Aibek Samakov is pursuing his Ph.D. at the Eberhard Karls University of Tuebingen as a member of the interdisciplinary Kyrgyz-Uzbek-German team focussing on the “Social Life” of a River: environmental histories, social worlds and conflict resolution along the Naryn-Syr Darya.” He is conducting his research on the local livelihoods and the climate change adaptation strategies in the Syr Darya Delta, which has been undergoing a rapid social-ecological change due to the desiccation of the Aral Sea. He holds a Master’s degree from the University of Manitoba, where he conducted research on the contribution of sacred natural sites to biodiversity conservation in the Kyrgyz Republic. He is also affiliated with the Aigine Cultural Research Center based in Bishkek and is an honorary member of the (Indigenous and community conserved areas) ICCA Consortium.