What We Know and Don’t Know About the Interplay of Water Scarcity, Land Degradation, and Migration in Central Asia

20 December 2024

A new article in Climate and Development explores the critical challenges of water scarcity, land degradation, and migration in Central Asia. The region faces mounting pressures from rapid urbanization, population growth, inefficient agriculture, and the impacts of climate change, including rising temperatures and glacier loss. These dynamics are straining rural livelihoods and driving migration. The study highlights significant gaps in understanding how these factors intersect, emphasizing the need for innovative research on smallholder adaptation, the nexus of water scarcity and mobility, and cooperative solutions for resource management.  The authors advocate for greater investments in interdisciplinary collaboration, improved data quality, and institutional capacity-building to close knowledge gaps and enhance evidence-based policymaking. Learn more: 

Hermans, Kathleen; Djanibekov, Nodir; Abdullaev, Iskandar; Abduvalieva, Nilufar; Assubayeva, Aliya; Blondin, Suzy; Bobojonov, Ihtiyor; Conrad, Christopher; Herzfeld, Thomas; Kansiime, Johnson; Kimsanova, Barchynai; Laldjebaev, Murodbek; Mirkasimov, Bakhrom; Mirzabaev, Alisher; Murzakulova, Asel; Rajabova, Svetlana; Samakov, Aibek; Schraven, Benjamin; Sterly, Harald; Umirbekov, Atabek (2024) Future research directions for understanding the interconnections between climate change, water scarcity, and mobility in rural Central Asia. Climate and Development,1–10.