IIASA–UNCCD Workshop Explores Carbon Farming Opportunities and Constraints in Greater Central Asia

15 December 2025 | Online

Setting the conceptual frame for the discussions, Michael Obersteiner, Director of the Environmental Change Institute at the University of Oxford and Principal Research Scholar at IIASA, emphasized that carbon farming should not be viewed solely through a market lens. “Carbon farming is far more than a market instrument. It is an integrated economic and risk-management approach to land use - one that can improve farm profitability, support rural livelihoods, and strengthen climate and production resilience, particularly in dryland and high-variability environments.”

Throughout the workshop, carbon farming was examined within the broader context of sustainable land management, climate adaptation, agricultural transformation, and rural development, reflecting the diverse agro-ecological and socio-economic conditions of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Mongolia.

The workshop also highlighted carbon farming’s relevance for policy implementation under the UNCCD, particularly as a mechanism for linking scientific indicators such as soil organic carbon with national reporting and Land Degradation Neutrality targets.

Country-focused sessions revealed differentiated entry points alongside shared constraints. In Uzbekistan, participants pointed to strong policy momentum on land restoration and climate planning as a foundation for piloting carbon farming on irrigated croplands, while emphasizing the importance of effective water governance and institutional capacity. Discussions on Kyrgyzstan identified rangelands and mountain grasslands as promising areas for carbon and biodiversity co-benefits, tempered by challenges related to fragmented land tenure and limited technical expertise. In Tajikistan, attention centered on the potential of carbon farming to enhance resilience in erosion-prone landscapes, with improved access to finance and long-term monitoring emerging as priorities. Mongolia’s extensive pastoral systems were also highlighted, with participants noting opportunities to link carbon farming with livelihood security and ecosystem restoration, as well as the catalytic role of UNCCD COP17, to be hosted by Mongolia in 2026, in advancing regional cooperation.

Across discussions, participants emphasized the need for regionally coordinated yet nationally adaptable approaches to measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV), knowledge exchange, and capacity development. Early-stage public and concessional finance was widely seen as critical for reducing implementation risks, alongside sustained efforts to engage local communities and build broad stakeholder ownership.

Overall, the workshop marked an important step toward a shared, evidence-based understanding of carbon farming in Greater Central Asia. By clarifying both opportunities and practical barriers, it contributed meaningfully to regional cooperation and informed ongoing policy dialogue, including preparations for UNCCD COP17.

For more information: visit www.eurasiancarbon.com and CAMEA project.