The Republic of Tajikistan is located between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan to the north and west,

China to the east, and Afghanistan to the south. Almost the entire territory of the the Country (more than 90%) is occupied by mountains. Tajikistan is home to some of the highest mountains in the world, including the Pamir Range in the southeast and the Alay Range in the north. The highest peak, Ismoili Somoni, reaches an elevation of 7,495 m high.

Tajikistan, one of the economically poorest countries in the world, is home to one of the richest

concentrations of biodiversity. There are more than 25 types of ecosystems, with the most productive and diverse ecosystems being mountain forests, alpine meadows and riparian areas (tugai). Today, these ecosystems are vulnerable to disturbance, degradation and modification. It is important to note that currently tugai ecosystems remain relatively intact in southern Tajikistan, while before the 20th century they were distributed along the entire span of the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers. The flora of Tajikistan is extremely rich and diverse and accounts for 5,000 species of vascular plants, including 650 endemic species and 3,000 species of lower plants. Many elements of this biological diversity are threatened and immediate conservation measures are required. As a result of constant anthropogenic pressures, 42 out of 84 species of mammals fall to the category of rare and endangered species in Tajikistan’s Red data list.

Traditional use of medicinal plants in Tajikistan goes back to the outstanding physician of the 10-th-11th centuries Ibn-Sina (Avicenna). The medical use of the natural products produced by plants, fungi and prokaryotic organisms is one of the most potent incentives for biodiversity conservation, cataloguing and bioexploration. Lead by the International Institute for Study of Avicenna Heritage and Pharmacology, the TJAP is striving to discover economically valuable therapeutic uses for the naturally-derived agents originating from a wide spectra of Tajik biota. TJAP also works to identify valuable microbial genes for biofuel production, biopolymer degradation and biocatalysis. The main task of the TJAP is to collect, catalogue and preserve the plant, fungal and prokaryotic biodiversity of Tajikistan (both natural products and genetic materials) and to procure, prepare and share the samples of these biodiversity with the USA partners who will be responsible for the majority of screening, isolation and development parts of the program.

The important part of the TJAP activity is training and educational program to protect biodiversity of the Pamir and Alay ranges and unique lowland ecosystems.