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

The seminar aims to assist the five countries of Central Asia, as well as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus and the Russian Federation, in strengthening national actions for biodiversity conservation. During the event, participating countries identify national priority measures, assess existing gaps and opportunities and enhance regional cooperation to accelerate progress in biodiversity conservation through effectively managed protected and conserved areas.

Target 3 of the Global Biodiversity Framework calls for the conservation of at least 30 per cent of land, inland waters and marine areas by 2030 through protected areas, other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs)  and the recognition of the territories of Indigenous Peoples and traditional communities.

“Effective implementation of Target 3 depends on aligning technical and scientific knowledge with national policies and legal frameworks,” noted Mariano Castro Peace and Biodiversity Dialogue Initiative (PBDI) consultant, Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversityt. “This subregional exchange is intended to help countries address implementation gaps, share experience, and make better use of available tools and guidance to advance progress under the Framework,” she added.

Protected and conserved areas are critically important not only for safeguarding wildlife and ecosystems, but also for human well-being. Healthy ecosystems provide access to clean water, support food systems, reduce the risks of natural disasters such as floods and landslides, contribute to climate regulation and create livelihoods for millions of people. By maintaining ecosystem integrity and reducing pressures on wildlife and habitats, they also support the One Health approach by lowering risks associated with biodiversity loss, including the emergence and spread of zoonotic diseases. Strengthening protected and conserved area systems is therefore essential for both biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.

The seminar brings together delegates from the countries of Central Asia, as well as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and the Russian Federation. The event promotes dialogue and exchange of views, peer learning, and coordinated action toward achieving Target 3.

“Over the past seven years, Uzbekistan has increased the area of protected natural territories from 4 per cent to more than 14 per cent of the country’s total area, expanding them by an additional 5 million hectares,” said Jusipbek Kazbekov, Deputy Chairman of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change. “Target 3 of the Global Biodiversity Framework is of particular importance to us. Although protected areas currently cover 14.1 per cent of Uzbekistan’s territory, we intend to further increase this figure, placing special emphasis on ecological connectivity, effective management and active engagement of local communities,” he added.

The seminar is designed to promote peer learning, support transboundary cooperation, and strengthen regional coherence in the implementation of Target 3 commitments.

 

“Advancing Target 3 requires not only ambition, but also practical tools, knowledge and cooperation to translate commitments into concrete action on the ground,” noted Madhu Rao, Chair of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA). “Through its expert commissions, including WCPA, IUCN stands ready to support countries in strengthening protected and conserved area systems by sharing global expertise and applying science-based standards, best practices, and tools such as the IUCN Green List and other global knowledge resources. Effectively and equitably managed protected and conserved areas are essential not only for biodiversity conservation, but also for sustaining livelihoods, human well-being, and resilience to global challenges,” she added.

The seminar is also supported by IUCN in its role as the official CBD Subregional Technical and Scientific Cooperation (TSC) Support Centre for Central Asia. TSC centres are designed to accelerate the implementation of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework by enabling countries to access tailored scientific knowledge, tools, expert support, and capacity-building opportunities.

By strengthening regional and national capacities, fostering innovation and technology transfer, and mobilizing technical and financial resources, these centres facilitate demand-driven cooperation aligned with national and regional priorities to deliver tangible biodiversity outcomes.

For reference, the seminar is funded with financial support from the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection of Germany through the International Climate Initiative (IKI) and the 1Health4Nature project — “Enhancing landscape resilience to zoonotic disease emergence by strengthening nature conservation systems in Central Asia” — as well as with support from the Republic of Korea through the Peace and Biodiversity Dialogue Initiative, the Office Français de la Biodiversité  and the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People.