A regional meeting of the working groups on the development of the National Action Plans under the Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea (the Tehran Convention) closed in Ashgabat. The three-day ecological forum was organized by the Ministry of Nature Protection of Turkmenistan jointly with the Interim Secretariat to the Tehran Convention and under the aegis of the UNEP Regional Office for Europe, the Global Environmental Facility (GEF), the CASPECO Project and the UN Development Programme. The meeting brought together international consultants and experts of government environmental agencies of Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Russia and Iran, representatives of the UNEP, the CASPECO Project, Europa House in Turkmenistan and public organisations.
As is known, the Tehran Convention is the first multilateral contractual document in the Caspian region that defined the priorities of the strategy of partnership of the Caspian states on preservation of the largest internal pool with its unique nature and hydrological environment and guaranteeing the sustainable development of coastal territories for future generations.
Promoting the nature protection strategy in this region, Turkmenistan is gaining the reputation of being the international centre for the development of effective mechanisms and principles of efficient and ecologically friendly use of natural resources of the Caspian Sea, preservation and enrichment of rich flora and fauna, implementation of its huge potential. That is vividly illustrated by the International Conference on Environmental Cooperation of Turkmenistan with the International Organisations: Achievements and Success which was held in Ashgabat and involved experts of the UN agencies and other authoritative organisations. The forum inaugurated a new stage of fruitful cooperation to address the global challenges including environmental security of the Caspian Sea, efficient use of its natural resources and preservation of the unique ecological system that is of universal value.
The regional meeting included three sessions on the development of the National Convention Action Plans, the public participation strategies as a part of these plans and the draft regional programme for monitoring the marine environment of the Caspian Sea environment.
The draft long-term National Convention Action Plans, which define the specific tasks and goals including the ecological institutional and legal components given national interests of each littoral state were presented and discussed during the first session. Preservation of biological diversity, efficient use of fish and other resources of the sea, enhancement of the regulatory framework for protection of the environment and resources, monitoring of human activities in the region, improvement of the standards of environmental education and other aspects were identified as priority vectors.
An important factor in the successful implementation of the National Convention Action Plans is active involvement of public organisations and citizens in the efforts to protect the environment and efficiently use resources of the Caspian Sea. This topic was discussed during the second session, which focused on the views on drafting the strategies to enhance the role and involve civil society into nature-conservative activity.
The third session was held within the framework of the CASPECO regional project sponsored by the GEF and the UNDP and aimed at restoring fish resources of the Caspian Sea and consolidating the environment management structure.
The complex report on the environmental conditions and the project of the regional Caspian Sea environment monitoring programme were presented during the session. In this context, the participants exchanged views on the results of the national biological resources and water quality monitoring programmes of the littoral states.
The adoption of the National Convention Action Plans and the public participation strategy to protect the marine environment of the Caspian Sea as part of these plans will be a new practical step to concert efforts of the littoral states in order to ensure environmental security of this unique natural pearl of the planet.
As is known, the Tehran Convention is the first multilateral contractual document in the Caspian region that defined the priorities of the strategy of partnership of the Caspian states on preservation of the largest internal pool with its unique nature and hydrological environment and guaranteeing the sustainable development of coastal territories for future generations.
Promoting the nature protection strategy in this region, Turkmenistan is gaining the reputation of being the international centre for the development of effective mechanisms and principles of efficient and ecologically friendly use of natural resources of the Caspian Sea, preservation and enrichment of rich flora and fauna, implementation of its huge potential. That is vividly illustrated by the International Conference on Environmental Cooperation of Turkmenistan with the International Organisations: Achievements and Success which was held in Ashgabat and involved experts of the UN agencies and other authoritative organisations. The forum inaugurated a new stage of fruitful cooperation to address the global challenges including environmental security of the Caspian Sea, efficient use of its natural resources and preservation of the unique ecological system that is of universal value.
The regional meeting included three sessions on the development of the National Convention Action Plans, the public participation strategies as a part of these plans and the draft regional programme for monitoring the marine environment of the Caspian Sea environment.
The draft long-term National Convention Action Plans, which define the specific tasks and goals including the ecological institutional and legal components given national interests of each littoral state were presented and discussed during the first session. Preservation of biological diversity, efficient use of fish and other resources of the sea, enhancement of the regulatory framework for protection of the environment and resources, monitoring of human activities in the region, improvement of the standards of environmental education and other aspects were identified as priority vectors.
An important factor in the successful implementation of the National Convention Action Plans is active involvement of public organisations and citizens in the efforts to protect the environment and efficiently use resources of the Caspian Sea. This topic was discussed during the second session, which focused on the views on drafting the strategies to enhance the role and involve civil society into nature-conservative activity.
The third session was held within the framework of the CASPECO regional project sponsored by the GEF and the UNDP and aimed at restoring fish resources of the Caspian Sea and consolidating the environment management structure.
The complex report on the environmental conditions and the project of the regional Caspian Sea environment monitoring programme were presented during the session. In this context, the participants exchanged views on the results of the national biological resources and water quality monitoring programmes of the littoral states.
The adoption of the National Convention Action Plans and the public participation strategy to protect the marine environment of the Caspian Sea as part of these plans will be a new practical step to concert efforts of the littoral states in order to ensure environmental security of this unique natural pearl of the planet.
