Environmental status and challenges in and around the Fergana Valley, Central Asia

Abstract

In 2004 the Terrestrial Environmental Monitoring Project in Central Asia (TEMP-CA) was established. The project will be closed in 2010. In the project, financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kyrgyzian, Tajik, Uzbek and Norwegian scientists cooperated. Objective for the project was the establishment of terrestrial environmental monitoring reference areas around the Fergana Valley. In total 10 monitoring reference sites were established. As many of the monitoring sites are situated in and around the Fergana valley it is also possible to say something about the environmental status and challenges of this area, including the surrounding mountainous areas. The Fergana Valley was always very important for the food supply of the total region. Today the area has many big challenges concerning management of its natural resources and environmental status.