Astana, Kazakhstan UNECE and Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia are pleased to announce that the first comprehensive Cooperation Plan on water quality, «Development of the regional cooperation to ensure water quality in Central Asia» was launched today in a side-event during the Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference in Astana 21 September after approval by a Regional Working Group representing all five Central Asian states.
The plan builds on a Diagnostic Report developed under the UNECE project “Water Quality in Central Asia” and includes three strategic directions of work:
- Information exchange and harmonisation of national policies with regard to water quality;
- Cooperation on water quality monitoring and data exchange, and
- The establishment of a regional expert body.
11 authorities in 4 countries of Central Asia so far have approved the Plan for future cooperation, and discussions and approval by regional cooperation organizations is planned as a next step.
The work of the project and the Cooperation Plan build on the principles of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (further Water Convention) and its Protocol on Water and Health as well as the EU Water Framework Directive that are important international frameworks guiding the national as well as transboundary developments in this field.
The countries in Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan) are dependent on each other with regard to the water resources of transboundary rivers, lakes and groundwaters. Water quality is an important aspect of integrated water resources management that needs further efforts on the national as well as regional levels. Although Central Asian states are actively cooperating on water quantity issues - there is presently no regional cooperation on water quality.
Notes to editor:
The UNECE project «Water Quality in Central Asia» funded by the UN Development Account was launched in March 2009 and will be concluded in the end of 2011.
The Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia is an organization working on environmental issues in Central Asia. Founders of CAREC are Central Asian countries consisting of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, as well as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the European Commission (EC). The CAREC headquarters are located in Almaty, Kazakhstan with country offices operate in all the five member Central Asian countries.