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

Speaking at the event, Erkin Mukhitdinov, Director of the Agency for Increasing Forests and Green Areas and Combating Desertification under the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, noted that the scale of land degradation requires a systematic approach. According to him, approximately 30 million hectares of Uzbekistan’s territory consist of natural desert and arid landscapes, more than 11 million hectares are already classified as degraded, and around 70% of the country’s territory is at risk of desertification.

“Restoration cannot be based on fragmented measures. We need solutions that are scientifically sound, technologically tested, measurable and scalable,” he stressed.

Particular attention during the meeting was given to international scientific cooperation. Uzbekistan, together with Chinese research institutions, including the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, is implementing projects in ecosystem restoration, combating desertification, developing halophyte gardens, introducing drought- and salt-tolerant plant species, environmental monitoring and the sustainable management of water resources.

In November 2025, the Uzbek-Chinese Research Centre for Ecology and Environment of Central Asia was also established in Tashkent, providing a platform for further scientific research and practical cooperation.

During the event, Uzbekistan put forward a number of initiatives aimed at moving from individual research projects towards joint regional technology programmes. These include establishing a Central Asian–North Asian Laboratory for Dryland Technologies and Projects, developing a regional standard for assessing the quality of land restoration and an MRV (Measurement, Reporting and Verification) system, as well as launching a joint programme on sustainable pasture management and community development.

Under such projects, technologies for sand stabilisation, pasture restoration, the use of drought- and salt-tolerant plant species, precision water management, as well as digital and satellite-based monitoring are expected to be tested.
Uzbekistan also expressed its readiness to provide pilot sites in Karakalpakstan, Bukhara, Navoi and other arid regions for testing and demonstrating advanced land restoration technologies.

Participants emphasised that bringing together the experience of Uzbekistan, Mongolia, China and other countries would enable a shift from local research to the joint development of technologies, from pilot projects to large-scale implementation, and from restoring degraded land to building a resilient and productive economy in arid regions.