The Central Asian region – and Tajikistan in particular – is considered to be among the most vulnerable regions to climate change. Extreme weather events such as floods, droughts, avalanches, and landslides regularly destroy land, crops, infrastructure, and livelihoods. Melting glaciers, shifting rain patterns, and prolonged droughts as a result of climate change will further exacerbate existing vulnerabilities.
In Tajikistan, inefficient management, regional competition for natural resources and limited investment into preparedness and response systems leads to climate change threatening the livelihoods of agricultural workers and the overall food security socioeconomic development, and social cohesion. The country’s agricultural land overwhelmingly relies on rainfall, which becomes particularly scarce during the irrigation season. Furthermore, while livestock is a key source of income for local populations, the pressure of uncontrolled grazing exceeds permissible limits, leading to land degradation and erosion, with significant risks for disasters such as landslides and mudflows. This is further exacerbated by the widespread planting of grain crops, which requires deep ploughing. Likewise, uncontrolled tree logging, exacerbated by the energy crisis experienced following the collapse of the Soviet Union, is leading to significant deforestation and land degradation. Responsible public authorities face significant capacity and financial constraints, which limit their scope for action.
Source: Relief Web