Dedicated to World Glacier Day, the conference served as a targeted inter-agency and scientific platform. Its primary objectives were to present and validate up-to-date data on the state of glaciers and water resources. It is also aimed to consolidate the positions of scientific institutions, government bodies, and international partners. Additionally, the conference sought to develop coordinated priorities and practical recommendations for the further implementation of national and regional initiatives in the field of cryosphere monitoring and climate change adaptation.
The conference opened with welcoming remarks from high-level officials, including a representative of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan: Mr. Bahodur Ahmadjon Sheralizoda, Chairman of the Committee for Environmental Protection; Mr. Kobiljon Khushvakhtzoda, President of the National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan; and key international partners, including Franziska Vögtli, Deputy Director of the Swiss Cooperation Office in Tajikistan Office, Kishvar Abdulalishoev, Executive Director of the Aga Khan Foundation, and Viktor Lutsenko, Chief of Mission of IOM in Tajikistan.
This initiative was partly supported by the Adaptive and Resilient Communities in their Habitat (ARCH) project, a collaborative effort co-funded by the Government of Switzerland and the Aga Khan Foundation.
The format of the conference includes high-level plenary sessions, technical and policy-oriented sessions, as well as panel discussions. The conference program was structured around four main thematic areas. The first, “From Global Commitments to National Action,” focused on linking UN initiatives with national investment priorities. The second area, “International Cooperation, Partnerships, and Financing,” explored support mechanisms from key partners such as Government of Switzerland, the Aga Khan Foundation, and the Asian Development Bank and other organizations. The third, “Scientific Data, Monitoring, and Climate Services,” demonstrated the evidence base for decision-making, highlighting the importance of long-term monitoring and climate prediction models. Finally, “Integrating Science into Water and Climate Policy” outlined national policy frameworks being developed in preparation for the Fourth International Water Conference in 2026.
Mr. Bahodur Sheralizoda, Chairman of the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of Tajikistan, expressed his sincere gratitude to all delegates, international organizations, and scientific experts who participated in the conference. He thanked the attendees for their valuable contributions and commitment to international cooperation for glacier conservation
Ms. Franziska Vögtli, Deputy Director of the Swiss Cooperation Office in Tajikistan emphasized: “Switzerland and Tajikistan face similar challenges such as melting glaciers and mountain hazards as floods, debris-flows, avalanches. Therefore, we are bringing Swiss scientific expertise for cryospheric monitoring, practical solutions and innovations to Tajikistan and Central Asia to address these challenges and to protect people, investments and their livelihoods”.
In closing, the National Scientific and Practical Conference successfully achieved its core objectives, marking a significant step forward for Tajikistan’s cryospheric agenda. The forum resulted in the consolidation of a robust scientific data package detailing the current state and dynamics of the nation’s glaciers and related hydrological processes. Crucially, experts identified priority directions for advancing the national cryosphere monitoring system, emphasizing modern technologies and enhanced inter-agency data exchange. Beyond the scientific outcomes, the conference significantly strengthened mechanisms for inter-agency and international cooperation, ensuring aligned approaches for future glacier research and preservation. These efforts culminated in a concrete package of practical recommendations and project initiatives, which will directly inform Tajikistan’s priorities and proposals for the Fourth International Water Conference in 2026, thereby ensuring that the nation's scientific insights translate into tangible action and resource mobilization on the global stage.
