OSCE supports forum on sustainable management of Romit Biosphere Reserve in Tajikistan

On 25 December 2025, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (POiD), in co-operation with the State Institution of Specially Protected Natural Areas under the Committee for Environmental Protection of the Republic of Tajikistan, organized a one-day forum in Dushanbe dedicated to the Romit Biosphere Reserve, recently included in UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves.

The forum brought together around 100 policymakers, researchers, environmental practitioners, eco-volunteers, local community representatives and international partners to discuss sustainable management, biodiversity conservation, ecotourism, scientific research and community engagement.

Opening the forum, the Officer-in-Charge of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe, Dominik Drasnar, underlined the significance of the UNESCO designation as both international recognition and a shared responsibility.

“This achievement is both timely and highly significant. It represents international recognition of the exceptional natural value of Romit, its rich biodiversity and its critical role in preserving ecosystems not only for Tajikistan, but for the wider Central Asian region,” he said.

Participants emphasized that biosphere reserves serve not only as protected areas, but also as platforms for integrating conservation, socio-economic development and research, requiring effective governance, reliable data, professional capacity and strong community engagement.

The forum highlighted the OSCE’s support to environmental governance in Tajikistan, including capacity-building on the Special Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART), its translation into Tajik and the provision of specialized equipment to enable practical application by national specialists and rangers. These efforts contribute to improved biodiversity protection, evidence-based decision-making, accountability and long-term resilience.

The event aligns with POiD’s mandate by strengthening environmental governance, promoting data-driven and sustainable management of protected areas, and advancing the OSCE’s comprehensive approach to environmental security under the Helsinki Final Act.