Māris kļaviņŠ, azamat azizov, JĀnis zaļoksnis environment, pollution, development: the case of uzbekistan

 2.4. 
 Natural ecosystems
Given these natural and climatic conditions, a number of 
different  natural  ecosystems  have  evolved  on  the  territory  of 
Uzbekistan: the desert ecosystems of the plains; ecosystems in the 
foothill semi-deserts and steppes; river and coastal ecosystems; 
wetland and delta zone ecosystems, and mountainous ecosystems. 
Each contains a complex system of natural elements that shape the 
development and health of the above specified flora and fauna. The 
desert ecosystems of the plains are found in the Kyzylkum Desert, 
Ust’urt plateau, Karshinsky Steppe, in the south of the Republic and 
the Ferghana Valley. Geologically, desert territories are divided into 
sand, brackish, clay and rocky (gypsum) soils. Desert ecosystems are 
the main dwelling area of rare and endangered animal species in 
the Republic. Sand deserts occupy 27% of the plains. The Kyzylkum, 
Sundukli, and Kattakum are the largest areas of sand tracts. Rocky 
desert is typical of the Ust’urt plateau, part of the Kyzylkum Desert, 
as well as along the southern foothills. Saline soil deserts are 
found in the Ust’urt plateau and its slopes, in the inland hollows 
and  present  delta  of  the  Amu  Darya  River.  The  characteristics  of 
these deserts are high salt concentrations in the upper soil layers, 
a constant humidity level and temporary water reservoirs. Clay 
deserts are located in the clay and loess deposits in the basin of the 
Kashradarya River, in Dalverzin and in the Golodnaya Steppes.