Diversity of Plants and Animals in Mountain Ecosystems in Tajikistan

Tajikistan is a hotspot of plant and animal species diversity and endemism andis important for the conservation of biodiversity on a global scale. The country is located ata biological crossroads. Species from Central and Northern Europe, Central Asia, theMiddle East, and North Africa mingle here with endemics found nowhere else. Therichness of Tajikistan‘s biodiversity shows up at the genetic, species, population, andecosystem levels. There are many relic and endemic species, with most of the componentsof biodiversity vulnerable to anthropogenic factors. Proximate threats such as poaching,overfishing, illegal logging, and overgrazing are causing irreversible damage tobiodiversity in the Tajikistan hotspot. Threats stem from economic and social problems,the lack of environmental awareness, poor management and enforcement capabilities, andthe lack of transboundary cooperation. Conversion of land use, from biologically complexuses, such as mixed-crop agriculture, to less complex uses, such as mono-crop agriculture,has also reduced biodiversity. An example of the problem of biodiversity loss issimplification of agriculture systems. When a mixed-crop and livestock farm is convertedto a single-crop enterprise, the landscape has lost ecological niches. International donorshave provided considerable support to help resolve some of these issues. Fundingopportunities exist, particularly in promoting transboundary cooperation, trainingconservation professionals, building environmental awareness and demonstrating thebenefits of sustainable resource use. Close cooperation across borders will be required forconservation of unique and threatened ecosystems in the Central Asian region. An analysisof the present status of biodiversity conservation in Tajikistan and the constraints tosuccessful implementation of the National Action Plan is presented here. Problems andprospects are discussed.