Caspian Sea: State of the Environment 2019

of the Caspian seal in the Turkmenistan sector of the Caspian Sea and proposed areas for regular monitoring” (2010) identified Caspian seal hab- itats and rookeries on the Turkmenistan coast of the Caspian Sea. Human-made forests in the foothills of the Kopet Dag mountain range, around the country’s capi- tal, cities and district centres now cover 100,000 ha. More than 60 million seedlings have been planted: they are part of a process of afforestation and reforestation and play a significant role in the biodiversity conservation. Specialists in the country are carrying out im- portant work on including natural sites in Turk- menistan on the UNESCO World Heritage List. These sites are natural phenomena and the his- torical home of many rare animals and plants of exceptional value to the global gene pool, ensur- ing the planet’s ecological balance and sustain- able development. They include: • Badkhyz State Nature Reserve, famous for its tectonic faults and ancient volcanoes, natural massifs of pistachio-coloured lowlands, and populations of Turkmenian kulan, gazelles and argali • Koytendag State Nature Reserve with its many outstanding caves, unique canyons, a viable population of winter goats, and the Starostin’s loach, a blind fish that is not found anywhere else in the world In 2012 and 2013, two key strategic thematic documents covering biodiversity conservation were adopted by a Resolution of the President of Turkmenistan: • National Climate Change Strategy of Turk- menistan, 15 June 2012 (NCCST 2012) • National Forestry Programme of Turkmeni- stan, 11 January 2013 (NFP 2013). The following regulatory documents have been developed recently: • Methodological guidelines and provisions for the development of promising interdepart- mental plans • Methodology for assessing the value of bio- diversity resources and calculating the harm caused by damaging, removing and/or destroy- ing them in the territory of Turkmenistan

• Methodology for assessing and calculating environmental damage due to the pollution of water bodies in Turkmenistan • Methodology for assessing and calculating environmental damage due to soil contamina- tion in Turkmenistan • Methodology for assessing and calculating en- vironmental damage caused by air pollution in Turkmenistan • Tariffs for calculating penalties to be recov- ered in the event of damage caused by illegal mining, the destruction of plant and animal species and the use of natural resources • Directive on the Department of State Fishery Protection under the State Committee for Fisheries of Turkmenistan • Directive on the protection of aquatic bio- logical resources and regulation of fisheries in the territorial and inland waters of Turk- menistan Since there has been a reduction in the level of threat affecting certain species of animals and plants, a third edition of the Turkmenistan Red Book has been issued (Redlist Committee of Turkmenistan, 2011). Efforts are under way to inventory the biodi- versity of achievements in the field of plant and animal breeding. Agricultural seed resources are preserved in storage facilities. The nature reserves in Turkmenistan have gained sufficient experience of ex-situ conservation (the breeding of rare species of flora and fauna in nurseries) (Turkmenistan, Ministry of Nature Solving socioeconomic problems to ensure the preservation of a favourable environment, biodi- versity and natural resources is a strategic goal of state policy in the Caspian littoral states. In 2012, Azerbaijan adopted Azerbaijan 2020: A Look into the Future (Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan 2012), which focus- es on developing renewable energy sources to diversify and strengthen the country’s economy and ensure sustainable development. The de- Protection of Turkmenistan 2015). 7.4. Policy and legislation

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