Environmental conditions do not exist in a vacuum. They are influenced by science politics history public policy culture economics public attitudes and competing priorities as well as past human decisions. In the case of Central Asia such Soviet-era decisions include irrigation systems and physical infrastructure that are now crumbling mine tailings that leach pollutants into soil and groundwater and abandoned factories that are physically decrepit and contaminated with toxic chemicals. Environmental Crises in Central Asia highlights major environmental challenges confronting the regionâs former Soviet republics: Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Tajikistan Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. They include threats to the Caspian and Aral seas the impact of climate change on glaciers desertification deforestation destruction of habitat and biodiversity radioactive and hazardous wastes water quality and supply energy exploration and development pesticides and food security and environmental health. The ramifications of these challenges cross national borders and may affect economic political and cultural relationships on a vast geographic scale. At the same time the regionâs five governments have demonstrated little resolve to address these complex challenges. This book is a valuable multi-disciplinary resource for academics scholars and policymakers in environmental sciences geography political science natural resources mass communications public health and economics. . Language: English