News Category: Risk Management

In the Kyrgyz Republic, one of the project’s pilot areas is the Ton River basin. The river originates on the northern slopes of the Terskey Ala-Too range and flows into Lake Issyk-Kul. Due to the presence of numerous potentially dangerous glacial lakes in its upper reaches, combined with intense precipitation, the basin is considered highly prone to debris flows.

The lower section of the river, where the village of Tuura-Suu is located, remains particularly vulnerable. The basin has repeatedly experienced emergency situations linked to the outburst of high-mountain lakes. The most recent major event occurred in August 2024, when the outburst of Lake Zyndan caused a sharp rise in the Ton River’s water level, threatening residential buildings and local infrastructure. Thanks to the quick response of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic (MES), the river channel was redirected and approximately 400 people were evacuated, preventing flooding of homes.

To enhance the safety of Tuura-Suu, the GLOFCA project, in cooperation with the MES, initiated the construction of a debris diversion channel. The channel will redirect debris flows away from the settlement, thereby reducing risks to residential areas as well as to the Bishkek–Karakol highway, an important transport corridor. The initiative has received strong support from local residents, and the local administration actively facilitated the implementation of the construction works.

As part of the project, geodetic surveys were conducted, the foundation for the diversion channel was prepared, and embankment works were completed. In the near future, awareness-raising and preparedness drills will also be organized for the local population.

The measures in the Ton River basin are part of the broader regional GLOFCA project, which aims to strengthen the resilience of pilot territories in Central Asia to the risks of glacial lake outburst floods.

The Pskem Valley is a remote mountainous region exposed to frequent mudflows and landslides. Within the GLOFCA project, activities are being carried out at pilot sites in the villages of Pskem and Tepar. In December 2025, five extensometers (landslide monitoring devices) were installed at two of the most landslide-prone locations, Khirabulak and Takayangak, to strengthen local monitoring capacity.

According to technical assessments by the Institute of HYDROENGEO, the Khirabulak site shows a high level of landslide activity. The area is affected by deep tensile cracks in the upper slope sections, active surface and subsurface runoff, soil saturation, erosion processes, and the emergence of spring water at the landslide head. These factors create a serious risk for nearby settlements and infrastructure. Continuous monitoring using extensometers is essential to detect early signs of accelerated ground movement and support timely preventive action.

Takayangak Site is assessed as a medium level of risk and classified as a hazardous area due to steep slopes, loose soils sensitive to precipitation, seasonal groundwater fluctuations, and the presence of residential buildings and infrastructure within the potential impact zone. Landslide processes at this site may develop abruptly, particularly during periods of intense snowmelt and rainfall. Landslide activity here may intensify rapidly during periods of snowmelt or heavy rainfall. While the overall activity is lower than in Khirabulak, regular monitoring remains critical to reduce the risk of damage to roads, agricultural land, and local livelihoods.

The installed extensometers will enable accurate data collection on ground displacement, support early identification of landslide activation, and improve preparedness and response. This will enhance safety for local communities and provide a technical basis for future engineering and protective interventions. The monitoring system is an integral part of broader natural hazard risk management efforts under the GLOFCA project and helps reduce the vulnerability of exposed mountain territories in Uzbekistan.

In Almaty Region, the project “Reducing vulnerabilities of populations in Central Asia region from glacier lake outburst floods in a changing climate” (GLOFCA), implemented by UNESCO with support from the Adaptation Fund, has completed reconstruction works in the Talgar River basin, one of the project’s pilot sites.

The Talgar River originates from the Ile Alatau glaciers and flows through several settlements, including the city of Talgar. The Talgar dam, built in the mid-2000s and operational since 2005, was affected by debris-flow events in 2023–2024. An assessment by Kazselezaсhita found that the plunge pool had filled with sediment and several structural elements were damaged, increasing the risk of uncontrolled floodwater passage and highlighting the need for timely rehabilitation.

“The dam has been operating for 20 years. Each year, conditions arise that lead to mudflows and flood surges, which wear down and partially damage the structure. During the hazardous period, the left slope was affected, posing a risk to nearby residential areas. Under the GLOFCA project, reinforcement work was carried out to stabilize the banks,” said Erik Barangaziyev, Director of Krystroy LLP, the company that implemented the reconstruction works.

The works included clearing and relocating more than 3,000 m³ of stones and boulders, strengthening slopes with a one-metre-thick stone layer and restoring concrete elements. These measures restored the dam’s discharge capacity, improved its resilience to future flood events and prevented further degradation.

In addition to engineering interventions, four warning signs and one information board with a debris-flow hazard map have been installed in the Talgar basin to enhance awareness among residents and visitors about natural hazards and recommended safety measures.

