DUSHANBE, June 8, Asia-Plus - Teaching public servants to apply environmental protection mechanisms while managing the land reform process was the aim of an OSCE-supported seminar, which is ending in Varzob, near Dushanbe, today.

Aleskandr Sodiqov, Senior Press and Public Information Assistant, th OSCE Center in Dushanbe, said that the seven-day seinar had brought together some 50 public servants from the Khatlon province 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 Center 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 Tajikistan’s Ministry of Agriculture and Enviromental Protection (MoAEP) and the non-governmental organization Rukhafzo.