Rural Sustainability and Management of Natural Resources in Tian Shan Region, Central Asia

Current presentation introduces an analysis of the land use and current environmental situation of the Tian Shan region. Tian Shan (the ’Celestial Mountains’) is the largest high mountain systems (800,000 km2) in the World. geopolitically, Tian Shan is located in the heart of Central Asia. It crosses five densely populated countries: China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Tian Shan regions has unique ecosystems, Shrenk mountain forests and endemic species. Tian Shan is composed by large, isolated mountains, surrounded by the Tarim desert basin of north-western China, Lake Issyk Kul and deserts of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. Tian Shan region is outstanding for the richness of natural resources, landscapes and ecosystems. Rare species: ca 70% of species (both animal and plants) have specific south Asian distribution, typical for steppe and desert ecosystems. The ecosystems include numerous protected and rare species (over 4000 wild species), relicts and endemics, unique coniferous forests, rich biodiversity. The slopes of the Tian Shan mountains at altitudes 2000 to 3000m are mostly covered by precious coniferous forests of Schrenk’s Spruce (Picea schrenkiana), recorded in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. At the same time, the region has environmental problems such as overgrazing, deforestation, decreased species composition, soil depletion and erosion, desertification and land degradation. Current presentation demonstrates and discusses these problems.