and exchange of the experience of managing the biospheric reserves in different countries worldwide.

The participants considered a broad range of the issues, presented and discussed the reports and presentations on the study and protection of the natural monuments of Turkmenistan as the natural sites of universal value. In particular, the discussions focused on the ‘heart’ of the Turkmen land - the Karakum Desert - the natural pearl with the unique ecosystems deserving protection and thorough study. The participants of the international dialogue were unanimous that nowadays achieving the goals of the social and economic development and protection of the environment Turkmenistan was making the considerable efforts to preserve the biological diversity of one of the world’s greatest deserts and to ensure efficient and ecologically friendly development of its natural resources.

Discussing the issues related to the study and protection of the natural monuments the workshop participants cited the Repetek Reserve as an example. In 1979 UNESCO included the Repetek Reserve into the international system of the biospheric reserves.

The programme aimed at establishing the network of the specially protected areas designed by the Ministry of Nature Protection of Turkmenistan was of particular inters to the participants. The Programme stipulated for establishing four new reserves, sox national parks and over ten wildlife preserves and gaining the status for over 100 natural monuments.

Summing up the workshop results the foreign guests were unanimous that the forum had enlarged their knowledge of the natural monuments of Turkmenistan as well as become an important step towards implementing the international environmental agreements including the Convention of the Protection of the Biological Diversity, the Convention of the Protection of the Historical and Cultural Heritage. Highly appreciating the positive experience of Turkmenistan-UNESCO partnership the participants called for closer co-operation through conducting the international training, seminars and forums of particular importance for intensifying the environmental research, increasing the effectiveness of the nature conservation activity and awareness of the international community of the ecological problems.

On March 12, the participants have visited the Repetek Reserve.