Tajikistan’s original landscape, climate and millions years of evolution have eventually resulted in the development of great mosaic of terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems, flora, fauna and microorganisms. There are dozen of relict and endemic life forms, numerous evidences and fossil relics of previous biological diversity. Besides, Tajikistan’s territory, as the ancient Mediterranean area, served as an arena of progressive species formation and stored the gene pool for many cultural species of plants and animals that are widely used now. In Tajikistan, there are more than 25 types of ecosystems, including water reservoirs and anthropogenic ecosystems.

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Natural ecosystem’s distribution is basically coincided the altitude zonation in accordance with climate and flora conditions. Most productive and diverse ecosystems are mountain forests, alpine meadows and tugai.On another hand these ecosystems are subject to disturbing, degradation and modification. It is important to note that tugai ecosystems are mainly saved in the southern Tajikistan at present, while before XX-th century they were distributed along all distance of Amudaria and Sirdaria rivers.
Flora of Tajikistan is extremely rich and diverse and totally accounts 5 thousand species of vascular plants, including 650 endemic species and 3 thousand species of lower plants. Thus, there are elements of tropical, arid, alpine and polar vegetation. Especially rich diversity of flora is occurred in Gissar-Darvaz and Badahshan regions, where 3 thousand species of vascular plants have been registered, while vast lowlands account just 800-900 plant species and tugai ecosystems up to 500 species.
Local flora plays significant role in traditional medicine and agriculture. Arboreal and shrub vegetation carries out soil protection, water security and nutrient functions. Some relict flora species, such as Thuja orientalis, Ostrowskia magnifica and others represent especial scientific value in evolution analysis and species formation researches. Summer and winter pastures occupy up to 35% of Tajikistan’s territory, including 12% high productive pastures. Tajikistan’s wild flora accounts for more 400 species of medical, 90 species of tanning, 115 species of pigment, 60 species of oil, and 175 species of decorative plants. Few cultural relative species has been registered here. Diversity of agroecosystems includes many species of cotton, grain, up to 30 species of apricot, apples, grapes and others fruits.
However, many elements of biological diversity are threatened and immediate conservation measures are required. As a result of land development, for the last 70-80 years, the area of tugai ecosystems was reduced by more than 3-4 times, reduction of juniper and broad-leaved forests is also observed. Non-regulated cattle grazing leads to the changes in vegetation cover as well as decrease of pasture productivity and reduction of wild areas.