National Strategy and Action Plan for Conservation of Biodiversity for the period until 2020.

National Strategy and Action Plan for Conservation of Biodiversity for the period until 2020 is multisectoral policy document, covering the whole national territory. In Tajikistan, the shrinking of ecological capacity is directly related to the threat of biodiversity loss and the increase in the population and, consequently, their need for products of biodiversity. The government of the country at all structural levels is making huge efforts for conservation of biodiversity in protected areas and forest areas, but economic requirements prevail over environmental activities and initiatives. In Tajikistan, where is concentrated significant diversity of wild flora and fauna, it is noted deterioration of biodiversity of forest, meadow, desert, steppe and other ecosystems. Many species have become rare and endangered.
The main goal of the Strategy is conservation and rational use of biodiversity and ecosystems’ conservation for the purpose of sustainable socio-economic and environmental development of the Republic of Tajikistan. The Strategy pursues the following objectives: (a) integrated socio-economic assessment of the national biological resources; (b) reproduction and conservation of genetic fund of plants and wild fauna species; (c) in-situ and ex-situ conservation of biodiversity; (d) ensuring biosecurity of the country; and (e) sustainable use of biological resources for eliminating poverty and increasing welfare of the population.
National Strategy and Action Plan envisage the following: (a) definition of strategic directions for conservation of biological diversity and its rational use; (b) identification of the country’s needs for the use of biodiversity; (c) identification of mechanisms and principles of sustainable use of biological diversity and conservation thereof; (d) collection, systematization of information and analysis of the actual state of biodiversity; (e) identification of the place and role of biodiversity in the global geosystem; (f) identification of the role of public in strengthening of the careful attitude towards biodiversity; and (g) identification of new priorities for the financing of nature protection arrangements related to conservation of biodiversity. Action Plan aims at ensuring conservation of the components of biodiversity outside natural habitats thereof (ex-situ) and ecosystem conservation, keeping and reproduction of viable (resilient) species, populations and living communities of organisms in their natural environment (in-situ).
The main components of the ecosystem are everyday essential products for meeting the needs of the population are natural biological resources (food and medicinal plants, timber, wildlife, forest products, forage plants, pastures and their derivatives). Depending on the productivity of these biological resources 70% of the population of Tajikistan are currently depending on them for the maintenance of their living standard. In recent years, income from the use of biodiversity has had a major impact on sustainable development of the country.
At present, promising economic activities that could significantly improve the socio-economic situation in the mountains could include: the establishment of farms focused on the production of animal products, the creation of family brigades and production cooperatives focused on the development of traditional crafts and souvenirs for tourists; and the promotion and support of non-governmental organizations based in the local population and focused on the development and implementation of educational programs in the field of agriculture, aimed at support of ecologically balanced state of environment; collection and trade of medicinal plants; establishment of small enterprises for processing of fruits and berries; development of beekeeping; mining and hydro-economic development. The basis for improving the socio-economic status of the country's households is animal husbandry, the use of forest by-products, medicinal and food plants, vegetable gardens, orchards, cultivation of seedlings and crops, especially wheat, potatoes, melons and partially vegetables. More than 64% of the region's population is engaged in these types of activities.