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

This year, large-scale greening activities were carried out in the Aral Sea region across a total area of 150.7 thousand hectares. The bulk of the work—145.2 thousand hectares—was implemented on the dried seabed of the Aral Sea and adjacent territories. Activities covered the Muynak district, where green plantations were established on 90.5 thousand hectares, as well as a number of districts in the Bukhara, Navoi, and Khorezm regions. An additional 5.5 thousand hectares were landscaped in other regions of the country.

To ensure a systematic approach to forest reclamation, design and estimate documentation was developed for the establishment of protective forest plantations. Priority was given to desert plant species resistant to salinity and drought, including saxaul, cherkes and karaburak. To support these efforts, a reserve of 697 tonnes of seeds was prepared, providing the necessary resource base for large-scale planting operations.

An important component of the environmental reforms has been the expansion of international cooperation and the mobilization of external financing. In 2025, seven international projects were launched using grant funding, and agreements were signed to attract grants totaling USD 32.5 million. These projects are aimed at comprehensive ecosystem restoration, integrated natural resource management, and enhancing the climate resilience of water and land resources.

Ongoing initiatives include projects on the integrated conservation and restoration of valuable landscapes in Uzbekistan, sustainable water resources management in the Zarafshan River basin, restoration of land resources in vulnerable ecosystems of Central Asia, and the improvement of ecosystem protection mechanisms and biodiversity conservation. Their implementation contributes to the development of long-term solutions to mitigate the impacts of the Aral crisis and ensure the sustainable development of the Aral Sea region.