In Almaty Region, the project “Reducing vulnerabilities of populations in Central Asia region from glacier lake outburst floods in a changing climate” (GLOFCA), implemented by UNESCO with support from the Adaptation Fund, has completed a set of restoration works in the Esik River basin, one of the project’s pilot sites.

The Esik River is fed by the Ile Alatau glaciers, and its upper reaches contain the high-mountain Yesik Lake, a major tourist destination. Despite its scenic landscape, the area is classified as highly prone to mudflows and GLOFs. The upper basin contains moraine-dammed lakes and potential initiation zones, while downstream lies the city of Esik with a population of more than 40,000 people. The town has already experienced tragic events: a major debris flow in 1967 resulted in loss of life.

To protect the city, a system of ten low-pressure dams was built on the river in 1988. In 2022, a severe flood led to the filling of debris-retention basins and to partial dam failures. A 2025 assessment by Kazselezaсhita identified washed-out slopes, damaged dam sections and fully silted basins, requiring urgent restoration to prevent further degradation. Considering the population density in the lower basin, timely reinforcement of the protective structures was essential.

As part of the GLOFCA project’s complementary measures, a set of engineering works was carried out jointly with Krystroy LLP and Kazselezaсhita.

At low-pressure dam No.1, 3,300 m³ of debris was removed, the concrete structure was reinforced and the retaining wall restored. At dam No.4, more than 3,000 m³ of large stone material was excavated and relocated, the slopes were stabilized with a one-metre stone layer and the riverbed was levelled. These interventions restored the dams’ discharge capacity and reduced the risk of further erosion.

According to Erik Barangaziyev, Director of Krystroy LLP, the works were carried out to enhance the safety of the city of Esik and increase the resilience of protective infrastructure to future floods and mudflows.

In addition, four warning signs and one information board with a mudflow hazard map were installed in the Esik basin. These help raise awareness among local residents and tourists about natural hazards and recommended safety measures.

The reconstruction works have been completed. The reinforced protective structures are now ready to safely pass floodwaters during periods of increased risk.

In Tashkent Region, Uzbekistan, the project “Reducing vulnerabilities of populations in Central Asia region from glacier lake outburst floods in a changing climate” (GLOFCA), implemented by UNESCO with support from the Adaptation Fund, has completed the installation of an automatic meteorological station near the village of Pskem — one of the project’s pilot sites.

The Pskem area is a remote mountain region exposed to intense precipitation, debris flows, landslidesб and rockfalls. The upper reaches of the river contain glacial lakes, while mountain settlements, including Pskem and Tepar villages, as well as hydropower infrastructure, are located along the valley. In such conditions, a reliable monitoring system plays a crucial role in reducing risks.

To improve the quality of observations, a modern automatic station was installed, providing continuous data on temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind, solar radiation and soil conditions. This information is vital for assessing debris-flow and landslide hazards.

The installation was carried out by specialists of the H.M. Abdullaev Institute of Geology and Geophysics together with the Hydrometeorological Research Institute (NIGMI). After installation, the weather station was integrated into the Uzhydromet network and began transmitting real-time data.

The new station significantly strengthens the monitoring system in the Pskem area and provides national services with accurate information for risk management, contributing to greater safety for local residents and visitors to the region.

In one of Kyrgyzstan’s most visited natural areas — Ala-Archa National Park — new information boards have been installed to enhance the safety of tourists and local residents. The initiative was implemented under the UNESCO–Adaptation Fund project “Reducing vulnerabilities of populations in Central Asia from glacier lake outburst floods in a changing climate (GLOFCA)”.

Located near the capital Bishkek and traversed by the Ala-Archa River, the park is one of the country’s most scenic sites, home to rich flora and fauna. It receives around 6,500 visitors daily during the summer (according to 2025 data), and up to 7,000 in autumn. Given such high visitation and the elevated risk of natural hazards — particularly mudflows — the installation of warning signs represents an important step towards improving safety.

The park has previously experienced destructive mudflows: in 2003, a major event destroyed forested areas, and new incidents were recorded in 2015. The affected territory of around 500–600 m² was later rehabilitated.

As part of the GLOFCA project, locations for the boards and designated safe assembly points were identified jointly with park staff. The signs were installed in three key zones — Ak-Sai, Adygene, and the lower Ala-Archa valley. They include warnings in Kyrgyz, Russian, and English, show evacuation routes, and feature QR codes linking to detailed information on natural hazards and safety measures.

The next phase of the GLOFCA project will include the installation of an Early Warning System to provide timely alerts to visitors and park authorities about potential glacier lake outburst floods and mudflows.