Climate Crisis Forces Turkmen Village to Retreat from Sands

Desertification is rapidly advancing across Central Asia, significantly impacting communities like Bokurdak in Turkmenistan. Residents are being forced to move as sand dunes from the expanding Karakum Desert engulf their village. Scientists warn that climate change, deforestation, and dry winds are exacerbating this land degradation.

This growing crisis poses a substantial economic burden, costing Central Asia an estimated six percent of its GDP annually. In response, Turkmenistan has launched an extensive tree-planting initiative, claiming to have planted 162 million trees over the past 20 years, with the president actively participating. Hardy saxaul shrubs are being used to stabilize soil and create barriers against sand.

Despite these efforts, climate change presents new challenges. Residents now require significantly more water to ensure saplings survive due to rising temperatures. Turkmenistan is exploring innovative solutions, including trials with cyanobacteria to improve soil moisture retention and has proposed a regional center against desertification.