XIEG Holds 37th Salon for Scientific Exchange

On April 9, 2025, the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography (XIEG) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences successfully held the 37th "Salon for Scientific Exchange" (SSE). The event drew active participation from researchers and students at the institute.

Academician Hikmat Hisoriev, from the Institute of Botany, Plant Physiology, and Genetics, National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan, delivered a presentation, titled "Pastures land's resources, evaluation and conservation strategy in Central and South Tajikistan".

He presented data highlighting the degradation of Tajikistan's pastures, with alarming consequences for rare and endemic plant species. He emphasized the critical ecological role of the "golden zone," an altitude range of 800-3000 meters, home to highly productive pasture communities including tallgrass forb, tallgrass semi-savanna, and forb-meadow ecosystems. These plant communities, dominated by semi-shrubs and herbaceous plants, form the foundation of life in the Tajik steppes.

"Overgrazing, mismanagement, and climate change are leading to the degradation of pastures in Tajikistan," Prof. Hikmat said. "We are seeing a decline in biodiversity and a loss of essential ecosystem services." He offered recommendations to address the crisis, including scientific grazing management, sustainable rangeland management, and endangered species protection.

The presentation was followed by a lively discussion on topics such as grassland management policy optimization and technical solutions for restoring degraded pastures.

Prof. Hikmat Hisoriev is a CAS PIFI visiting scientist and an Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan, head of the Flora and Systematic Botany Department at the Institute of Botany, Plant Physiology and Genetics, National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan. Over the past decades, he has focused on conservation of rare, endemic and endangered plant species of the Pamir-Alai Region (Tajikistan) with more than 220 publications in international journals, including International Journal on Algae, Journal of Phycology, Toxicological & Environmental Chemistry, Bulgarian Chemical Communications, and Polish Journal of Environment Study.

Hikmat Hisoriev gives his presentation (Image by XIEG)

Group photo (Image by XIEG)

Contact

LONG Huaping

Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography

E-mail: longhp@ms.xjb.ac.cn

Web: http://english.egi.cas.cn