Who gains from saving nature
Ledger 1 : 33 — For each dollar financing nature-based solutions in 2023, about $33 financed activities harmful to nature. (UNEP)
Cases / Water use · Turkmenistan · 1954–2026

Garagum Canal and Amu Darya: conveyance losses, salinisation and the money around them

Nature's voice · report
Of the water taken into the Garagum Canal from my Amu Darya, about 20% was lost in the 1970s and 1980s and more than 30% since 2000, according to FAO (2012).
Did nature suffer? Yes. Harm is on record. Disputed
Recorded
  • In 2001, 1,353,744 ha of my irrigated soil was salinised, and irrigation caused waterlogging on about 756,500 ha in 2002, according to FAO. FAO
  • In my Turkmen Aral Sea zone around 90–95% of irrigated land is saline, according to Berdiyev (2006), cited by FAO. FAO
  • My Amu Darya's salinity rose from 0.3 g/l before 1962 to 0.8 g/l in 1967 and 1.5–1.6 g/l in the 1990s, at times up to 2 g/l, according to FAO. FAO
  • In January 2023 at least 100 million m³ of canal water ran into my sand, with spill channels reaching more than 35 km, according to a Meteojurnal estimate from satellite images. AKIpress
What the record lacks: 6 none on record · 3 not disclosed · 1 insufficient · 5 disputed See the gaps
Accounts of the harm differ
Share of canal intake lost in conveyance
  • International bodies FAO (2007), cited by Kyoto University DPRI paper (2024): Approximately 18% up to 30% of the total flow, resulting in extensive waterlogging and salinisation. Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University
  • International bodies FAO (2012): More than 30% since 2000 and around 31% in 2004, up from 20% in the 1970s and 1980s. FAO
Public reporting of the January 2023 breach
  • Researchers Meteojurnal, via AKIpress: At least 100 million m³ lost into the sand on 17–20 January 2023; spill channels reached more than 35 km. AKIpress
  • Government and regulators Turkmen authorities: Did not report the incident. AKIpress

The Garagum (Karakum) Canal takes 10–12 km³ a year from the Amu Darya, and FAO recorded conveyance losses of more than 30% of intake since 2000. FAO gave the direct economic loss from salinised land at USD 142 million for 2001; a South Korean builder signed a memorandum on modernising a 250 km section in September 2026.

> 30%Conveyance loss, share of canal intake (FAO)
Since 2000; about 31% in 2004 and about 20% in the 1970s and 1980s.

Status As of September 2026: Daewoo E&C signed a memorandum on a 250 km lower-canal section; no monetary value or funding source is on record.

What?
The Garagum Canal takes 10–12 km³ a year from the Amu Darya; FAO recorded conveyance losses rising from 20% of intake in the 1970s and 1980s to more than 30% since 2000, with salinisation and waterlogging of irrigated land. FAO
Where?
The canal runs from an intake on the Amu Darya, just after the river enters Turkmenistan from Uzbekistan, about 1,400 km west through the Murghab and Tedzhen basins to the Kopetdag foothills and on towards the Caspian. FAO
When?
Construction started in 1954 and the main 840 km section was completed in 1967; a breach occurred on 17–20 January 2023; a modernisation memorandum was signed on 15 September 2026. FAO
Who?
Gained
  • Turkmen irrigated agriculture — Water for irrigation along the canal, described locally as the 'river of life' (FAO) FAO
  • Daewoo E&C — Memorandum of 15 September 2026 on possible participation in modernising a 250 km lower-canal section; no value stated Korea Herald
Lost
  • Turkmenistan — USD 142 million direct economic loss from salinised land in 2001 (FAO) FAO
Harmed
  • Irrigated land in Turkmenistan — 1,353,744 ha salinised in 2001 and about 756,500 ha waterlogged in 2002 FAO
  • Aral Sea population in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan — Adversely affected by the diversion, according to FAO FAO
  • Amu Darya — Salinity rose from 0.3 g/l before 1962 to 1.5–1.6 g/l in the 1990s FAO
Why?
FAO attributed conveyance loss mainly to evaporation and filtration (Stanchin and Lerman 2006) and 'catastrophic soil salinity' to unlined canals, a drainage network that is too short, irrational irrigation norms and poor construction. FAO
How?
The canal diverts Amu Darya water through earthen canals; on-farm systems are almost all earthen and inter-farm canals about 94% earthen, and almost half of the diverted water is lost to seepage on farms (FAO, citing MWE 1993 and 1998). FAO
6 of 6 questions answered from the record

What happened

The record, in order.

The Garagum (Karakum) Canal has its intake on the Amu Darya just after the river enters Turkmenistan from Uzbekistan and runs about 1,400 km west through the Murghab and Tedzhen basins to the Kopetdag foothills and on towards the Caspian, according to FAO; the Korea Herald gave about 1,100 km. Construction started in 1954 and the main 840 km section was completed in 1967. FAO (2012) wrote: 'Each year the canal takes 10–12 km3 from the Amu Darya river.'

