A concept for an Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) plan for the Lower Amu Darya basin was signed during the Eco Expo 2026 exhibition in Samarkand, organizers reported.

The document was signed by Jusipbek Kazbekov, Deputy Chairman of the National Committee for Ecology and Climate Change; Zokir Ishpulatov, First Deputy Minister of Water Resources; and Alisher Shukurov, Deputy Minister of Agriculture.

The document is intended to serve as a basis for comprehensive water management in the Aral Sea region, one of the country's most ecologically and climatically vulnerable areas.

The concept was developed under the Aral Sea Wetlands project, implemented by the National Committee for Ecology and Climate Change in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Environment Facility.

The plan envisions a shift from traditional administrative water management to a hydrographic, basin-based approach. It includes basin-wide water resource planning that accounts for all users, ecosystem status, and long-term climate risks. The future plan is expected to improve water allocation efficiency, address the needs of agriculture, municipal services, energy, fisheries, and local communities, and reduce the risk of potential water-use conflicts.

The next stage will involve developing the IWRM plan itself. Pilot areas have been designated: Alat and Karakul districts in Bukhara region, and Amudarya and Muynak districts in Karakalpakstan. These areas will see the introduction of water-saving technologies, digitalization of water accounting, and mechanisms to involve farmers and local communities in decision-making.

Organizers emphasized that the project aims to restore ecosystems of the Aral Sea basin, preserve wetlands, and enhance the region's resilience to climate change impacts.

Source: www.gazeta.uz