The Central Asian Institute for Applied Geosciences (CAIAG) turned twenty years in October. This was celebrated with an international congress in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek. The CAIAG is a joint foundation of the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences and the government of the Kyrgyz Republic. In addition to numerous scientists from 12 nations, representatives from ministries and specialist authorities in the Central Asian Republics and from international organisations also paid tribute to the Institute's achievements and looked ahead to future challenges.

Dr Oliver Bens, co-director of the CAIAG on behalf of the GFZ, said on the occasion of the anniversary:

“With its multidisciplinary approach, CAIAG is dedicated to socially relevant topics in the context of natural hazards and climate change as well as landscape and environmental development. A particular focus is on the availability of water resources and early warning of natural hazards. In the 20 years of its existence, CAIAG has developed into an important partner for research, geo- and environmental monitoring, knowledge exchange, consulting and training. The institute owes its success to this holistic approach, with which it endeavours to find solutions for the entire Central Asian region.”

Prof Dr Susanne Buiter, Scientific Director of the GFZ, said at the ceremony:

“Climate change and its consequences are among the most urgent challenges facing humanity, and it is a challenge that moves and affects us in Germany just as much as it does the Central Asian states, there to an even greater extent. The solutions are usually described in two dimensions: mitigation and adaptation. I would like to add two further dimensions: observation and co-operation. Both are needed to mitigate the effects of climate change and to adapt effectively to the region-specific consequences of a changing environment. The important role of Central Asia in the study of the Earth system was already clear more than 20 years ago, and it is becoming even more important as we face the dynamics of a system in change. CAIAG can be proud to cover all four dimensions. I congratulate the institute on 20 years of successful and relevant research and look forward to many more years of fruitful collaboration.”

Background: The consequences of climate and landscape change in Central Asia

In Central Asia, the effects of climate change and the associated natural hazards are already dramatic and, according to forecasts by the World Bank and the IPCC, this region will be increasingly exposed to extreme events. The glaciers and permafrost in the mountainous landscapes will continue to thaw and flooding, landslides, mudslides and glacier lake outbursts will increase. All of this will have serious economic and social consequences – for the societies in Central Asia and beyond. More than a billion people are directly dependent on the region's water resources, whether for drinking water, irrigation or hydropower.

About the CAIAG and its history

The Central Asian Institute for Applied Geosciences CAIAG was founded by the government of the Kyrgyz Republic and the GFZ. The corresponding contracts were signed at the end of 2002. This was followed by a foundation phase in which, among others, a suitable location in Bishkek was selected, buildings were thoroughly renovated and upgraded for the scientific institution and countless administrative preparations were carried out. In 2004, the institute was inaugurated and began its scientific operations.

With its work, the CAIAG strengthens geoscientific capacities in Central Asia, operates monitoring and information systems and promotes international co-operation. The institute provides knowledge-based support for decision-makers in the Central Asia region, for example from ministries, authorities or NGOs, and trains junior staff.

CAIAG's holistic approach is recognised by German decision-makers and funding organisations. Over the last two decades, many fruitful programmes for research in Central Asia have been launched, some of which running for many years, such as ‘Green Central Asia’ and Central Asian Water ‘CAWa’.

The GFZ has been scientifically active in Kyrgyzstan since the 1990s. The work is part of a long tradition of geoscientific cooperation in this region, dating back to the first major Pamir expedition with German participation in 1928.

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