Uzbekistan and UNESCAP Launch Space-based Drought Monitoring for Central Asia
As global temperatures rise sharply, climate change is triggering severe environmental challenges across the world. Many regions are already facing disasters such as rising water levels, floods and droughts, all signs of worsening ecological conditions. Central Asia, and particularly Uzbekistan, is not immune to these threats.
Central Asia at the frontline of climate stress
The region is highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Extreme heat accelerates the evaporation of water from lakes and reservoirs, reduces river flows and shrinks glacial reserves. Such pressures intensify water shortages, which in turn create risks for agriculture, energy generation and ecosystems. The consequences are not only economic but also social and political. Droughts can devastate crop yields, kill livestock and lower living standards, placing heavy strain on communities and national economies.
Space technology in service of water security
Recognising these risks, Uzbekistan’s space agency Uzcosmos has joined forces with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) to design a regional drought monitoring system based on satellite technology. The project aims to support Central Asian states in improving drought management, making timely use of satellite data and applying advanced technical resources.
Planned measures include a real-time drought monitoring mechanism and a cloud platform for crop surveillance tailored to the specific conditions of each participating country.
International seminar in Tashkent
On August 18, an international workshop was held at Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Digital Technologies to review progress on the initiative and explore opportunities for implementation. Participants stressed that drought is one of the most dangerous natural hazards for Central Asia and other arid regions. It is not caused by climate factors alone but also by human mismanagement of water resources.
Speakers underlined that satellite technology has become a critical tool for monitoring, assessing and mitigating drought. By providing up-to-date information on soil moisture, vegetation cover and water bodies, space data helps decision-makers in agriculture, ecology and water management operate on an entirely new level.
National and regional initiatives
In May 2025 work began on creating a National Drought Monitoring System in Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. This initiative is expected to significantly strengthen regional resilience to climate change.
Satellite-based monitoring plays a vital role in detecting early warning signals. For example, remote sensing imagery can highlight soil moisture loss and shifts in vegetation, while indices such as NDVI (Normalised Difference Vegetation Index) help forecast crop health and yields.
Building resilience through innovation
Experts warn that failure to address drought seriously could trigger a chain reaction of problems: water scarcity, soil degradation and ultimately food insecurity. The new drought monitoring system being developed jointly by Uzcosmos and UNESCAP is set to become a landmark project for Central Asia, offering governments powerful tools to safeguard agriculture, ecosystems and communities in the face of climate change.
Kursiv also reports that Uzbekistan’s CERR has applied NASA night-time light (NTL) satellite data to assess economic activity at both regional and city levels.
