Round table on Environmental Problems in Central Asia

Round table discussion on Environmental Concerns and Prospects in and around Uzbekistan was organised on 10 August 2008 in collaboration with the Embassy by the Cambridge Central Asia Forum and the Cambridge Centre for Energy Studies. Event was held in Cambridge with participation of the Embassy’s representatives and experts from number of British universities.

Dr. Montu Saxena, who chaired the round table, as well as Ms. Sally Daultrey of the Centre for Energy Studies, both stressed in their introduction on importance of thorough scientific analyses and assessment of all processes related to ecological and social-economic changes.

The Embassy made a presentation on topic “Aral Sea, Water and hydro-energy issues in Central Asia – View from Uzbekistan”. Presentation reflected main conclusions and propositions of the Tashkent International Conference on the problems of Aral Sea, as well as position of Uzbekistan on current situation with water management and consequences of breach of the irrigational and power generation regime in Central Asian transboundary rivers.

Dr. Yulia Timoshkina, researcher of Cambridge Centre for Energy Studies, spoke about the integrated approach for development of Uzbekistan’s rural regions: Water, Ecosystems, Energy and Economy.

embers of Cambridge Central Asia Forum -  Dr. Helen MacDonald (Jesus Colledge), Dr. Barbara Portata (Manchester University), Dr. Anise Waljee (London University) and Mrs. Prajakti Kalra based their interventions to discussion on main results of joint field projects with scholars from the region.

Participants explored the possibilities for new research projects on covered problematic.

To see the file of the Embassy presentation on Power Point, please, click here