Document of ASBP-3 in English:

short version asbp_eng_short_web.pdf [976 Kb]

Executive Committee of IFAS incorporated comments and suggestions to the ASBP-3 received from the relevant ministries and agencies of the Central Asian countries. By this moment the document is approved and signed by IFAS Board members.

The official reception in honor of the 20th anniversary of the International Fund for saving the Aral Sea was held in Astana 19^th April for foreign missions and international organizations accredited in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Statement by the Executive Committee IFAS Saghit Ibatullin statement-by-the-chairman-of-ec-ifas_eng.pdf [139,64 Kb]

In Almaty, April 11-12, the international seminar "The impact of melting glaciers on water resources in Central Asia" was held.

Experts from institutions in the region, as well as foreign universities presented various reviews on the state of the glaciers of Central Asia, and identified the problems associated with the lack of a full-fledged study and data for prognosis of future conditions.

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The online catalogue of the existing datasets and information of the Aral Sea Basin has been developed in collaboration with the main partners producing/managing water related data and information.

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The training workshop produced an opportunity for participants to get training on the practical use of the BEAM model.

These two identical sessions became the first in a series of training and informational sessions to explore BEAM model and opportunities for a system-of-models in support of a decision support system for the two river basins of the Aral Sea.

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An economic model for water use in transboundary river basins customized for the Aral Sea Basin (BEAM)

IFAS supports the elaboration of a long-term comprehensive regional water resources management agreement by providing thorough analysis of the economic and welfare ramifications of optimum water-resource management in the Aral Sea basin.

BEAM is developed as a decision support system to facilitate putting “value on water use” and sustainable use of water resources in support of development. The model estimates welfare changes associated with changes to how water is allocated between the countries in the basin.

Water is allocated according to economic optimization criteria. In other words, the BEAM model allocates water across time and space to different uses so that the economic welfare associated with water use is maximized.

The model addresses the Aral Sea Basin as a whole – that is, the rivers Syrdarya and Amydarya, including Kazkhardarya and Zerafshan, and the Aral Sea. The model covers 5 sectors: agriculture, hydropower, nature, households and industry. The focus of the model is on welfare impacts associated with changes to water use in the agriculture and hydropower sectors.

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Documentation for BEAM model

The Aral Sea Basin Economic Allocation Model is accessible online: http://beam.cowi.com. At the web portal you can register and start working and analysing scenarios. Manuals on model use are also located at the web portal. BEAM Glossary beam-glossary_final.pdf [327,95 Kb]

Please, note that when running a scenario, it usually takes 1-2 minutes to complete the calculations, depending on the complexity of the scenario. Further, when you have unpacked the Excel result sheet, Excel may ask you to allow macros, data links and external links.

EC IFAS is open to comments and feedback upon the results from model practice. Please, send us your feedback at the email address: asel@ec-ifas.org

19^th-20^th November 2012 Ashgabat hosted the fifth regional workshop, the final workshop for phase 1 of the Project “Mutually Acceptable Mechanism on Integrated Use of Water Resources in Central Asia through Applying a Scenario Approach”. The regional project has been launched in April 2012 with the financial support of the Government of Turkey through the FAO/Turkey Partnership Programme (FTPP).

The major outcome of the workshops was that the participants acquired necessary skills in building different scenarios along with applying some of the tools of the scenario approach into practice in addressing regional cooperation issues in Central Asia. 

The project expert group together with FAO international facilitators developed four comprehensive scenario logics adopted by participating member-countries which is the first step towards the establishment of common ground.

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