Tajik environmental scientists believe the country’s climate will become increasingly dry, creating risks for Tajikistan’s flora and fauna. To mitigate the effects of climate change, measures to preserve biodiversity should be taken.
According to scientists, rapid climate change significantly affects Central Asian biodiversity, especially in Tajikistan. The process of biodiversity loss is accelerating daily. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), from 1500 to the present, 860 species of living organisms have gone extinct, and about 17,300 species are endangered.
According to the Doctor of Biological Sciences, academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan Hikmat Hisoriev, the climate historically has never been the same and permanent; it has changed cyclically between warming and cooling.
“However, during the last few decades, climate change towards warming is happening at an alarming rate,” says Hikmat Hisoriev.
According to Hikmat Hisoriev, rapid climate change does not give plants time to adapt, which leads to the extinction of the most vulnerable.
Among such economically valuable plants in Tajikistan are ‘Anzur’ onion (Allium stipitatum), ‘Siyokhalaf’ (Allium rosenorum), ‘Model’ (Allium taeniopetalum), cumin (Cuminum cyminium), fig (Ficus carica), currant (Ribes malvifollium), ‘Vavilov’ almond (Amygdalus vavilovii), etc.
“In Tajikistan and other Central Asian countries, several plant species went extinct during the last 50 years. It is difficult to find examples of such species due to the lack of historical data, however, many endemic species are known to be endangered,” says Hisoriev.
For example, a highly endangered plant is Ferula tadshikorum, an endemic plant of Tajikistan, widely used in traditional and alternative medicine. An endemic species means that this species does not exist anywhere else in the world.
The species is endangered due to excessive annual collection of its resin before the fruit ripening period and habitat loss due to agricultural activities.
Greig’s tulip (Tulipa greigii) is found only in single specimens in the Pamir-Alay and Tien Shan mountains.
The development of new lands, infrastructure construction and development continue to affect biodiversity. In addition, the mass collection of plants for medical and decorative purposes leads to a decrease in the number of species. Uncontrolled grazing also creates risks.
Platycladus orientalis (Biota orientalis or ‘Sarvarcha’), endemic to the Pamir-Alay mountains, grows in single specimens on the southern slope of the Hissor Range, in the Sardai Miyona (Romit) gorge.
It is endangered due to human economic activity; residents use the plant as firewood and building material.
Another one of the rarest and most endangered species is a very important fruit plant, a narrow endemic plant of Tajikistan – the Cajon pear (Pyrus cajon). Currently, it can be found only in single specimens in several isolated places in the Western Pamirs. Cajon is listed in the Red Data Book of Tajikistan as an endangered species. Preservation measures include the creation of protected areas and regulation of human economic activity in the plant’s habitat.
In recent years, the authorities have taken important measures to mitigate the impact of climate change on natural ecosystems.
By the Government Resolution of November 2023, the “National Programme “Green Country” of the Republic of Tajikistan for 2023-2027” was adopted, which was based on the “National Development Strategy of the Republic of Tajikistan for the period up to 2030”.
This Programme defines the main directions of public sustainable development in regulating the natural balance of greenhouse gases, adapting to climate change, transitioning to a green economy, ensuring the maintenance of natural landscapes sustainability, the formation of biodiversity resources, sustainable management of environmental safety, as well as the creation of favourable conditions for a sustainable transition to a green economy.
The Programme provides for the planting of 65 million trees and shrubs on an area of more than 4 thousand hectares by the end of 2025. These measures contribute to the restoration of restructured ecosystems, the mitigation of the climate change impact, the adaptation of biodiversity to climate change, and the combating against desertification.
Doctor of Biological Sciences, Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tajikistan, zoologist Abdusattor Saidov stated that first, the humidity conditions will change in the mountain ecosystems of Tajikistan, which will result in large changes in the composition of the vegetation that is part of the food supply for wild animals.
This may further lead to a decrease in the number of herbivorous animal species. For example, in the high-mountain ecosystems of the Pamirs, such animals include the Marco Polo sheep, the Siberian ibex, the long-tailed marmot, etc. These species will be affected the most by the possible climate change consequences.
According to Abdusattor Saidov, the important tool for biodiversity preservation is the Red Data Book, which reflects the current state of rare and endangered species of plants and animals.
In recent years, research institutions in Tajikistan have accumulated new data on rare and endangered species of plants and animals, based on which they assess the current state of these species’ populations and develop effective measures for their preservation.
“According to the latest research data, there are more than 9,500 species of higher and lower plants and more than 13,000 species of animals on the territory of the country. More than 1,800 endemic and subendemic species of the flora and fauna exist in Tajikistan; this indicates that active processes of formation of species and forms have been taking place historically in this region,” the biologist says.
The scientist emphasised that since 1988, when the first edition of the Red Data Book of Tajikistan was published, the number of endangered flora and fauna species has increased significantly. The first edition included 226 plants and 162 animal species, the second edition (2015) included 267 endangered plants and 222 endangered animal species, and the third edition included as many as 304 endangered plants and 242 endangered animal species.
“The increase in the number of endangered plants and animals indicates growing pressure on animal and plant populations due to climate change and anthropogenic factors,” the scientist concludes.
