DUSHANBE, September 27, Asia-Plus -- The Environment Commission of the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) held a meeting in the Jilikul district, Khatlon province today.

According to Muhammadato Sultonov, a spokesman of the Majlisi Namoyandagon, the meeting was presided over by the Environment Commission head Mahmadsharif Haqdodov, and its participants included members of the Majlisi Namoyandagon and senior representatives from a number of relevant ministries and organizations.

Issues related to environmental problems facing the Beshai Palangon (Tiger Gully), including deforestation and forest restoration, were reportedly a major topic of the meeting, Sultonov said.   

Beshai Palangon, in the south of Tajikistan, is one of the country’s oldest reserves, covering an area of around 50,000 hectares of rare floodplain forests known as “tugay”. The reserve is home to numerous Central Asian plants, animals, insects and fishes, most of which are listed as endangered species.