Reducing vulnerabilities of populations in the Central Asia region from glacier lake outburst floods (GLOF) in a changing climate

UNESCO-Adaptation Fund GLOFCA First Regional Exchange Workshop

18-19 November 2021

Glacier Lake Outburst Floods

Due to glacier melting and lake formation across Central Asia, there is an increased risk of Glacier Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), which confound and exacerbate water-related threats to mountain communities, their settlements, and livelihoods. GLOFs also threaten populations, livelihoods and infrastructure located in river floodplains and downstream areas.

Strengthening, Monitoring & Responding

The UNESCO Office in Almaty, together with the four countries of the Central Asian region – the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan – developed the GLOFCA project funded by the Adaptation Fund. The University of Zurich, Switzerland, serves as the main implementing partner of the Project. The GLOFCA project aims to strengthen monitoring, analytical capacity, and the response capacity of institutions and government officials responsible for disaster risk reduction, emergency and climate change adaptation through community-based and gender-sensitive education and communication, and by establishing early warning systems supported by the necessary monitoring strategies.

Day 1: Opening session 

Chair: Kristine Tovmasyan, UNESCO Almaty

Alexandros Makarigakis, Head of Office and UNESCO Representative a.i., UNESCO Office in Tashkent. 

Sayidafzal Mallakhanov, Deputy Secretary-General, National commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan for UNESCO

GLOFCA project overview, status, and meeting objectives 

Natalia Kim, UNESCO Almaty – short overview of the project and its objectives. 

Simon Allen, , University of Zurich, Switzerland.

Session 1: Experiences from Kazakhstan on lake mapping, monitoring, and hazard assessment.

Co-chairs: Ms Meerim Asanbai kyzy, Kyrgyzhydromet, and Ms Zhuldyz Zhurumbetova, UNESCO Almaty

Atay Myrzabayev, Deputy Head, Department for Emergency Situations Prevention, Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Kazakhstan – warning, information, communication aspects.

Murat Kassenov, Deputy Head, State Agency “KAZSELEZASCHITA” – glacier lakes monitoring.

Nikolay Popov, Chief Scientist, Institute of Geography and Water Security – glacier lake mapping and hazard assessment.

Vassiliy Kapitsa, Senior Researcher, Central Asian Regional Glaciological Centre category 2 under the auspices of UNESCO – glacier lake mapping and hazard assessment.

Bakhtiyar Ospanov , Chief Expert of the Center for Emergency Situations and Disaster Risk Reduction – the Center’s experience in glacier lake monitoring and risk assessment.

Session 2: Experiences from Kyrgyzstan on lake mapping, monitoring, and hazard assessment

Co-chairs: Mr Bakhtiyar Ospanov, CESDRR, and Ms Zuura Mamadalieva, UNESCO Almaty

Dauberk Sakyev, Head, Department of Analysis and Forecasting, Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic – warning, information, communication aspects.

Bolot Moldobekov, Co-director, Central Asian Institute for Applied Geosciences (CAIAG) – lake mapping, monitoring, and hazard assessment.

Vitalij Zaginaev, Senior Researcher, Institute of Water Problems and Hydroenergy of the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic – lake mapping, monitoring, and hazard assessment.

 

Session 3: Experiences from Tajikistan on lake mapping, monitoring, and hazard assessment (cont.)

Co-chairs: Mr Kodirjon Mingboev, State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Geology and Mineral Resources, and Mr Bakhtibek Otambekzoda, UNESCO Almaty

Idibek Buriev, ead, Emergency Prevention and Response Department, Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil Defence of Tajikistan – warning, information, communication aspects.

Kamoliddin Nazirzoda, Deputy Head, Center for Glaciology, Agency for Hydrometeorology, Committee of Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan – lake mapping, monitoring and hazard assessment.

Abdulhamid Kayumov, Director, State Scientific Institution “Center for the Glaciers Study under the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tajikistan” – lakes mapping/monitoring and hazard assessment.

Zaynura Khudoyorbekova and Mr Tohir Sabzaliev, Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH) – lake mapping, monitoring and hazard assessment.

Session 4: Experiences from Uzbekistan on lake mapping, monitoring, and hazard assessment.

Co-chairs: Mr Jafar Niyazov, Institute of Water Problems of Tajikistan, and Mr Obidjon Kodirov, UNESCO Almaty

Khurshid Sotiev, Head, National Centre for Emergency Management and Response, Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Uzbekistan – warning, information, communication aspects.

Davron Azimov, Head, Department for Monitoring Hazardous Hydrometeorological Observation Network, Centre of Hydrometeorological Service of the Republic of Uzbekistan (Uzhydromet) – lakes mapping/monitoring and hazard assessment.  

Maksim Petrov, Centre of Glacial Geology, Institute of Geology and Geophysics named after Kh.M. Abdullaev – lakes mapping/monitoring and hazard assessment.  

Fazliddin Anarboev, Deputy Director, State Monitoring Service of Uzbekistan for Geo-hazard – georisks and hazard assessment. 

Session 5: Identifying key gaps and synergies across Central Asia in lake mapping, monitoring, and hazard assessment

Chair: Christian Huggel, University of Zurich

• Plenary style open discussion around a series of questions posed by the Chair
• Emerge with clear synthesis of common approaches being used across the countries
• Emerge with clear synthesis on the gaps and needs GLOFCA project can address

Session 6: Addressing key gaps and strengthening monitoring and assessment capacities, and knowledge management

Chair: Mr Holger Frey, University of Zurich

Holger Frey, Addressing key gaps and strengthening monitoring and assessment capacities, and knowledge management

Alfred Diebold, Presentation of the GLOFCA Knowledge Management Platform

Simon Allen, Capacity building activities planned under GLOFCA project

Manu Tom, GLOFCA tool box for lake monitoring 

Session 7: Wrap-up of the Day 1

Chair: Kristine Tovmasyan, UNESCO Almaty