The experts believe that the extinction of a plant or animal species in nature is considered an irreversible process of disappearance of a part of the gene pool. Any living being that is a carrier of genetic information has been formed during long-term evolution and is of great scientific and aesthetic importance. In this regard, the preservation of rare and endangered species of plants and animals amid climate change and increased anthropogenic impact requires the development of urgent and effective measures.
Heavy Challenge to the Animal Kingdom
Abdusattor Saidov says that the animal kingdom is an integral part of the ecosystems and biological diversity of Tajikistan.
According to him, more than 13,000 species of animals are currently known in the fauna of Tajikistan. Complex relief, various natural areas with different climatological conditions, and their location at different altitudes contributed to the diversity and richness of the country’s fauna. The fauna of Tajikistan was formed over a long historical period, and the presence of more than 800 endemic species of animals found only in Tajikistan confirms this.
An analysis of anthropogenic impact on animals shows that over the past 50 years, fundamental changes have occurred in the fauna of Tajikistan. Over a relatively short historical period, three species of vertebrates went extinct in Tajikistan: the Caspian tiger (Panthera tigris virgata), the Menzbier’s marmot (Marmota menzbieri), and the Syr Darya sturgeon (Pseudoscaphirhynchus fedtschenkoi). In addition, in recent decades, there has been no reliable information on the preservation of four more species of vertebrates in the fauna of Tajikistan: the Persian leopard (Panthera pardus ciscaucasica), the Steppe polecat (Mustela eversmanni), the Snow pigeon (Columba leuconota), and the meadow viper (Vipera ursinii).
Of the 242 rare and endangered species of animals included in the third edition of the Red Data Book of Tajikistan, 12 are mollusc species, 92 are insect species, 16 are fish species, 31 are reptile species, 45 are bird species, and 46 are mammal species.
Over the past decades, environmental pollution has affected the biodiversity of rivers and water reservoirs in Tajikistan. For example, pollution of the Syr Darya River basin has led to the disappearance of the Syr Darya sturgeon (Pseudoscaphirhynchus fedtschenkoi), Bastard sturgeon (Acipenser nudiventris) and Pike asp (Aspiolucius esocinus). For the same reason, there has been a significant decrease in the number of the large and small Amu Darya sturgeon (Pseudoscaphirhynchus kaufmanni and Ps. hermanni) – endemic and relict representatives of the fish fauna of Central Asia in the Vakhsh River basin.
“Currently, the populations of the Bactrian deer (Cervus elaphus bactrianus), urial (Ovis vignei bocharensis), Severtzov’s argali (Ovis ammon severtzovi), snow leopard (Uncia uncia, or Panthera uncia), bar-headed goose (Anser indicus), goitered gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa), and desert monitor (Varanus griseus) are critically endangered in Tajikistan. The further preservation of these species in the fauna of Tajikistan requires urgent measures to restore and increase their population,” the scientist believes.
Melting Glaciers, a Rare Butterfly, and a Missing Marmot
According to Abdusattor Saidov, some animal species are particularly vulnerable to climate change due to their narrow ecological specialisation and specific requirements for their habitat. Such species are called stenobionts. They cannot adapt to changes in their habitat as easily as species with a broad ecological specialisation. An example is the Apollo Autocrator (Parnassius autocrator) butterfly, which lives near glaciers and feeds on the nectar of specific plants. The disappearance of these plants due to melting glaciers threatens the existence of this butterfly.
“By the way, the Apollo Autocrator butterfly is the most legendary and rare butterfly that lives in the Western and Eastern Pamirs, the mountain meadows of the Vanj district, and the spurs of the Afghan Hindu Kush. Observing it is a great success for entomologists,” the scientist noted.
The biologist emphasised that climate change also affects the food supply of animals. The reduction of vegetation leads to a decrease in the number of herbivores, such as the Siberian ibex. In turn, this negatively affects the predators, such as the snow leopard, for which the ibex is the main prey. Thus, the reduction of vegetation directly affects the entire ecosystem.
The scientist added that about 1,000 small glaciers have disappeared in Tajikistan over the past 50 years. Small glaciers, creating microclimate conditions, play an important role in maintaining biodiversity. Their disappearance leads to the deterioration of the vegetation and, accordingly, the food supply for many animal species.
As an example, the scientist cited the disappearance of Menzbier’s marmot population on the Kuraminsky Range (Western Tien Shan), associated with the glaciers melting and the deterioration of its habitat.
“In the early 1960s, Tajik zoologist Grigory Davydov discovered an isolated population of this species consisting of 72 individuals. However, repeated research in the 1970s showed that the population had completely disappeared. Analysis showed that the marmot’s disappearance relates to the deterioration of habitat conditions due to melting glaciers, changes in microclimate, and poaching,” the zoologist noted.
Recently, some lakes in the Pamirs started drying up. These include Rangkul, Shorkul, and Bulunkul, the area of which has significantly decreased in recent decades. Some indicator species’ behaviour demonstrates the impact of climate change. For example, the bar-headed goose. Until the early 1980s, this migratory species nested on many lakes in the Pamirs but now, its nesting sites are observed only on two lakes: Zorkul and Karakul. That is, the capacity of other lakes does not allow this species to find favourable conditions for nesting.
