DUSHANBE, June 6, Asia-Plus - Teaching public servants to apply environmental protection mechanisms while managing the land reform process is the aim of an OSCE-supported seminar which ends in Varzob, near Dushanbe, on Friday, press relase issued by the OSCE Center today said.  

The seven-day event brought together some 50 public servants from the Khatlon region in southern Tajikistan who deal with environmental issues.

"This project will help Tajik authorities protect the environment while implementing land reform and running land management regulations," said Saulius Smalys, Environmental Officer in the OSCE Centre in Dushanbe.

"We are also showing participants how to implement the provisions of the Aarhus Convention, which focuses on access to information, public participation in decision-making, and access to justice in environmental matters."

Rustam Latipov, the Head of State Department that deals with the use and protection of nature, added: "Public servants responsible for environmental issues often lack adequate knowledge and skills in environmental protection. Together with the OSCE, we are working to raise their capacity in tackling numerous environmental concerns facing Tajikistan."

The event was organized in cooperation with the Tajik Ministry of Agriculture and Protection of Nature and the non-governmental organization Ruhafzo.