Enhancing Biodiversity Management Capacity in Turkmenistan
05 Jul 2023
A comprehensive initiative supported by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) commissioned RINA in early 2020 for a Biodiversity Management Capacity Building project in Turkmenistan. This endeavor involves the collaboration and guidance of various entities, including RINA Turkmenistan office (located in Ashgabat), ENVECO (a Greek consultancy), EcoSocio Analysts LLC (ESA) (a Kazakh consultancy), and Dr. David Medio (an independent marine scientist).
The project's objective is twofold:
- Enhancing the capacity of nature reserves and protected areas in utilizing biodiversity impact assessment tools and techniques for effective management, monitoring, and conservation.
Strengthening the capacity of the shipping and oil & gas (O&G) sector operating in the Caspian Sea to consider biodiversity in their operations.
The program relies on knowledge sharing between local operators and international experts in environmental impact assessment (EIA) and conservation within the oil & gas and shipping sectors. The main beneficiary of the program is the Turkmen Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection (MAEP).
In the initial phase of the program, two online events were conducted. The first was a training workshop held in March 2022, attended by representatives from MAEP, including the Institute of Deserts, Flora, and Fauna; Köpetdag State Nature Reserve; the Khazar State Reserve; the Caspian Ecological Inspectorate; and the Environmental Protection Authority. Representatives from the Turkmenbashi Port Authority also participated. The workshop covered key topics relevant to the project, such as biodiversity, EBRD PR6, ESIA, and the mitigation hierarchy.
Subsequently, three follow-up events took place, where MAEP, Kazhar State Reserve, and the Caspian Ecological Inspectorate presented case studies related to EIA, mitigation hierarchy, and EBRD PR6.
Recently, the first part of phase two was implemented, consisting of capacity building trainings. A three-day training session was organized in Ashgabat, involving representatives from MAEP (including the Institute of Deserts, Flora and Fauna, Department of International Environmental Cooperation, Gaplangyr State Reserve, Khazar State Reserve, "Bereketli Garagum" State Reserve, Köpetdag State Reserve, Koytendag State Reserve, Department of Environmental Protection and Hydrometeorology, Caspian Environmental Inspectorate, Cadastre Department, Land Resources Service, Forestry Department), Turkmengaz, Turkmenneft, Turkmenbashi Seaport Authority, and private stakeholders such as Petronas, the nature protection society of Turkmenistan, and the focal point for the Tehran Convention.
Each day of the training had a specific theme: Biodiversity and Protected Areas, Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, and Monitoring of Biodiversity. The experts, including Dr. Maurizio Florio, Dr. Arianna Oggioni, Dr. David Medio, Dr. Georgios Kotzageorgis, Dr. Yannis Bekiaris, and Dr. Galina Artyukhina, delivered presentations and conducted Q&A sessions. Notably, the representative of the Köpetdag Nature Reserve delivered a captivating presentation on the region's biodiversity on the final day.
