OSCE Centre in Ashgabad supports Turkmenistan's national environmental action plan

ASHGABAD, 28 September, 2005 - A new ecology textbook to help raise awareness about environmental issues and threat prevention methods among school children was released today in Ashgabad, with the support of the OSCE Centre.

The textbook is the latest initiative in a co-operative environmental project, entitled 'Support for the Implementation of the National Environmental Action Plan (NEAP)'. This is being implemented by the OSCE Centre in Ashgabad in co-operation with the Ministry of Nature Protection of Turkmenistan, to increase the efficiency of environmental policy and to reinforce the country's environmental protection capacity for sustainable development in Turkmenistan.

The Turkmen-language textbook-the first of its kind in the country-covers a wide range of ecological issues, including environmental security, environmental protection in Turkmenistan and the interrelation between ecology and public health. Initially, 2500 textbooks will be distributed to schools throughout the country.

Publication of the ecology textbook represents one aspect of the co-operation between the OSCE Centre and the NEAP. Last year, the Centre also supported the publication of the 'Guide to the National Environmental Action Plan', a shorter adaptable version of the NEAP for public use. In addition, the Centre supports the monthly publication of 'The Nature Herald', a monthly bulletin of the Ministry of Nature Protection that covers environmental issues and topics of local interest.

Further co-operation between the OSCE and the Ministry of Nature Protection of Turkmenistan, including training events, seminars, and additional publications, is planned in the coming months and for 2006.