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Page Background

Environment and Security

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5

Central Asia stands at the crossroads between Asia, Europe

and the Middle East. Osh, Kokand, Ferghana and Khujand

are names that bring tomind the ancient Silk Road. This pub-

lication focuses on the Ferghana – Osh – Khujand area (also

referred to below as the Ferghana valley). The Ferghana valley

is the most fertile, densely populated region in the whole of

Central Asia and retains, in some respects, the importance

it enjoyed when it was a stage along the ancient Silk Road.

At present the valley straddles three countries – Kyrgyzstan,

Tajikistan and Uzbekistan – which emerged as sovereign

states after the collapse of the Soviet Union. This report takes

the link between environment and security as the starting

point for its consideration of the Ferghana valley.

The report is the result of an in-depth assessment of

major issues and areas of concern (environment-security

hotspots) in the Ferghana valley carried out by the Envi-

ronment and Security initiative (ENVSEC) in 2004-5. The

assessment aims to identify needs and pave the way for

further work resolving specific problems. It also seeks to

draw the attention of regional and international audiences

to identified problems. It also aims to develop cooperation

and actions to address the problems facing this complex,

dynamic part of Central Asia.

The report draws on several different sources, in particular:

academic research, reports by international and local

organizations working in Central Asia on relevant issues,

articles published in different media;

information held by ENVSEC agencies and partners, not

least the UNDP Preventive Development Programme

(early warning component) and the Swisspeace early

warning project (FAST) database;

ENVSEC field work and consultations, including the

UNEP-UNDP-OSCE mission to capitals in August-Sep-

tember 2004, field work by UNEP, OSCE, NATO, the Ital-

ian Ministry of the Environment and local counterparts

in November-December 2004, and final consultations

in Osh in December 2004 involving representatives of

Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan;

feedback received from the various countries on the

background report prepared by ENVSEC in November

2004 and on the elements of the ENVSEC Ferghana

valley work programme presented in Osh.

After presenting the Environment and Security initiative,

we will introduce the theoretical background used for ex-

amining the links between security and environment. The

following chapter is an analysis of the overall political and

economical framework in Central Asia, pointing out the

main trends affecting the security situation in the Ferghana

valley. The next chapter describes the regional situation

and discusses various clusters of issues that make up the

environment and security dimension of the Ferghana valley.

The final chapter contains an attempt at a more long-term

outlook and an introduction to the work programme that

the ENVSEC initiative will be implementing in the area in

2005-7.

Preface

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Introduction

Introduction

Environment and security in the Ferghana valley

Ferghana is situated in the fifth climate and

at the limit of settled habitation. It is girt round

by mountains except on the west.

Ferghana is a small country, abounding in grain

and fruits.