Environmental degradation

The chapter reviews the current extent and drivers of environmental degradation in the Aral Sea Basin, with a focus on land degradation and water quality deterioration and the impacts on agricultural production, rural poverty, food security and human health. In addition to reviewing the existing challenges related to environmental degradation, the chapter presents and evaluates various opportunities for sustainable natural resource management and environmental protection, such as promoting incentives for sustainable land and water management through enabling policies on land restoration and rehabilitation including afforestation and institutional reforms in water management, as well as the potential for regional collaboration within the Central Asian countries.