The Regional Forum on Monitoring Glaciers and the Cryosphere in Central Asia has begun its work in the capital of Tajikistan. The event is being held from May 29 to 31 as part of the International Year of Glacier Conservation, proclaimed on the initiative of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon. This was reported by NIAT "Khovar".
The forum has become a key regional platform for discussing the state and sustainable management of the cryosphere, a key source of water resources and an element of the region's mountain ecosystems. It is attended by representatives of government agencies, international organizations, scientific circles, and sustainable development institutions.
Among the forum’s honorary guests are the Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Celeste Saulo, the Director of the Finnish Meteorological Institute Professor Petteri Taalas, as well as the heads of hydrometeorological services of the Central Asian countries.
The main topics of the forum were the analysis of the current state of glaciers and the cryosphere in the region in the context of climate change, strengthening regional cooperation in the field of monitoring, developing a unified system of observations and forecasting, and exchanging scientific data.
“We are confident that the forum will strengthen Tajikistan’s position as a regional leader in water diplomacy and climate resilience,” said Celeste Saulo, speaking at the opening of the forum. According to her, the event opens the way to developing coordinated regional strategies for adaptation to climate change.
Issues of introducing modern technologies of remote sensing and field research, exchange of best practices and joint management of transboundary water resources are also discussed.
The outcome of the forum is expected to be the development of recommendations for the creation of a regional platform for glacier monitoring, attracting international investment and technical support to expand national cryosphere monitoring programs.
As the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan emphasized, the initiative to hold the International Year of Glacier Conservation, proclaimed at the initiative of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, received the support of more than 150 UN member states at the 77th session of the General Assembly.