An international scientific seminar entitled “Education for Regenerative Tourism, Climate Change Adaptation and Regional Perspectives” was held at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University in Kazakhstan. Azerbaijan was represented at the event by Zaur Imrani, Director of the Institute of Geography.

The second day of the seminar, held on November 5 within the framework of an international project of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), focused on discussions about the impact of climate change on natural ecosystems, biodiversity conservation, environmental sustainability, and prospects for the development of sustainable tourism in Central Asia and the South Caucasus.

During the session dedicated to regional and conceptual issues, Zaur Imrani, Director of the Institute of Geography, delivered a presentation entitled “Tourism Potential of Turkic-Speaking Countries”. The presentation was part of the discussions at the international scientific event, which focused on assessing tourism potential and exploring opportunities for sustainable regional development.

At the same session, Diana Akhmetzhanova, a doctoral student at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, presented her research on the study of cryoconite in Central Asian glaciers in the context of climate change.

Professor Christian Opp from the University of Marburg, Germany, delivered a series of lectures on “Global Syndromes of Environmental Change”. Analysing environmental problems arising from the interaction between human activities and natural processes, the scholar addressed issues such as the Aral Sea Syndrome, the Dust Bowl Syndrome, the Sahel Syndrome, and the environmental impact of mass tourism.

The lectures emphasized the importance of scientifically investigating problems such as inefficient use of natural resources, land degradation, changes in water resources, and the declining resilience of ecosystems. The relevance of the topics discussed to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those concerning clean water, climate action, and the protection of terrestrial ecosystems, was also highlighted.

Other sessions of the seminar featured scientific presentations on the implementation of environmentally sustainable practices in the tourism sector of Kazakhstan's Jetisu Region, the impact of climate-induced drought on biodiversity in Tajikistan, tourism destination management, and the application of modern geoinformation technologies.

The international seminar served as an important platform for expanding scientific cooperation in climate change adaptation, natural resource conservation and the development of regenerative tourism, as well as for sharing research findings and exchanging regional experiences.

At the end of the event, participants were awarded certificates in recognition of their contributions to international academic cooperation and scientific exchange.

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