Progress on ways forward in the Aral Sea basin

In response to a decision of Heads of the Central Asian States to address the critical issues of water resources, climate change and ecosystem loss in the Aral Sea basin, GWP Central Asia and Caucasus became the platform for policy dialogues in all eight Central Asian nations.

Boat, Aral Sea, CACENA

These dialogues raised awareness of the links between water governance and water users, agriculture, land-use planning, energy, industry, environment and health, and showed how IWRM contributes to national development objectives. The sessions built on years of advocating for IWRM jointly with local NGOs. In 2009, for example, activities organised for the Day of Kura and Araks Rivers in Yerevan, Tbilisi and Baku for the sixth yearrunning attracted public attention to water issues and the problems of these transboundary rivers.