Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 15 November, as part of the 21st session of the Committee to Review the Implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (CRIC-21 UNCCD), a Plenary meeting was held at the Silk Road Samarkand congress hall to discuss the problems of sand and dust storms (SDS).

The event was attended by the Minister of Ecology, Environment and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan Aziz Abdukhakimov, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Rural Development of Saint Lucia Alfred Prosper, the Chairman of the UNCCD COP15 Alain-Richard Donvai, the First Deputy Minister of the Environment, Water and Agriculture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Osama Ibrahim Fakiha, UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiau, ECO Deputy Secretary General Huseyn Avni Bichakli.

“For Uzbekistan, the problem of sand and dust storms, which are becoming more frequent and intense, is more relevant than ever. To solve these problems, comprehensive action must be taken at all levels. The President of Uzbekistan, the respected Shavkat Mirziyoyev, personally oversees this issue and instructs the Cabinet of Ministers to introduce effective policies and measures to achieve land degradation neutrality, noted A. Abdukhakimov in his opening speech. “With my colleagues, the environment ministers of the Central Asian countries, we have created an effective platform where we discuss pressing issues and exchange opinions. “I propose today to expand this platform and unite a wider range of politicians from neighboring regions.”

As part of the high-level event, ministers and environmental leaders from various countries took part in an interactive dialogue with representatives of governments, UN agencies, and international organizations. Those present had the opportunity to speak briefly and ask questions to the speakers.

“The sight of rushing dark clouds of sand and dust, consuming everything in their path and turning day into night is one of the most awe-inspiring sights in nature.

“This is a dangerous phenomenon that is causing chaos everywhere from North and Central Asia to sub-Saharan Africa,” said Ibrahim Thiaw, executive secretary of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification. — Sand and dust storms pose a major challenge to achieving sustainable development. However, they are both aggravated by human activity and can be reduced by human action.”

In turn, the head of the laboratory for studying the quality of surface water at the Research Institute of Hydrometeorology, Nishonov Bakhriddin, noted the importance of modern systems for monitoring air pollution:

“According to research, Central Asia and China rank second globally (after the Sahara Desert) in dust emissions into the atmosphere - about 20% of the total.

In Uzbekistan, in order to monitor dust storms, the hydrometeorological network of Uzbekistan is equipped with automatic meteorological stations and automatic air pollution monitoring stations, allowing real-time monitoring of the visibility range and concentration of dust and fine dispersed particles (PM1, PM2.5, PM10) in atmospheric air of cities and towns. Strengthening the capacity to monitor and forecast PFS will contribute to reducing the negative consequences of this phenomenon.”

It’s worth noting that according to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), sand and dust storms are an under-recognized problem that is now "significantly" more common in some places around the world.

Two billion tons of sand and dust, equal to the weight of 350 Great Pyramids of Giza, enter the atmosphere every year. UNCCD experts believe that more than 25% of this phenomenon is due to human activity. The damage occurs in countries from northern and central Asia to sub-Saharan Africa, the impact of which on human health is still poorly understood.

In their Compendium on Sand and Dust Storms and its accompanying DFS Toolkit, UNCCD, FAO and partners provide guidance on approaches and methodologies for DFS data collection and assessment, monitoring and early warning, mitigation and preparedness, and source mapping and mitigation of impacts of anthropogenic sources at subnational, national, regional and global levels.