Delegates from Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as leading scientists and experts from countries across Europe and Asia, attended the International Summer School “Glacier Study, Conservation and Climate Change Adaptation” (IPROMO) in the city of Naryn, Kyrgyzstan between 24 June and 7 July. The school served as a platform for consolidating scientific knowledge and developing practical approaches in the fields of climate security and sustainable development of mountain ecosystems, according to FAO in Kyrgyzstan.
The Summer School was organized as part of efforts to advance Kyrgyzstan’s mountain agenda, strengthen international cooperation on climate-related matters, and implement the Five Years of Action for the Development of Mountain Regions (2023–2027), proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly. The program was co-organized by the Secretariat of the Mountain Partnership, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the University of Central Asia. The event was held with the support of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Special Representative of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic for the Mountain Agenda.
The school’s program was designed to bolster regional scientific and expert capacity, foster professional networks among specialists from Central Asian countries, and develop joint initiatives for the preservation of glaciers – critical natural reservoirs of freshwater. The educational curriculum included lectures by leading experts, practical workshops, field research in mountainous areas, and group project work. Particular emphasis was placed on glacier monitoring, climate adaptation, mitigating risks of water scarcity, and strengthening transboundary cooperation.
Dinara Kemelova, Special Representative of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic for the Mountain Agenda, underscored the strategic significance of glaciers as a foundation for sustainable development in countries with mountain ecosystems and informed participants about Kyrgyzstan’s ongoing international initiatives in this domain.
Oleg Guchgeldiyev, FAO Representative in Kyrgyzstan, highlighted the importance of integrating science and practice, noting that approximately 70 percent of the world’s freshwater reserves are stored in glaciers, and that nearly 2 billion people depend on mountain resources for their food security.
“Educational initiatives such as IPROMO represent an investment in the future, enabling the combined efforts of science, States and local communities to devise effective measures for climate change adaptation. FAO fully supports the commitment of Kyrgyzstan and its partners to preserving mountain heritage and introducing climate-smart approaches to natural resource management,” emphasized Guchgeldiyev.
