Uzbekistan and climate change problem
General information
Uzbekistan is situated in the droughty zone of Asia, between 370 and 450 north latitude and 560 and 730 east longitude. Its territory is 447400km2.The Republic is the agro-industrial country with predomination of agriculture part in the economy, which is based on irrigated agriculture.
There is cultivation of cotton, cereals, rice and potato in the country. Also the country specializes on the production of vegetables, fruits, grapes, silk cocoons, caracul and wool. Cattle’s breeding is also developed.
Peculiarity of Uzbekistan is the usage of over 90% of all accessible water resources for irrigation needs. Water resources of trans boundary rivers of Aral Sea basin (to which Uzbekistan belongs) are fully regulated and distributed between countries-water users, and Uzbekistan is the major water user. Even at present time there is significant deficiency of water resources in the region, and the most important problem is Aral Sea crisis.
Anthropogen loading level on natural resources along the territory of the country is very high, and it creates danger for the production of food products. Almost full exemption of drainage for the irrigation, degradation of arable grounds (intensive solinization, all kinds of soil erosions), decreasing and degradation of natural grasslands, decreasing of biologic variation happens in Uzbekistan. Amudarya delta ecosystems had been damaged, even some of them had disappeared. About 50% agricultural ground area are subjected to the degradation in different degree.
Extreme weather conditions, which is characteristic for the climate of Uzbekistan (late spring and early autumn frosts, high temperature levels, frequent and long lasting draughts), decrease productivity of agricultural plants. Population growth causes increasing of provision need in time of water resources limitation. All of it increases risk of Uzbekistan’s vulnerability to the climate change.