A working visit to Lebap velayat was undertaken by the team from the FAO-GEF-8 project "Catalyzing Nature-Positive Transformations in Turkmenistan’s Agricultural Sector to Enhance Climate Resilience," marking the launch of the practical implementation of project activities on the ground.

The trip was attended by Mergen Kepbanov, Director of the Project Office of the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) in Turkmenistan; Dovlet Jumakuliyev, Head of the National Expert Group; and a team of national experts.

On July 6, meetings were held in the Charjev District with representatives of local authorities—Charyyar Mustakov, Chief of Staff of the "hakimlik" (local administration), and Dovlet Hanov, Head of the Agricultural Department. The parties discussed cooperation mechanisms, agreed on work stages, and approved a list of pilot sites for demonstration activities.

Specialists also visited the J. Hajiyev, Hakimov, and S. A. Niyazov "dayhan" associations, where they met with the chairpersons and finalized the boundaries of the pilot sites. Key topics of discussion included the establishment of protective forest belts, the efficient use of water resources, and the development of beekeeping as a means of diversifying rural incomes. During these field visits, the experts recorded the coordinates of the planned pilot areas.

At the end of the day, the project team held a wrap-up meeting in Turkmenabat, joined online by climate specialist Leyla Hojamuradova, knowledge management specialist Jahan Orazdurdyeva, and CAREC project office assistant Orazgul Isgenderova.

A meeting was also held with the director of the Lebap velayat Forestry Department to discuss the forestry component of the project, including the construction of a modern forest nursery in the Charjev etrap. On July 7, with the assistance of the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan, a delegation visited the Yerajy Nature Reserve, where issues regarding the improvement of working conditions for state inspectors and the enhanced use of data from the Hydrometeorological Service were discussed.

On July 9, a series of technical meetings took place: soil condition monitoring was discussed at the Lebap velayat Agrochemical Laboratory, while an expanded meeting involving the State Hydrometeorological Service, the Land Resources Service, and the Water Management Department was held at the velayat Environmental Protection Department. The parties defined mechanisms for interagency cooperation on data exchange and the monitoring of climate, water, and land resources.

"The practical implementation of the project begins with close cooperation with local authorities and agricultural producers. It is important to us that all activities are based on the actual needs of the regions," noted Mergen Kepbanov.

Following the visit, the parties reaffirmed their interest in implementing a project aimed at introducing nature-friendly agricultural practices and enhancing the resilience of Turkmenistan’s agricultural landscapes to climate change.