From July 22 to 29 I will be in Tajikistan. In the capital Dushanbe I will meet with scientists who are partners on our research project. Dushanbe like Bishkek is surrounded by tall mountains. Much of the electricity in Dushanbe is generated by hydroelectric plants in these nearby mountains. Dushanbe was once a way point on the Silk Road so many old beautiful fortresses remain scattered nearby. I will be traveling to Khorugh in the Pamir Mountains for the Pamir Biodiversity Conference (undecided whether we will fly or drive). The Pamir Mountains are an area that people wish to turn into a Peace Park (see http://www.savingwildplaces.com/swp-home/swp-explorationandsurvey/239496). It is an area of exceptional biodiversity and the mountains extend into neighboring Kyrgyzstan, China, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. We have scheduled a few days for hiking in the mountains after the conference. [Click on the map to see a larger image, courtesy of http://www.maps.com/]
