Saving the Aral Basin
The Jayhun project conducted a study into the rate of glacial retreat in the Amu Darya basin and its potential impact on the region’s future water resources. Scientists also examined the impact of climate change on annual precipitation and conducted hydrographic surveys to establish siltation rates in reservoirs. It is widely understood that vast quantities of water have been wasted due to inefficient and poorly managed irrigation schemes. Therefore, project partners developed water resource models to analyse the wastage and effectiveness of water usage during irrigation. The models helped scientists to analyse new and existing data and describe different water resource scenarios up to fifty years into the future. Project findings enabled researchers to conduct a risk analysis for water resource management in the Amu Darya basin and identify sustainable strategies for managing the region’s water resources. The EU-funded initiative will also improve allocation of water resources under changing hydrological conditions, thereby reducing the risk of further environmental degradation. The work conducted by the Jayhun project will therefore help improve the lives of people living in the area of the Aral Basin by safeguarding vital water resources for future generations.
