Every year on June 17, World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, established by the UN General Assembly in 1994, is celebrated. For Turkmenistan, this date is not just another holiday marked on the international calendar of events. Literally from the first days of independence, our country has been actively involved in solving global, regional and national environmental problems.

In connection with the celebrated holiday, the editors of the "Golden Age" turned to the candidate of biological sciences, director of the Institute of Deserts of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Environment of Turkmenistan Pirli Kepbanov and asked him to answer a few questions.

- Pirli Azhdarovich, The Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is proclaimed as a holiday, but in fact it is a constant, not for one day, uninterrupted struggle of mankind with one of the most difficult natural phenomena...

Yes, there is a slight inconsistency in this. However, it should be remembered that international days are an occasion to educate the general public about issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to solve global problems, and to celebrate human achievements.

- For our readers - why is desertification dangerous?

- In short, world experience shows that the consequences, results of desertification and drought are food insecurity, hunger and poverty. The resulting social, economic and political tensions can lead to conflict, further impoverishment and increased land degradation.

- As we have already noted, the fight against desertification is a daily painstaking work. What are the desert explorers of Turkmenistan doing today?

- The range of activities of the institute's scientists is quite wide. They carry out the research necessary for the country on the industrial development of environmental activities, take an active part in the work of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, support the implementation of the provisions of the ratified conventions by Turkmenistan, and act as consultants in specialized studies to curb desertification processes that are of economic importance for the country.

And everyday work consists in studying the patterns of formation of sandy relief, the physical foundations for the movement of sand under the influence of wind, and the development of effective methods for combating sand drifts and blowing. In addition, scientists, together with production workers, make engineering and geomorphological justifications for choosing a site for construction projects. The experience of our scientists contributes to the use of techniques that ensure reliable and trouble-free operation of pipelines in desert conditions, power and communication lines, highways and railways, and hydraulic structures.

- At what specific national economic, industrial and other facilities of Turkmenistan were the opportunities, experience and knowledge of the scientists of the institute used?

- Only recently, the efforts of employees of our laboratories and departments, for example, were involved in the construction of the Ashgabat-Dashoguz railway, the Ashgabat-Turkmenbashi, Ashgabat-Dashoguz, Farap-Ashgabat highways, the Ashgabat autobahn section - Tejen.

The help of scientists was used in the construction of the Eastern Bazaar "Altyn Asyr" near Ashgabat.

Side by side with the scientists of the institute, our gas workers cooperate, who together, when developing pipeline routes through the desert, use techniques to fix moving sands.

- Reconstruction of desert areas for agricultural needs is also one of the most important activities of the Institute. What can be said about this?

- The Karakums are deserted only in a geographical sense, economically they are vast territories that, in the presence of watering, can be used for the cultivation of various highly productive fodder and fruit crops. For this purpose, we study the natural fodder resources of pastures, assess the state of water resources, characterize changes in the water balance under the influence of natural, climatic and anthropogenic factors, including the use of waste mineralized water for irrigation and watering.

- Pirli Azhdarovich, thank you for your answers. In turn, the editors of the "Golden Age" congratulate you and the staff of the institute on the holiday and wish you further success in your difficult, but so important business - maintaining environmental stability in the country and the region, as well as the beauty of our Karakums.