GHOST OF THE ARAL SEA: BATTLE IN CENTRAL ASIA BACK AGAINST ECOLOGICAL DESTRUCTION

ISSN: 2582-4686 SJIF 2021-3.261,SJIF 20222.889, 2024-6.875 ResearchBib IF: 9.948 / 2024 VOLUME-5, ISSUE-11 764 GHOST OF THE ARAL SEA: BATTLE IN CENTRAL ASIA BACK AGAINST ECOLOGICAL DESTRUCTION Written by Rahmatulla Poyonov. Participant of Presidential National Program for Supporting Gifted Children, A Junior programmer. Abstract: This article provides information about the Arial Sea, an island that plays an important role not only in Central Asia but throughout the world, the reasons for its drying up, the people who suffered as a result of its drying up, and the unfinished megaproject of the USSR in the 19th century. Keywords: Aral Sea, ecological disaster, Central Asia, reforestation programs, water management reforms, Aralkum Desert, toxic dust storms, saxaul trees, international diplomacy, MPTF, Kokaral Dam, climate resilience. INTRODUCTION The Aral Sea is the largest closed lake in Central Asia. Administratively, more than half of the sea is located in the southwestern part of Uzbekistan, and the northeastern part in Kazakhstan. Until the 1960s, the area of the Aral Sea, including its islands, was 68,000 square kilometers. The sea, which is the fourth largest in the world, has lost 90% of its volume due to the use of the waters of the Amu Darya and Syr Darya for irrigation. Today, all that remains are dry sand particles and dust. The Aral Sea, once the world's fourth-largest lake, has disappeared by more than 90% in a single generation Today, Central Asian governments, supported by international partners, are fighting to reverse the damage through ambitious reforestation programs and sustainable water management reforms. The disappearance of the Aral Sea has destroyed the entire regional economy. Communities that were once dependent on the thriving fishing industry were forced to migrate as their livelihoods collapsed. The ancient seabed, now known as the Aralkum Desert, has been contaminated with pesticide-laden dust. Seasonal winds carry these toxins hundreds of miles, increasing rates of respiratory disease, heart disease, and other chronic conditions. Ecological degradation has also reshaped the regional climate. Areas that were once controlled by the sea now experience harsher winters, hotter summers, and longer droughts. Farmers are struggling as demand for water increases while remaining river supplies are becoming increasingly saline, disrupting irrigation and further reducing agricultural productivity. The origins of the disaster go back decades. Literature Review. Initial ideas: The idea of bringing water to the Aral Sea was initially developed by Y.G. Demenchenko, who also wrote an article. The main purpose of this idea was to develop agriculture and fisheries. This idea was only theoretical, no practical work had been done at that time. Project development processes: However, by 1960, the Aral Sea began to dry up, and this attracted scientific attention. In the 1930s-1970s, scientists in the field of hydraulic engineering and ecology, such as S.P. Melnikov and V.I. Vekua, developed the technical aspects of the project. Scientists ISSN: 2582-4686 SJIF 2021-3.261,SJIF 20222.889, 2024-6.875 ResearchBib IF: 9.948 / 2024 VOLUME-5, ISSUE-11 765 initially considered plans to divert 25-60 billion cubic meters of water per year from the Ob River and later from the Irtysh and Tobol rivers to Central Asia, and even developed comprehensive plans based on scientific evidence. Criticism of the plan: Despite the clear plans, many other scientists, people, and statesmen criticized this megaproject. Articles were written about the impact of this project on the state economy and ecology. And this project was re-examined and canceled due to its impact on ecology and economy. Results and Discussions The huge difficulties are there, but recovery is demonstrated by the localized successes which are nice but small. The Kokaral Dam in Kazakhstan which was finished in 2005, has stabilized and revived the northern Aral Sea partially and consequently local ecosystems and fish stocks have returned. Severed environmental recovery strategy on an intensive scale has been the strategic move of Uzbekistan whereby the dry seabed will be gradually covered with foresters. The planting of drought-resistant saxaul trees has already taken place over more than two million hectares, and not only that but also to reduce the frequency of toxic dust storms and to stabilize the shifting sands. At the level of international diplomacy, Uzbekistan has been the main actor. The United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund for the Aral Sea Region (MPTF) was established in 2018 to facilitate foreign aid and coordination with the UN. The UN General Assembly, on May 18, 2021, passed a resolution that recognized the Aral Sea region as an area of environmental innovation and sustainable technologies. Restoration work is still backed by international partners’ support. USAID granted $1.6 million to Uzbekistan for the restoration of forests and climate resilience in November 2022. China has been supplying salt-resistant plants and providing technical know-how since the year 2020, with the goal of making the desert surface more resilient to the tough conditions. Conclusion The project to restore the Aral Sea is currently being considered by university scientists and professors from various fields. Instead of using canals as before, it is proposed to build 2,100 km of closed pressure pipelines. According to calculations, about 5.5 billion cubic meters of water can be delivered per year at the first stage. However, the cost of the project is very expensive and is expected to cost about $ 100 billion. True, this project has not yet been developed and will be developed perfectly in the future, which will greatly contribute to the restoration of the Aral Sea. If the sea flourishes as before, the local population will be able to engage in their previous activities. The economic situation of the state will also improve, and the ecology will change for the better. REFERENCES 1. Kun uz sayti Link: https://kun.uz/news/2025/03/28/qirgizistonda-sibir-daryolarini-markaziyosiyoga-burish-goyasini-tiklash-taklif-etildi?utm_source 2. Subyektiv channel in You Tube. Link: https://youtu.be/rBmJZhbquyA 3. Wikipediya. Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_river_reversal?utm_source 4. Eurasianet. Link: https://eurasianet.org/agricultural-crisis-prompts-uzbek-officials-to-reviveinterest-in-plan-to-divert-siberian-rivers?utm_source 5. HESS. Link: https://hess.copernicus.org/articles/29/3569/2025/index.html?utm_source