About | Objective | Outcome | Workshop & Venue | Agenda | Registration | Cooperation | Organizing Committee
About
Central Asian countries face severe challenges related to water resource management that require joint efforts among the countries. Responsible food production depends upon careful use of all land and related resources, with both low and high-tech approaches. Also, the region is a critical place for the conservation of the snow leopard, and there are still locals who live somewhat traditional lifestyles in very rural and climate-vulnerable mountainous areas. Developing sustainable solutions for land use and water-related challenges is the urgent task for this region to become climate-resilient.
GEWEX has as one of its priority areas the improved understanding of the impacts of climate variability and change on water availability and food security across mountain ranges and river basins. To support research activities in a specific region, GEWEX has developed Regional Hydroclimate Projects (RHP) that are led by and bring together scientists and stakeholders at every level from within a certain region.
In 2021, GEWEX, START and the American University of Central Asia developed an online survey: “An Exploration of Climate Science in Central Asia – Moving Towards Frontiers of Knowledge and Action”, that was widely circulated and that was followed up with a virtual workshop to further explore the needs identified by the survey. The workshop report with its need assessment will be a base for further action in the hydroclimate-land use and food security project.
This Workshop on Climate Change, Water Resources & Agriculture in Central Asia was organized by collaboration between GEWEX/George Mason University (USA), Wageningen Metropolitan Food Clusters/Wageningen University & Research (the Netherlands), Central Asia and South Caucasus consortium of Agricultural universities for Development (CASCADE), EcoGIS center of the National Research University “Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers” (Uzbekistan), and the Research Institute of Environment and Nature Conservation Technologies at the Ministry of Nature Resources of the Republic of Uzbekistan (Uzbekistan).
The overarching goal of the workshop on Climate Change, Water Resources & Agriculture in Central Asia is to establish a regional project in Central Asia on hydroclimate, water resources, food security, conservation, and land use, led by regional scientists and stakeholders. An important driver for that ambition is to better observe and predict climate change and its effects and to support adaptation and mitigation measures, to support land use planning and sustainable food supply. A crucial aspect for any successful regional development is the existence of a strong and cohesive scientific and stakeholder network, to establish a community of scientists and stakeholders with relevant key interests.
Specific objectives of the workshop include:
Outcome
This interactive workshop aims at building this Community, exchange info and all basic existing knowledge and formulate jointly the mid-term goals and deliverables on knowledge development and cooperation, including the financing of the mid- and long-term goals.
After this workshop we aim to be able to:
Workshop and Venue
This in-person workshop is by invitation only and is seen as an opportunity to engage and commit the regional climate change, agricultural and hydrological research community to begin building this network of regional scientists.
The workshop will continue to build regional partnership based on the needs assessment from the 2021 GEWEX workshop. To define the objectives as mentioned above, we will send out in advance a simple questionnaire to participants about their objectives and priorities.
The workshop will take place at:
National Research University “Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers” (Uzbekistan) (NRU TIIAME)
39 Kari Niyazov Street
Tashkent 100000
Uzbekistan
Central Asia and South Caucasus consortium of Agricultural universities for Development (CASCADE) is a key regional consortium of 21 universities, which bring together scientists and educators for the Central Asia regional universities and research institutions.
The EcoGIS Center at the National Research University – Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers (NRU-TIIAME) trains undergraduate and graduate students in modern environmental, land and water resources and agricultural sciences. The EcoGIS center has 20 years of experience in international collaborative education and research between US, EU, Russian and Chinese universities with promotion of double degree MS and PhD programs, joint research on Environmental Sciences. The EcoGIS center is serving as the Secretariat of CASCADE. The National Research University – TIIAME is chairing CASCADE consortium steering committee.
For additional information, please visit the Practical Information section.
Agenda
The agenda will available in May. A broad outline of the program can be found here.
Registration
The Workshop on Climate Change, Water Resources & Agriculture in Central Asia is an in-person meeting and by invitation only.
To register, visit the Registration tab.
The Workshop on Climate Change, Water Resources & Agriculture in Central Asia is organized by George Mason University/GEWEX in collaboration with Wageningen Metropolitan Food Clusters (WMFC) in cooperation with Wageningen University & Research (the Netherlands), Research Institute of Environment and Nature Conservation Technologies of the Ministry of Natural Resources, and the National Research University “Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers” (NRU TIIAME), both in Tashkent.
Central Asia and South Caucasus consortium of Agricultural universities for Development (CASCADE) is key regional consortium of 21 universities, which brings together scientists and educators for Central Asia regional universities and research institutions.
National Research University – Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers (NRU-TIIAME) is chairing the CASCADE consortium steering committee. The NRU TIIAME EcoGIS Center provides education, research and innovation with undergraduate, graduate students and scientists in the modern environmental, land and water resources and agricultural sciences. The EcoGIS center has 20 years of experiences on international collaborative education and research between US, EU, Russian and Chinese universities with promotion of double degree MS and PhD programs, joint research on Environmental Sciences. The EcoGIS center is serving as Secretariat of CASCADE.
The Research Institute of Environment and Nature Conservation Technologies of the Minister of Natural Resources of the Republic of Uzbekistan has diverse responsibilities to support a cleaner environment in the country.
The Global Energy and Water Exchanges (www.gewex.org) project is a key element of the World Climate Research Program. GEWEX is a network of scientists dedicated to researching and understanding the Earth’s global water and energy cycles. The International GEWEX Project Office is located at George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA.
Wageningen MFC focuses on planning and implementation of circular high tech Food production systems addressing sustainable development. Wageningen University and Research in the Netherlands has long supported projects in Central Asia with their focus on healthy food and living environment.
GEWEX has as one of its priority areas the improved understanding of the impacts of climate variability and change on water availability and food security across mountain ranges and river basins. To support research activities in a specific region, GEWEX has developed Regional Hydroclimate Projects (RHP) that are led by and bring together scientists and stakeholders at every level from within a certain region.
Organizing Committee
Background image courtesy of woweezowee: Usbekistan, Tashkent
