News about biodiversity: events, facts and developments on tafs uz.
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An international expedition on the Desertas Islands compares protected and fishing zones, measures rock temperatures and collects DNA samples from the water. Against the backdrop of the Selvagens reserve — the largest in the North Atlantic — and the growth of the monk seal colony from 8 to 31 individuals.
Otabek YusupovNearly 200 countries at the COP17 summit in Yerevan are trying to adjust the implementation of global commitments to protect nature by 2030. Most targets are behind schedule, with key disagreements over financing and the reform of harmful subsidies. Ministers join on Tuesday, and the summit ends on Friday.
Aziz KarimovA study published in Nature Communications and prepared by 26 scientists showed that 85 salt lakes worldwide are linked to 200 species listed in the IUCN Red List as threatened or near-threatened. These lakes contain more than 45% of the world's lake water volume. Scientists note their particular vulnerability to climate change.
Javlon TursunovThe International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has for the first time systematically assessed 127 tropical and subtropical coral reef ecosystems and classified 96% of them as 'on the verge of complete collapse'. The main threat identified is climate-related thermal stress; without factoring in future climate projections, only 24% of reefs would have held critical status.
Javlon TursunovThe 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP17) has begun in Yerevan and will run until October 30. For the first time, progress on the 23 targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework is being reviewed: nearly 90% of countries have set national targets, but less than half of the assessed targets are on track.
Otabek YusupovAhead of the opening of COP17 in Yerevan, data show that 18.7% of land and 10% of the ocean are under protection — below the 30x30 target. A UN report finds that fewer than half of countries consider themselves on track to meet national targets, while the high seas are only 1.7% protected.
Otabek YusupovNearly 200 countries began two weeks of COP17 biodiversity talks in Yerevan. According to the UN, 22 of the 23 targets of the 'Paris Agreement for Nature' are not being met, including protecting 30% of land and oceans by 2030. Key topics are reforming harmful subsidies worth about $2.6 trillion a year and closing the nature financing gap.
Aziz KarimovAccording to WWF's Living Planet report, over 52 years monitored vertebrate populations have declined by an average of 73%, and by 85% in freshwater ecosystems. Scientists link nature's degradation to food security, medicine and coastal protection, but emphasize that recovery is possible.
Madina UsmonovaSpeaking at the COP17 leaders' summit in Yerevan, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that the American-Israeli war against Iran is causing serious damage to the country's ecosystems and called for international mechanisms to protect biodiversity. The presidents of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan also spoke.
Otabek YusupovUN Secretary-General António Guterres on 16 October in Yerevan urged governments to completely abandon fossil fuel subsidies and redirect funds to protecting nature. According to the UN, the world is falling behind the goals of the 'Paris Agreement for Nature': only 27% of land and 12% of oceans will be under protection. A Global Witness report shows that COP31 hosts Turkey and Australia are expanding fossil fuel extraction.
Otabek YusupovIn the South Ustyurt National Natural Park, near the border with Turkmenistan, a rare bat species — the Turkmen long-eared bat (Plecotus turkmenicus) — was recorded in Uzbekistan for the first time in September. Previously, the species was known only from data collected before 1970 and museum specimens. According to the Berlin Museum of Natural History, it may be threatened with extinction due to the drying of Central Asian deserts.
Madina Usmonova
