About IFAS
IFAS was established in 1993 by the Heads of State of Central Asia in order to overcome the environmental crisis and improve the socio-economic situation in the Aral Sea basin, recognized by the world community as one of the largest disasters of the 20th century. In 1993, the heads of states of Central Asia created the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) and approved the Regulations on IFAS.
The President
Tokaev Kassym-Jomart Kemelevich
President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, President of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea
The Council of the Heads of the IFAS Founding States on the Problems of the Aral Sea Basin is the supreme body of IFAS.
Read completelyThe area of the Aral Sea basin covers about 700,000 square kilometers and includes Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, most part of southern Kazakhstan, and the northern part of Afghanistan. It is a kingdom of high mountains, dry steppes, semi-deserts and deserts.
Read completelyThe Aral Sea in its original form was located in the Northern desert part of Central Asia, within Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan and covered an area of 68 km2 with a volume of 1053 km3.
Read completelyLocated in the heart of Central Asia, the Aral Sea basin includes the basins of two major rivers: the Amu Darya and Syr Darya.
Read completelyThe use of water resources in Central Asia, mainly for drinking water and irrigation, began more than 6,000 years ago.
Read completelyIn former times, the unique isolation of the Aral Sea basin contributed to the development of such a richness and diversity of biota, which could be compared with Africa.
Read completelyNews
On 22 April 2026 in Astana, under the chairmanship of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan K.K. Tokayev, a meeting of the Council of Heads of Founding States of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) was held with the participation of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic S.N. Japarov, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan E. Rahmon, the President of Turkmenistan S.G. Berdimuhamedov, and the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Sh.M. Mirziyoyev.
Read completelyEvents
On 29–30 April 2026, the 4th Meeting of the Working Group on the development of the Central Asia Water Efficiency Cooperation Project was held in Dushanbe, Republic of Tajikistan. The Project is being jointly implemented by the Executive Committee of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea and the World Bank.
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The Executive Committee of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (EC IFAS) actively participated in the events of the first Regional Environmental Summit (RES 2026), held in Astana on 22–24 April 2026.
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On April 24, 2026, in Astana, within the framework of the Regional Ecological Summit–2026, the Executive Committee of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (EC IFAS) participated in the thematic session of the Central Asian Climate Change Conference titled “Water Resources Management in the Context of Climate Impact”, organized by the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI).
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Astana, April 23, 2026 — As part of the Regional Ecological Summit, a high-level thematic event was held on “Global Climate Change and Sustainable Development in the Region of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia”.
Read completelyEvents
On 29–30 April 2026, the 4th Meeting of the Working Group on the development of the Central Asia Water Efficiency Cooperation Project was held in Dushanbe, Republic of Tajikistan. The Project is being jointly implemented by the Executive Committee of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea and the World Bank.
Read completelyEvents
The Executive Committee of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (EC IFAS) actively participated in the events of the first Regional Environmental Summit (RES 2026), held in Astana on 22–24 April 2026.
Read completelyEvents
On April 24, 2026, in Astana, within the framework of the Regional Ecological Summit–2026, the Executive Committee of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (EC IFAS) participated in the thematic session of the Central Asian Climate Change Conference titled “Water Resources Management in the Context of Climate Impact”, organized by the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI).
Read completelyEvents
Astana, April 23, 2026 — As part of the Regional Ecological Summit, a high-level thematic event was held on “Global Climate Change and Sustainable Development in the Region of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia”.
Read completelyPress releases
The IFAS Executive Committee is a permanent body of the Fund and is created by a decision of the IFAS President and is located on a rotation basis in the country presiding over the IFAS.
Read completelyPress releases
On June 23, 1990, an appeal to the peoples of Central Asia and the first Joint Statement by the leaders of the countries of Central Asia was announced in Almaty, where the environmental disaster of the Aral Sea region was first recognized as an acute problem in the region. In 1992, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan N. Nazarbayev addressed the Heads of State of the Central Asian countries should join efforts to mitigate the negative impact of the drying up of the Aral Sea on the environment and the population of the region.
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From sea to desert...
Tragedy of the Aral Sea
The Aral Sea basin crisis is a very dramatic event of our time. In the recent past, the Aral Sea was a unique natural object - a brackish lake-sea with a volume of 1083 km3 and an area of 68 thousand km2, with high biological productivity and a unique world of living organisms.
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EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR SAVING THE ARAL SEA
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR SAVING THE ARAL SEA © 2026
Scructure of IFAS
Council of Heads of State
IFAS board
ICSD
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