KULOB, January 5, 2015, Asia-Plus -- The District Development Council (DDC) of Khovaling held a roundtable on January 5 to present its program of ways to reduce degradation of lands and save pastures in the district.

“The program will be implemented in the Safedshahrak, Kuldara, Chashmabedak, Tagi Char and Darai Havz communities under financial support of the UNDP Country Office in Tajikistan,” the Khovaling DDC head Avazkhon Sirojov told Asia-Plus in an interview.

According to him, the international aid and development organization, CARITAS, the Kulob committee for environmental protection, the Khovaling agriculture department and local forestry enterprise have agreed to become partners for implementation of the project.

“CARITAS has already begun to train villagers in reducing land degradation and preventing desertification,” Sirojov noted.

Five schools under the codename “Farming in the Field” will be set up and no less than 100 people will be trained in preserving environmental balance in nature and taking adequate measures to reduce land degradation and prevent desertification.