Asia & the Pacific

Turkmenistan

• © UNESCO/A. Rossi

Turkmenistan joined UNESCO on 17 August 1993. The country is covered by the Organization’s Tehran Office, located in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The Repetek Biosphere Reserve, located in the Karakum Desert, is one of the few places where black saxaul forests have been preserved. Saxauls are low, bushy trees that grow in low areas and depressions where humidity is retained longest. The protection and monitoring of the biodiversity in the East Karakum are the Biosphere Reserve's main priority today.

Turkmenistan is also involved in one earth sciences project, related to the dating of the Caspian Sea, and in projects relating to the Aral Sea.

Freshwater

- Hydrology for the Environment, Life and Policy programme (HELP) project in the Aral Sea Basin More

- Lessons on Cooperation Building to Manage Water Conflicts in the Aral Sea Basin More

People, Biodiversity and Ecology

- Biosphere Reserves (WNBRs)

Earth Sciences

- Dating Caspian Sea Level Change (CASPAGE, IGCP, Project 481)