FAO (2012) wrote: 'Since 1970, water withdrawal from the Amu Darya and other rivers has nearly doubled. At the same time the loss rate has increased alarmingly, from 20 percent of the intake in the 1970s and the 1980s, to more than 30 percent since 2000. In 2004, the loss rate was around 31 percent. The main reasons for conveyance loss in the system are evaporation and filtration (Stanchin and Lerman, 2006).' It added that on-farm systems are almost all earthen canals and 'almost half of the diverted water is lost as a result of seepage', and that inter-farm canals are about 94% earthen. A paper from Kyoto University's Disaster Prevention Research Institute (Khujanazarov, Touge and Tanaka, 2024) cited FAO (2007) for losses of 'approximately from 18% up to 30% of the total flow, resulting in extensive waterlogging and salinization'.

FAO (2012) recorded 1,353,744 ha of salinised land in 2001, waterlogging from irrigation on about 756,500 ha in 2002, and a direct economic loss of USD 142 million from land with different degrees of salinisation in 2001. In the Turkmen Aral Sea zone 'around 90–95 percent of irrigated land. is saline (Berdiyev, 2006)'. FAO attributed 'catastrophic soil salinity' to unlined canals, a drainage network that is too short, irrational irrigation norms and poor construction, and said the diversion into the canal 'has contributed to the Aral Sea disaster, adversely affecting large parts of the population in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan'. Amu Darya salinity rose from 0.3 g/l before 1962 to 0.8 g/l in 1967 and 1.5–1.6 g/l in the 1990s, at times up to 2 g/l; about 4 km³ of drainage water at 6.5–8.5 g/l is discharged into the river annually from Uzbekistan. Of an average 5.4 km³ a year of Turkmen drainage water in 1990–1994, 44% returned to rivers, 55% went to natural depressions, mainly Sarykamysh, and 1% was reused. Under the interstate framework summarised by FAO, the Amu Darya flow at Kerki is split 50/50 and parties should stop disposing of drainage water into the river.

Journalists of the outlet Meteojurnal used satellite images to estimate that at least 100 million m³ of water was lost into the sand after ice jams on 17–20 January 2023 (AKIpress). Spill channels reached more than 35 km into the desert and a dam was finished by 11 February. AKIpress reported that the authorities did not report the incident; on 23 January the president ordered the governors of Mary and Lebap to ensure normal river flow.

On 15 September 2026 Daewoo E&C signed a memorandum of understanding with Turkmenistan's State Committee for Water Management on possible participation in modernising a 250 km lower-canal section; no monetary value was stated. Daewoo E&C said the memorandum 'lays the foundation for Daewoo E&C's entry into Turkmenistan's water resources and environmental infrastructure market'. The national plan cited by FAO aims to raise 'the efficiency factor of the irrigation systems from 0.58 to 0.75 by canal lining and modernizing', with no budget given.

  1. 1954Construction of the canal starts
  2. 1967Main 840 km section completed
  3. 1980Loss rate about 20% of intake in the 1970s and 1980s (FAO)
  4. 2001Salinised land 1,353,744 ha; direct economic loss of USD 142 million (FAO)
  5. 2004Loss rate around 31% (FAO); RFE/RL quotes UNICEF on drainage-water discharge (28 Apr)
  6. 2023Canal breach after ice jams (17–20 Jan); at least 100 million m³ lost into the sand (Meteojurnal estimate via AKIpress)
  7. 2026Daewoo E&C memorandum on a 250 km lower-canal section (15 Sep)

What was said

Claims, in the words of those who made them.

“Each year the canal takes 10–12 km3 from the Amu Darya river.”

FAO, AQUASTAT profile (2012) · 2012 · FAO

“Yet benefits for some people have brought adversity to others”

FAO, on the canal described locally as the 'river of life' · 2012 · FAO

“The root cause of [the salinization of the Amudarya] is the discharge of drainage water”

Arslan Berdiyev, UNICEF, to RFE/RL, on drainage from Turkmen and Uzbek territories · 28 April 2004 · RFE/RL

“lays the foundation for Daewoo E&C's entry into Turkmenistan's water resources and environmental infrastructure market”

Daewoo E&C, on the memorandum · 15 September 2026 · Korea Herald

Where accounts differ

Each party's account, side by side, with its source. The record does not settle these points; it shows them.

Share of canal intake lost in conveyance
International bodies
FAO (2007), cited by Kyoto University DPRI paper (2024)

Approximately 18% up to 30% of the total flow, resulting in extensive waterlogging and salinisation.

Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University
International bodies
FAO (2012)

More than 30% since 2000 and around 31% in 2004, up from 20% in the 1970s and 1980s.

FAO
Length of the canal
International bodies
FAO (2012)

About 1,400 km.

FAO
Press and investigations
Korea Herald (2026)

About 1,100 km.

