In the scientific-experimental center of Chalysh of the State Nature Reserve "Bereketli Garagum" the official opening of the Information Visitor Center "Nature of the Karakum" took place. which was created as part of a joint project of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan (MAEP) and the Michael Succow Foundation for Nature Conservation (MSF, Germany). The visitor center is presented in the form of a Turkmen yurt (40 sq.m.) with a solar autonomous power plant (10 kW), equipped with computer and field equipment, necessary manuals.
The official opening of the visitor center took place on June 1, on the eve of the International Environment Day, celebrated on June 5. Representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan, the Environmental Protection Service, the Bereketli Garagum State Nature Reserve, the Secretariat of the National Commission for UNESCO in Turkmenistan, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the Nature Conservation Society of Turkmenistan were invited to the opening as well as local school teachers and media representatives.
Work of the Central Asian Desert Initiative (CADI) project. in Turkmenistan has been carried out for several years. During this period, in three desert reserves (Bereketli Garagum, Repetek and Gaplangyr) complex expeditions were carried out on the inventory of biodiversity to update data and use reliable scientific material in the preparation of the serial transnational object "Turan deserts of the temperate zone" for nomination to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
In January 2022, the preparation of a serial transnational dossier "Turanian deserts of the temperate zone" was completed, which was sent to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee for consideration. Also, within the framework of the project, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Ministries of Ecology / Agriculture of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan on the management and protection of objects of the serial transnational nomination "Turanian deserts of the temperate zone". Five-year Reserve Management Plans have been developed; methodological manuals, field guides for various desert species of flora and fauna were prepared and published to facilitate the work of reserve staff in monitoring biodiversity components. The necessary vehicles, computer equipment, field equipment and uniforms were purchased, information notices were prepared, etc.
Information Visitor Center "Nature of the Karakum Desert" will be used to conduct various environmental activities, training workshops, dissemination of information among the public to expand knowledge about the "Turanian deserts of the temperate zone."
