During an international roundtable titled 'Water and Forests: Time to Build Bridges' in Dushanbe, Nikolay Lomakin, the First Secretary of the Department of International Organizations at the Russian Foreign Ministry, articulated Russia's perspective on water diplomacy as a means to foster cooperation across Eurasia. He asserted that the Russian Federation is prepared to share its expertise in reforestation, support scientific research, and implement technologies for monitoring water and forest resources. Lomakin stressed the interdependence of forests, water, and soil, noting that forests are vital for biodiversity, water regulation, and food supply for over 1.5 billion people. He pointed out the alarming loss of approximately 10 million hectares of forest annually, which exacerbates groundwater depletion and drought occurrences. Emphasizing the significance of reforestation, he argued that it is essential for ensuring clean water, preserving environmental sites, and preventing soil degradation. Lomakin highlighted the pressing environmental issues in Central Asia, where rising temperatures and declining glacial river sources pose significant challenges to socioeconomic development, underscoring the critical role of water and forest management in addressing these concerns.