Korea Herald
Public reporting of the January 2023 breach
Researchers
Meteojurnal, via AKIpress

At least 100 million m³ lost into the sand on 17–20 January 2023; spill channels reached more than 35 km.

AKIpress
Government and regulators
Turkmen authorities

Did not report the incident.

AKIpress

How it looked

What was shown, beside what was recorded.

Shown

  • The canal as a 'river of life' locally, with benefits for some people that brought adversity to others
    FAO, AQUASTAT profile (2012) · FAO
  • A national plan to raise the efficiency factor of irrigation systems from 0.58 to 0.75 by canal lining and modernising
    National plan, as cited by FAO (2012) · FAO
  • A memorandum for possible participation in modernising a 250 km lower-canal section
    Daewoo E&C and Turkmenistan's State Committee for Water Management, 15 September 2026 · Korea Herald

Recorded

  • Loss rate rose from 20% of intake in the 1970s and 1980s to more than 30% since 2000 and around 31% in 2004 (FAO 2012, citing Stanchin and Lerman 2006)
    FAO
  • Losses of approximately 18% up to 30% of total flow (Kyoto University DPRI paper, citing FAO 2007)
    Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University
  • 1,353,744 ha salinised in 2001; waterlogging on about 756,500 ha in 2002 (FAO)
    FAO
  • Direct economic loss of USD 142 million in 2001 from land with different degrees of salinisation (FAO)
    FAO
  • At least 100 million m³ lost into the sand in January 2023 (Meteojurnal estimate from satellite images, via AKIpress)
    AKIpress
  • No monetary value stated for the Daewoo E&C memorandum
    Korea Herald

Who gained

Money that reached nature, beside money that stayed elsewhere.

Reached nature or the ground

—
Direct economic loss of land with different degrees of salinisation (FAO, citing national sources)$142m

Gained elsewhere

Not totalled
Reached the ground
—
Currency: USD · Window: 2001. All figures cover the same period. * Estimate built from cited figures.

Responses on record

  • daewoo-ec (15 September 2026): The memorandum lays the foundation for Daewoo E&C's entry into Turkmenistan's water resources and environmental infrastructure market. · Korea Herald
  • turkmenistan-gov (January 2023): The authorities did not report the January 2023 breach; on 23 January the president ordered the governors of Mary and Lebap to ensure normal river flow. · AKIpress

In court and with insurers

Every proceeding and every insurer decision on record.

Lawsuits and rulings

No court case on record. No court has ruled on this case.

Insurers

No insurer decision on record.

What nature saw

Outcomes measured on the ground, and nature's note.

Nature's report opens this page. Below: further outcomes measured on the ground.

Conveyance loss
> 30%
Of canal intake since 2000; about 31% in 2004 (FAO 2012)
Salinised land, 2001
1,353,744 ha
FAO 2012
Direct economic loss, 2001
USD 142m
From land with different degrees of salinisation (FAO)
Water lost in the January 2023 breach
≥ 100 million m³
Meteojurnal estimate from satellite images

What we don't know

Undisclosed, unproven, untried: recorded as data.
No court caseKey earnings undisclosed

Nature

  • Disputed Share of canal intake lost in conveyance
  • Disputed Public reporting of the January 2023 breach

Court

Accounts

Record

  • Not disclosed Not disclosed: a monetary value for the Daewoo E&C modernisation memorandum.
  • Not disclosed Not disclosed: a budget for the national plan to raise irrigation efficiency from 0.58 to 0.75.
  • Not disclosed Not disclosed: the funding source for the canal modernisation.
  • None on record None on record: a public report by Turkmen authorities on the January 2023 breach.
  • None on record None on record: a World Bank, ADB or Islamic Development Bank loan for the canal.
  • None on record None on record: dispute proceedings under the Amu Darya water-sharing agreements.
  • Disputed Disputed: the loss rate. FAO (2007), cited by a Kyoto University paper, gives approximately 18% up to 30% of total flow; FAO (2012) gives more than 30% since 2000 and around 31% in 2004.
  • Disputed Disputed: the length of the canal. FAO gives about 1,400 km and the Korea Herald about 1,100 km; the difference may reflect different section definitions.
  • Insufficient Insufficient: loss-rate data after 2004.
  • None on record None on record: insurance.

Did the harm stop?

None on record: FAO (2012) recorded the loss rate rising from 20% to more than 30% of intake; no source states that losses have fallen since.

Who paid?

FAO gave the direct economic loss from salinised land at USD 142 million in 2001. Not disclosed: who funds the canal modernisation; no value is stated for the Daewoo E&C memorandum.

Sources

Voices on record: — Company or project— Government and regulators— Courts✓ Press and investigations— Communities and civil society✓ Researchers✓ International bodies

Press and investigations

Researchers

International bodies

Connected cases

Related matters, and cases linked to this one through the same organisations, with the role each played in both.
Terms used on this page

Science and environment

Hectare (ha)
A unit of area equal to 10,000 square metres, about 2.5 acres. 100 hectares make one square kilometre.
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