Environmental issues in Turkmenistan are most visible in three significant areas: desertification, the drying of the Aral Sea, and chemical pollution.
These conditions persist due to inefficient agricultural irrigation and cattle grazing practices, which have led to the salinization of soil and the removal of ground cover plants respectively.
Inefficient irrigation techniques on the Amu Darya also contribute to the continued drying of the Aral Sea.
Many fertilizers and pesticides have entered groundwater supplies via leaching or runoff from farms due to excessive or improper use.
[8] The country is cooperating with the European Union, its member states and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to reduce and manage the impact of these environmental problems.