Turkmenistan is stepping up measures to combat desertification as part of the UN Decade of Action (2025–2034). The country is implementing its third National Forest Programme (2026–2030), under which afforestation efforts are continuing. This has been reported by the IIC of Turkmenistan.

Since 1993, more than 160 million trees have been planted, including saxaul, which helps to stabilise the sand. Particular attention is being paid to the restoration of the Aral Sea region’s ecosystem. Protective forest belts are being created on the dried-up bed of the Aral Sea and the Botendag hills, whilst engineering methods are also being used to stabilise the sand.

One of the key international initiatives will be the establishment in Ashgabat of a Regional Centre for Combating Desertification, which will coordinate cooperation among the countries of Central Asia in the areas of pasture restoration, the rational use of water resources and the exchange of environmental expertise.