Caspian Sea: State of the Environment 2019

three languages. The magazine provides broad and professional coverage of biodiversity con- servation and the sustainable use of bioresourc- es. Information on the state of the environment, including on biodiversity, is regularly published in the media (the Turkmen-language Turkmen- istan newspaper and the Russian-language Neu- tral Turkmenistan). Environmental events such as photo exhibitions and competitions and chil- dren’s art exhibitions are held as part of various international environmental projects supported by international partners accredited in Turkmen- istan (UNDP, GIZ, UNEP, EU, etc.). The national Altyn Asyr television channel broadcasts a weekly Saturday programme called In Harmony with the Environment, featuring sci- entists from nature reserves and specialists from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection. The Turkmenistan channel regularly broadcasts Nature of Turkmenistan, presenting videos, documentaries and information on na- ture reserves and unique parts of the country. The channel broadcasts in seven languages. As part of the implementation of the Agree- ment on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds and the Ramsar Conven- tion, World Migratory Birds Day is celebrated during the second weekend of May every year. Employees at the Institute of Flora and Fauna and at the country’s nature reserves, together with national experts on biodiversity, hold var- ious environmental events to mark the Interna- tional Day for Biological Diversity and World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, including hosting round tables, giving lectures in universities and schools around the country and publishing articles in the media. Staff at the Ozone Centre in Turkmenistan celebrate the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer. Annually since 2007 on August 12, the Caspian Day is widely celebrated on the Turkmen coast. The Turkmenistan Aarhus Centre was estab- lished in 2012. It supports the implementation of the Aarhus Convention in Turkmenistan by facilitating access to information on the envi- ronment, public participation in environmental decision-making and access to justice in environ-

mental matters. To promote awareness of envi- ronmental standards and human rights among citizens and other stakeholders, the centre has established an environmental database, which includes national legislation. It also develops en- vironmental information materials for publica- tion in the national media. One active public organization is the National Falconry Society of Turkmenistan. This orga- nization aims to promote hunting with hunting birds, instilling a tradition of looking after pop- ulations of birds of prey and other animals in their natural habitats. The society is a member of the International Association of Falconry and Conservation of Birds of Prey. It contributes to ecological and veterinary monitoring of the bird of prey population and supports the breeding of rare predatory birds for falconry, including such species as the peregrine falcon, gyrfalcon and saker falcon. It should be noted that falconry is included on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List. It is very common throughout the world and is considered natural, environmentally friendly and safe. The expert and analytical agency Ynanch-Vepa was established in 2009 as a non-profit organi- zation to build the capacity of organizations in Turkmenistan through sharing experience and knowledge with foreign colleagues, establish- ing professional partnerships, disseminating information on best global practices and intro- ducing cutting-edge techniques. The agency is currently bringing together the efforts of lead- ing experts in the fields of nature conservation, agriculture and water management, including specialists who train staff for these sectors with- in the higher education system in Turkmenistan (Tebigykuwwat 2018).

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