Law no. 2026, Tajikistan: protection of glaciers

Summary

The law on the protection of glaciers defines a state policy for protecting glaciers, as well as acknowledging their importance from a legal, economic and organizational perspective. It also sets forth a state policy for the protection of glaciers, which is based on a series of principles:

• Priority of conservation of ecological systems associated with glaciers and taking into account the strategic importance of glaciers;
• Openness and transparency;
• Proportionality between the interests of society and measures to prevent the possible risk of glacier shrinkage; and
• Stimulation of scientific research into glaciation.

It defines glaciers as being the exclusive property of the state, which subsequently guarantees their protection. Their regulation functions include:

• Coordination of state bodies;
• Study of glaciers;
• Research;
• Training and retraining of staff; and
• Dissemination of information

Additionally, the law created a Glacier Protection Fund, and defined how glacier monitoring would be carried out in the future, particularly in relation to climate change and impacts from anthropogenic factors.

This solution may be of interest to Members of Parliament or decision-makers from countries with glaciers and interested in protecting them in a comprehensive manner.

Overview

Location:

• Tajikistan

Implementation sites:

• Single country
• Multiple locations

Mountain region:

• Pamir and Alay ranges

Solution scale:

• National

Ecosystem type(s):

• High Alpine

Solution type(s):

• Policy and law

Sector(s):

• Ecosystems Biodiversity
• Plans & policy
• Water

Climate impact(s) addressed:

• Drought
• Flood

Other climate impact(s) addressed:

• Glacier melt

Climate impact time-scale(s):

• Slow Onset

Main benefit associated with the solution:

• Environmental benefits (e.g. biodiversity preservation, water security, food security)

Co-benefit(s) associated with the solution implementation:

• Climate risk reduction (e.g. reduced risk from floods)
• Social benefits (e.g. poverty reduction, inclusiveness and equity, health and well-being)
• Technical benefits (e.g. innovative use of geographic information systems)

Implementation timeline:

• 2024

Sendai targets:

SDGs:

• 
• 

Solution details

Main beneficiaries & outcomes

In the law, glaciers are defined as the property of the State, and it is thus a state duty to protect them. It further maps out how it will preserve them, such as by enhancing monitoring, creating a state-level policy, developing standards and technical regulations, limiting activities in glacier zones, and other specific interventions. This includes empowering scientific institutions to carry out research on glaciers that factors in the impact of climate change. By clearly articulating responsible bodies for this work, it allows scientific institutions to organize and systematize their work with a clear mandate from the government. As a result of this law, the Glacier Protection Fund was also established to pursue the aforementioned work.

Academic and research institutions in particular were affected by this law, which empowered them to conduct research and other endeavours related to monitoring, observation, and other assessments. The law has clearly defined who is responsible for different glacier-related activities, with scientific institutions becoming the main implementers of scientific work on glaciers.

Planning and implementation

As the first law introduced on glacier protection, it was initially not evident why there was a need to introduce such a law in Tajikistan. However, parliamentarians recognized the complementarity of this law with the country’s priorities on water and energy production, helping to showcase it as a unique opportunity to set precedents and gain recognition as a global leader on these topics.

Finance

N/A

Innovation

This is the first law on glaciers introduced around the world. Decision-makers from other countries with glaciers can learn from this innovative approach and replicate it in their own contexts.

Capacities for design and implementation

Knowledge

The implementation of the law has benefitted from active scientific and research institutions with the capacities and knowledge to implement certain components of the law.

Political / Legal

The implementation and support of the law was likely strengthened by Tajikistan’s priorities on water and energy production, which are complementary with glacier preservation and protection.

Outlook & Scalability

Barriers and adverse effects

Enacting the law did not face any specific challenges but there was a lack of precedent for defining the law.

Potential for upscaling and replication

Other countries are considering similar laws on glacier protection, demonstrating its potential for upscaling and replication.