Environmental issues in Turkmenistan
Encyclopedia
Environmental issues in Turkmenistan are most visible in three significant areas: desertification
, the drying of the Aral Sea
, and chemical pollution. All three of these areas are directly linked to agricultural
practices in the country.
Only the Sahara Desert in Africa
has a higher rate of desertification than that of Central Asian deserts. Of these, the Karakum Desert
and Kyzyl Kum Desert
in Turkmenistan
grow by hundreds of thousands of acres annually. These conditions persist due to inefficient agricultural irrigation
and cattle grazing practices, which have led to the salinization of soil and the removal of ground cover plants respectively.
Inefficient irrigation techniques on the Amu Darya
also contribute to the continued drying of the Aral Sea. Daşoguz Province experiences the most problems due to this drying. Drinking water quality has plummeted, bacteria levels in water have risen, and rates of infant mortality, hepatitis, and illness have risen.
Excessive use of fertilizer on cotton
and other crops, as well as the use of pesticides such as DDT
causes a large chemical pollution problem. Many fertilizers and pesticides have entered groundwater supplies in runoff from farms due to excessive or improper use.
Desertification
Desertification is the degradation of land in drylands. Caused by a variety of factors, such as climate change and human activities, desertification is one of the most significant global environmental problems.-Definitions:...
, the drying of the Aral Sea
Aral Sea
The Aral Sea was a lake that lay between Kazakhstan in the north and Karakalpakstan, an autonomous region of Uzbekistan, in the south...
, and chemical pollution. All three of these areas are directly linked to agricultural
Agriculture in Turkmenistan
Agriculture in Turkmenistan is a significant sector of the economy which contributes 20.9% of the GDP and employs 48.2% of the workforce. However, only 4% of the total land area is cultivated....
practices in the country.
Only the Sahara Desert in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
has a higher rate of desertification than that of Central Asian deserts. Of these, the Karakum Desert
Karakum Desert
The Karakum Desert, also spelled Kara-Kum and Gara Gum is a desert in Central Asia. It occupies about 70 percent, or 350,000 km², of the area of Turkmenistan....
and Kyzyl Kum Desert
Kyzyl Kum
The Kyzyl Kum , also called Qyzylqum, is the 11th largest desert in the world. Its name means Red Sand in Turkic languages. It is located in Central Asia in the doab between the rivers Amu Darya and Syr Darya, and is divided between Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan...
in Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan , formerly also known as Turkmenia is one of the Turkic states in Central Asia. Until 1991, it was a constituent republic of the Soviet Union, the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic . Turkmenistan is one of the six independent Turkic states...
grow by hundreds of thousands of acres annually. These conditions persist due to inefficient agricultural irrigation
Irrigation
Irrigation may be defined as the science of artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall...
and cattle grazing practices, which have led to the salinization of soil and the removal of ground cover plants respectively.
Inefficient irrigation techniques on the Amu Darya
Amu Darya
The Amu Darya , also called Oxus and Amu River, is a major river in Central Asia. It is formed by the junction of the Vakhsh and Panj rivers...
also contribute to the continued drying of the Aral Sea. Daşoguz Province experiences the most problems due to this drying. Drinking water quality has plummeted, bacteria levels in water have risen, and rates of infant mortality, hepatitis, and illness have risen.
Excessive use of fertilizer on cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
and other crops, as well as the use of pesticides such as DDT
DDT
DDT is one of the most well-known synthetic insecticides. It is a chemical with a long, unique, and controversial history....
causes a large chemical pollution problem. Many fertilizers and pesticides have entered groundwater supplies in runoff from farms due to excessive or improper use.