Wetlands: natural buffers, protective barriers

Having chosen a reliable way to ensure environmental safety and sustainable development, as well as in order to adapt to the ongoing processes of climate change, restoration and conservation of biological diversity, in 2001 Uzbekistan joined the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, mainly as a Habitat for Waterfowl (or the Ramsar Convention) - the first global agreement on the protection and conservation of natural resources.
 
The Convention covers all aspects of the conservation and balanced use of wetland ecosystems, in which, according to scientists, most of the Earth's biomass is concentrated, important for the preservation of biological diversity and ensuring human existence.
The territory of our country is characterized by a wide variety of natural ecosystems. Analysis of the situation over the past ten years shows that the main reasons for the loss of biodiversity, the decline in its productivity and the functions of ecosystem services have not changed significantly. As for wetlands, they are being destroyed or degraded faster than any other ecosystems. For millennia, swamps have been perceived as places that need to be drained and turned into agricultural fields. Combined with the climate crisis, groundwater extraction, fires and rising sea levels, this has made the WBU one of the most vulnerable ecosystems in the world. The latest data show that 64 percent of wetlands in the world disappeared in the last century; every year one percent of existing land is lost to meet the growing needs for water and land resources, agriculture, industry and an increasing urban population.
Management plans and environmental management regimes act as an instrument for the rational use of such ecosystems. From this point of view, the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, mainly as a Habitat for Waterfowl, is the main mechanism for the protection of wetlands.
The inclusion of two reservoirs - Tudakul and Kuymazar - in the Ramsar Convention is considered the main achievement of Uzbekistan in fulfilling its national obligations to protect the main and flyways of waterfowl and near-water birds, their mass nesting sites in the period 2016-2021. Located in the southwest of the Kyzylkum Desert, these habitats are included in the list of key ornithological territories and are attractive for wetland birds mainly during seasonal migrations and in winter.
 
According to the Navoi Regional Department of the Ministry of Natural Resources, currently three water territories of Uzbekistan with a total area of 590,400 hectares are included in the Ramsar list. In August 2019 , it also included the Kuimazar and Tudakul reservoirs with a total area of 32 thousand hectares . The preparation of this nomination began in 2011 as part of the Ramsar Convention small Grants program, but for technical reasons it was completed only eight years later.
Based on the accounting of birds, which has been carried out over the past five years, the average annual number of migratory birds exceeds 40 thousand. About 229 bird species have been recorded, of which 24 are listed in the Red Book of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Also in these territories there are animals that are threatened with extinction (gazelles), and fish (Amudarya big shovel).
The ichthyofauna of Lakes Tudakul and Kuymazar are identical, experts say. Of the 27 fish species registered in the reservoirs, seven are listed in the Red Book. In the period from 2000 to 2020, from 40,320 to 168,533 waterfowl wintered in and around the Tudakul water area, and the swamp area was a breeding ground for many of their species, including the marbled teal. It was also possible to meet a white-fronted goose here. At the same time, these territories are important for the reproduction of the white-eyed duck, common spoonbill, small cormorant.
In the central and northern parts of Kuymazar there are small islands for the habitat of cormorants, gulls and birds of prey. The reservoir is one of the main territories in Uzbekistan and Central Asia for wintering wild ducks. In the period from 1996 to 2020, up to 150 thousand waterfowl arrived annually.
Fishing ponds and farms have been formed on Lake Tudakul, including hunting ones, where rabbits and other animals are hunted. Also, the botanical diversity on the territory of the wetland is indicated by the 58 plant species found.
- Each ecosystem contains a complex of natural components that determine the development and functioning of certain communities of plants and animals, - comments Ishmamat Tagaev, head of the public association bioecological center "Zhonli Tabiat" ("Wildlife") of the Republic of Uzbekistan, member of the Coordinating Committee of the Ramsar Regional Initiative of Central Asia from the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2021-2024. - Uzbekistan is an active participant in regional and international environmental processes, including the fulfillment of obligations under the Ramsar Convention.
One of the goals of the Strategy for the Conservation of Biological Diversity in the Republic of Uzbekistan for the period 2019-2028, approved by the Government decree of June 11, 2019, is to develop effective and urgent measures to ensure by 2029 the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, the functioning of ecosystems and the provision of key services by them.
There are 10,694 species of birds in the world, of which about 420 occur on the territory of the republic, including seasonally, that is, during migration. And more than 200 species live on 500 lakes and over 500 reservoirs in Uzbekistan.
The purpose of the adoption of the Ramsar Convention is to ensure the interdependence of man and the environment, to increase the economic, cultural and recreational importance of wetlands, to consider waterfowl as an international resource, as well as to coordinate a far-sighted national bioecological policy at the level of international interaction. As a result, the List of wetlands of International Importance includes four natural reserves as a habitat for waterfowl in any season.
What has changed since the adoption of the convention, to what extent have the habitat conditions of birds improved and the number of waterfowl changed through the rational use of appropriate wetlands?
In the national legislation, in particular in the laws "On the protection and use of wildlife", "On the protection and use of flora" and "On Forest", there are norms that determine: if the laws on wildlife, flora and forest establish other rules, then the rules of the international treaty apply.
The question arises: to what extent are the requirements of the convention fulfilled? In particular, the public association "Zhonli Tabiat" together with the Navoi Regional Department of the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Republic of Uzbekistan has planned project work aimed at reducing the impact of land owners and tourism entities on the state of the avifauna of the Tudakul reservoir. Thus, the activities of enterprises of these economic entities will be optimized, since, according to the provision of the convention, in cases where, due to state interests, a party excludes from the list or reduces the size of a wetland included in it, it must compensate for the resulting loss of wetland resources. And also to create additional natural reserves for waterfowl, to ensure the protection of a sufficient part of the territory of their original habitat in this area or elsewhere. This is in line with the UN's call to focus on the process of restoring wetlands with the setting of specific tasks.
On World Wetlands Day (celebrated annually on February 2) The Navoi Regional Department of the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Republic of Uzbekistan organized a media event in the Tudakul water area. Considering that the theme of this year is "Revival and restoration of degraded wetlands", experts told the media about the activities carried out in this direction.
- This winter, biotechnological events were organized, - says Furkat Kodirov, head of the department of the Navoi Regional Department of the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Republic of Uzbekistan. - In order to create conditions for wintering birds in the wetland zone, openings were cut down in places of severe icing and paths, flight paths were laid, artificial nesting sites were arranged. Also, together with the departments of the National Guard and Internal Affairs conducted joint raids. Six facts of illegal hunting, including shooting of birds listed in the Red Book of the Republic of Uzbekistan, have been established. 11 administrative protocols on illegal fishing in the protected area have been drawn up. Fines of 21 million and 11 million soums were issued for causing damage to nature. Also, state inspectors are carrying out preventive work at tourist sites located in the water area of Tudakul.
It follows from all of the above that wetlands included in the Ramsar List should be used wisely.