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Mountain Societies Research Institute report

21.06.2016

The Mountain Societies Research Institute (MSRI) of the University of Central Asia (UCA) published a research report and policy brief on the subject: “Natural resource management dynamics in border communities of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan”.

This Research Report and Policy Brief aims to provide insight into the institutions and local dynamics involved in natural resource management in border communities, and to provide solution-oriented recommendations to address natural resource management challenges.

The report presents research conducted between September 2015 and February 2016 in Batken oblast, Kyrgyzstan, and Soghd oblast, Tajikistan, within the framework of the project “Reducing conflict over water and pastures in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.” The project is supported by the United Kingdom’s new Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF).

Research on conflict over natural resources is generally focused on preventing violence; less attention is paid to the dynamics of disputes and cooperation. Conflicts over natural resources are particularly acute along the Tajik-Kyrgyz border, affecting the livelihood of households in Batken and Soghd oblasts, where around a quarter of the population still lives below the poverty line. Inhabitants are primarily involved in cultivating crops and keeping livestock and rely on the transborder use of water and pasture resources to do so. As border regimes and institutional management rules change, farmers face constraints in accessing these resources. A wide range of stakeholders are involved in both formal projects and informal initiatives to reduce conflicts and facilitate access to resources.

This report is based on transversal research on the different types of interventions led by governmental agencies, local NGOs and international organizations and their impact on transborder and border region natural resource management.

Access the publication (available in Russian and English)