Central Asia is one of the regions most vulnerable to climate variability and water scarcity, where droughts increasingly pose a threat to agriculture, ecosystems, and the livelihoods of millions of people. Effective monitoring and early warning systems are therefore essential to improve preparedness, response planning, and cross-border water cooperation.
To address these needs, the Droughtmap-ASB tool has been developed under the Green Central Asia initiative, financed by the German Federal Foreign Office and coordinated in partnership with regional hydrometeorological services. The tool operates on open satellite data and provides near-real-time information on drought indicators across the Aral Sea Basin. Its primary aim is to bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and practical decision-making, enabling scientists, policymakers, and practitioners to better anticipate and manage drought risks.
In a 1.5-hour interactive session, chaired by Prof. Dr. Christopher Conrad and Dr.-Ing. Muhammad Usman from Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (Germany), you will:
•    Be introduced to the concept and development process of the Droughtmap-ASB tool;
•    Receive hands-on guidance on navigating the platform, using its dashboard, and subscribing to regular drought bulletins;
•    Participate in an interactive exercise to evaluate the tool’s practical usability and provide feedback for further improvement;
•    Discuss the tool’s potential applications in irrigation agriculture, land and water management, urban and rural planning, and disaster risk reduction.