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Environment and Security
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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
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Environment and security in the Ferghana valley
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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.