The Evil: People and “Strangers”
Abdusattor Saidov emphasised that the anthropogenic factors affecting the fauna include the impact of human activities such as hunting, poaching, and capturing animals and insects for collecting and other commercial purposes.
He added that along with this, some animal species find favourable conditions in the anthropogenic landscape, for example, some species of rodents. However, some species react to changes in the habitat negatively. These include species that have low limits of tolerance to changes in environmental factors and are adapted to specific habitat conditions.
In recent decades, one of the negative anthropogenic factors that poses a threat to biological diversity, the environment, and public health has been the penetration of non-native species that are brought from other regions. For example, the expansion of Tajikistan’s trade relations contributes to the spread of non-native species. Many non-native species can interbreed with native species damaging the local gene pool. On a related note, the International Convention on Biological Diversity prohibits all member countries from spreading non-native species of plants and animals for the sake of preserving local species.
According to the scientist, more than 40 non-native species have been identified in Tajikistan’s fauna. The largest number of non-native species (77.5%) are insects and fish.
As an example, the scientist cited the nutria native to Argentina, which was brought in 1949 to develop the fur trade. The nutria easily settled in the water reservoirs of Southwestern Tajikistan, formed a wild population, and penetrated the Tigrovaya Balka Nature Reserve. With its appearance in the Reserve, the number of some predatory mammals (jackal, jungle cat) increased, which suppressed the populations of the subspecies of the Tajik pheasant and the Tolai hare included in the Red Data Book.
According to scientist, another example is the snakehead, which accidentally got into the pond farms of Uzbekistan from the Amur River basin with the fry of herbivorous fish in the early 1960s. Its native habitat is the Far East: Eastern China, Korea, and the Amur River basin. In the 1970s, it penetrated the water reservoirs of Southwestern Tajikistan along the Amu Darya River. Currently, the snakehead is widespread in the Syr Darya River basin, in the lower reaches of the Vakhsh, Kafirnigan, and Kyzylsu rivers, including in the lakes of the Tigrovaya Balka Nature Reserve. The snakehead, as a non-native species, displaces the marinka, Samarkand’s Varicorhinus, Turkestan catfish, etc. from their native habitats and causes significant damage to the natural populations of these commercial fish.
It Is Necessary to Take Measures Now!
Abdusattor Saidov says that a network of specially protected natural areas has been created in Tajikistan, which plays an important role in preserving biological diversity.
There are 3 nature reserves, 1 biosphere reserve, 13 wildlife sanctuaries, 2 national parks, and 2 natural parks in the country located in various natural areas and covering the main types of natural ecosystems. The territory of specially protected natural areas is 3.1 million hectares, which is about 22% of the total area of the country. Specially protected natural areas include 70% of the biological diversity of Tajikistan. The extinction of a plant or animal species in nature is considered an irreversible process of disappearance of a part of the gene pool.
“Any living being that is a carrier of genetic information has been formed during the long-term evolution and is of great scientific and aesthetic importance. In this regard, the preservation of rare and endangered species of plants and animals amid climate change and increased anthropogenic impact requires the development of urgent and effective measures,” the scientist believes.
According to him, it is extremely important to protect the natural habitats of species to preserve biodiversity.
“There were attempts to breed animals in captivity with their subsequent release into the wild. These experiments often prove ineffective. For example, snow leopard, one of its main instincts – the ability to hunt – is passed on from parents to offspring, and without it, animals raised in captivity will not be able to survive in the wild,” the biologist emphasised.
Abdusattor Saidov and Hikmat Hisoriev agreed that it is necessary to take measures to preserve biodiversity to mitigate the impact of climate change, for example, by expanding the network of nature reserves and national parks, restoring forests, and introducing “green” technologies.
“It is necessary to introduce quotas and bans on the collection of rare and endangered species. In addition, it is necessary to raise public awareness of the importance of preserving biodiversity. These measures will help preserve the unique biodiversity, as well as the ecosystems of Tajikistan, and prevent the extinction of rare and endemic species of plants and animals. Tajikistan is already taking specific steps in this direction, such as turning Tajikistan into a green country by planting at least 3,000,000 trees in open areas and along highways, as well as a moratorium on the collection of endangered plant species, the creation of orchards in the foothills, the development of waste-free production, etc.,” added Hikmat Hisoriev.
According to the academician, restoration and greening of open areas, as well as restoration of foothill and mountain settlements by creating orchards with local fruit trees, can help in adaptation to climate change and mitigate the ever-increasing warming and drying. For example, experimental projects for growing drought- and salt-tolerant fruit crops are already showing positive results.
“Climate change is a global problem that requires coordinated action at all levels. Government agencies, scientific institutions, environmental public organisations, youth, and eco-activists need to contribute to the preservation of nature. Expanding comprehensive research on climate change and developing adaptation measures to mitigate its impact on biodiversity and ecosystems is one of the important biologists’ tasks. This is the only way we can preserve our planet for future generations,” said Abdusattor Saidov.