Diversity of Plants and Animals in Mountain Ecosystems in Tajikistan

Abstract

Tajikistan is a hotspot of plant and animal species diversity and endemism and<br />is important for the conservation of biodiversity on a global scale. The country is located at<br />a biological crossroads. Species from Central and Northern Europe, Central Asia, the<br />Middle East, and North Africa mingle here with endemics found nowhere else. The<br />richness of Tajikistan‘s biodiversity shows up at the genetic, species, population, and<br />ecosystem levels. There are many relic and endemic species, with most of the components<br />of biodiversity vulnerable to anthropogenic factors. Proximate threats such as poaching,<br />overfishing, illegal logging, and overgrazing are causing irreversible damage to<br />biodiversity in the Tajikistan hotspot. Threats stem from economic and social problems,<br />the lack of environmental awareness, poor management and enforcement capabilities, and<br />the lack of transboundary cooperation. Conversion of land use, from biologically complex<br />uses, such as mixed-crop agriculture, to less complex uses, such as mono-crop agriculture,<br />has also reduced biodiversity. An example of the problem of biodiversity loss is<br />simplification of agriculture systems. When a mixed-crop and livestock farm is converted<br />to a single-crop enterprise, the landscape has lost ecological niches. International donors<br />have provided considerable support to help resolve some of these issues. Funding<br />opportunities exist, particularly in promoting transboundary cooperation, training<br />conservation professionals, building environmental awareness and demonstrating the<br />benefits of sustainable resource use. Close cooperation across borders will be required for<br />conservation of unique and threatened ecosystems in the Central Asian region. An analysis<br />of the present status of biodiversity conservation in Tajikistan and the constraints to<br />successful implementation of the National Action Plan is presented here. Problems and<br />prospects are discussed.