Policy & Management

Managing the Aral Sea has proven to be difficult, in particular in the decades following the agricultural boom of the region. Prior to the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, monitoring and management of the sea fell under the Ministry of Land Reclamation and Water Resources out of Moscow through the Ministries of Water (Zmijewski, K. and Becker, R., 2014). They oversaw and recorded the changes of the groundwater and sea as a whole; however, documentation of the sea fell just as the Soviet Union did. The independent governments that followed ended many programs and what few resources each country had needed to be concentrated on increased development, especially in agriculture.

The Interstate Commission for Water Coordination (ICWC) in 1992 saw the five countries’, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, attempts to an integrated management of the sea (Zmijewski, K. and Becker, R., 2014). Each participating country came together for better environmental and sea conditions. Unfortunately, most of their arrangements were not followed through or implemented and little change was seen.

In 2010, the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea was written to help raise awareness of the extent of damage done from the over agricultural practices of producing cash crops (Ibatullin, 2010) and excessive diversions of the Amu Darya and Syr Darya Rivers for urban development. This program focuses on bringing the five surrounding countries back together again for the common awareness and conservational efforts of the importance of water coming back into the system, improving habitat, economies and integrating the different government agencies for a common goal in water management.

Unfortunately, the devastation of the sea, environment, and local and regional economies are proving to be increasingly harder for other communities in the region. UNICEF, the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank are helping populated areas of the Aral Sea in many ways with education, conservation, and sanitation. For example, in Uzbekistan, many people are receiving water testing kits and training in finding and producing clean and safe drinking water and better sanitation practices, like waste removal, water boiling, and improved drainage (Unicef, 2014). Also, community encouragements and incentives are in place to help the people in applying better practices. Many health issues are apparent and documented, along with contamination in several places; therefore increased need for cooperation from government and community members is crucial. Policies are in the process of being written to help guide and regulate management and outcomes (Unicef, 2014). Sadly, many areas still face contamination and pollution issues. Some government officials are slow at recognizing these issues and still overlook the need to initiate proper water management and safe water for their residence (IRIN Humanitarian News and Analysis, 2006).

 

 (IRIN Humanitarian News and Analysis, 2006)

Ibatullin, S. (2010). International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea - as a basis for regional cooperation in Central Asia. Geneve: Executive Committee of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea.

IRIN Humanitarian News and Analysis. (2006, September 8). CENTRAL ASIA: Aral Sea crisis threatens public health. Retrieved from In-depth: Running Dry: the humanitarian impact of the global water crisis: http://www.irinnews.org/indepthmain.aspx?InDepthId=13&ReportId=60534

Unicef. (2014). The Aral Sea and Drought. Retrieved from Uzbekistan: http://www.unicef.org/uzbekistan/wes.html

Zmijewski, K. and Becker, R. (2014). Estimating the Effects of Anthropogenic Modifications on Water Balance in the Aral Sea Watershed Using GRACE: 2003-12. Earth Interactions, 18(3), 1-17.