Status and Trends of Biodiversity
Overview
Turkmenistan is a newly independent neutral state situated in the western part of Central Asia. There are over 100 ethnic groups but 90% of the population is Turkmen. More than half of the population lives in rural areas and nearly 40% of the labour force is involved in agricultural production. Though desert ecosystems occupy the majority of the country (80%), Turkmenistan possesses a rich and unique biological diversity that includes the characteristics of three large floristic provinces: the Kopetdago-Horasan (Kopetdag, Greater and Lesser Balhans), the Montane Central Asian (Kugitang) and Turan (Karakum) with the transitional region of Badkhyz and Karabil...
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Number and Extent of Protected Areas
The total area of protected areas of all categories is 1,978,300 ha or 4.02% of the whole territory of the country. There are 250 registered natural monuments, of which only 17 have official legal status.