Diversity of Plants and Animals in Mountain Ecosystems in Tajikistan

Abstract. Tajikistan is a hotspot of plant and animal species diversity and endemism and is important for the conservation of biodiversity on a global scale. The country is located at a biological crossroads. Species from Central and Northern Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa mingle here with endemics found nowhere else. The richness of Tajikistan’s biodiversity shows up at the genetic, species, population, and ecosystem levels. There are many relic and endemic species, with most of the components of biodiversity vulnerable to anthropogenic factors. Proximate threats such as poaching, overfishing, illegal logging, and overgrazing are causing irreversible damage to biodiversity in the Tajikistan hotspot. Threats stem from economic and social problems, the lack of environmental awareness, poor management and enforcement capabilities, and the lack of transboundary cooperation. Conversion of land use, from biologically complex uses, 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 is simplification of agriculture systems. When a mixed-crop and livestock farm is converted to a single-crop enterprise, the landscape has lost ecological niches. International donors have provided considerable support to help resolve some of these issues. Funding opportunities exist, particularly in promoting transboundary cooperation, training conservation professionals, building environmental awareness and demonstrating the benefits of sustainable resource use. Close cooperation across borders will be required for conservation of unique and threatened ecosystems in the Central Asian region. An analysis of the present status of biodiversity conservation in Tajikistan and the constraints to successful implementation of the National Action Plan is presented here. Problems and prospects are discussed.