National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Speakers included Deputy Minister of Ecology Jusipbek Kazbekov, CITES Secretary-General Ivonne Higuero, Head of the Department for Ecotourism and Hunting Development under the Ecology Committee Otabek Bobomurodov, Chair of Committee I of CoP20 Matthias Lörtscher, and Chair of Committee II of CoP20 Anna Wong.

Opening the press conference, Jusipbek Kazbekov emphasized that hosting CoP20 in Uzbekistan is “a historic milestone for all of Central Asia and a recognition of the region’s growing environmental leadership.”

The Deputy Minister noted that Samarkand has become a platform for adopting groundbreaking decisions aimed at protecting biodiversity, strengthening transboundary cooperation, and promoting innovative approaches to the conservation of natural resources. “We see that the decisions of CoP20 reach far beyond the Convention—they are launching long-term regional processes that are shaping a new environmental architecture for Central Asia,” he highlighted.

Kazbekov stressed that the participation of more than 3,000 delegates from 184 countries, including EU member states, demonstrates strong international interest in Uzbekistan’s environmental reforms and the country’s efforts to advance regional solidarity.

Several significant achievements were presented during CoP20. The central event was the signing of the Samarkand Declaration—the largest regional wildlife conservation agreement for 2026–2032, signed by Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. The document outlines cooperation in combating illegal wildlife trade, creating interagency information-exchange networks, developing digital monitoring, restoring ecosystems, and establishing ecological corridors.

A ministerial meeting of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan was held jointly with UNDP, where coordinated measures were approved to protect the snow leopard, kulan, and saiga, conserve mountain landscapes, and strengthen anti-poaching efforts. Special attention was given to Uzbekistan–Kazakhstan cooperation on saiga conservation, including monitoring migration routes, joint patrolling, and expanding scientific research.

Major international projects for Uzbekistan were also announced. Among them is the EcoLand project worth $6.1 million (GEF-8), aimed at ecosystem restoration, preventing land degradation, and supporting local communities. Under the regional CAWLN program worth $18.4 million, Uzbekistan will implement four major projects on water and land management, enhancing resilience to drought, and improving water security.

Several key initiatives were presented at the press conference: the National Atlas of Environmental Changes of Uzbekistan, developed in partnership with UNEP and the Russian Federation; the first National Ramsar Strategy for 2026–2030, developed with GIZ; and the global “Key Herpetological Areas” initiative, introduced by Uzbekistan as a contribution to amphibian and reptile conservation.

During CoP20, the Uzbek delegation held a number of bilateral meetings, including negotiations with the Russian Federation on water protection, expanding cooperation in environmental control, and developing scientific and monitoring technologies.

The hosting of CoP20 confirms Uzbekistan’s growing role as one of the key environmental centers of the region. Through the presented initiatives and international partnerships, the country is strengthening its leadership in advancing the environmental agenda, building new partnerships, and promoting science-based solutions. As Jusipbek Kazbekov noted, the events in Samarkand became “not only a political achievement, but also a practical step toward creating a sustainable environmental future for the region.”