Help save the Aral Sea
TerraNova stands for the Earth system we study. We invite our community to support the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS), the intergovernmental fund leading restoration of one of the planet's most severe human-made environmental disasters.
Why this cause
Science is only the start. Action saves ecosystems.
The Aral Sea crisis is a textbook case in environmental science, and a living one. Supporting the fund turns research and awareness into on-the-ground recovery.
An environmental catastrophe
Once the world's fourth-largest lake, the Aral Sea has lost the vast majority of its volume since the 1960s after its feeding rivers were diverted for irrigation, leaving exposed seabed, toxic dust storms, and collapsed fisheries.
Communities at the front line
Millions of people across Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and the wider region face water scarcity, salinised soils, and public-health impacts. Restoration work directly supports livelihoods and food security.
Restoration that works
Coordinated action, like the Kok-Aral dam on the North Aral Sea, has already brought water and fish back to parts of the basin, proving that recovery is possible with sustained support.
About the IFAS
The International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea was founded in 1993 by Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkmenistan to fund and coordinate joint projects that ease the social, economic, and ecological consequences of the Aral Sea's shrinkage.
Its Executive Committee implements basin-wide programmes that improve water management, restore habitats, and support the communities who depend on the basin. Contributions and partnerships help sustain this long-term work.
TerraNova is an independent preprint server and is not affiliated with the IFAS. We link to the fund's official website so you can learn more and contribute directly.