Ecological Disaster of the Aral Sea: Water Management, Drought, and Legal Implications for Uzbekistan’s Coastal Cities

Abstract

This study examines the ecological disaster of the Aral Sea by focusing on the management of the Amu Darya River and its implications for coastal cities in Uzbekistan from an environmental law perspective. The shrinkage of the Aral Sea is not merely the result of natural processes but primarily stems from water resource policies oriented toward exploitation and detached from ecological balance. The research applies a normative juridical method using statute and conceptual approaches, complemented by a socio-legal perspective through secondary data such as environmental reports, scientific studies, and policy documents. The findings indicate that Uzbekistan’s water governance framework has not fully incorporated the principles of sustainable development, precaution, and ecosystem-based management. The absence of legally binding ecological flow requirements, inefficient irrigation practices, and weak law enforcement have accelerated environmental degradation and intensified regional drought. These ecological impacts have translated into social, economic, and public health challenges, directly affecting the rights to health, livelihood, and a healthy environment of coastal communities. At the transboundary level, limited regional cooperation further complicates restoration efforts. The study underscores the need for preventive and justice-oriented environmental law reforms grounded in ecological limits.