Ministry of Ecology, environmental protection and climate change of the Republic of Uzbekistan

The event was attended by Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection  and Climate Change Aziz Abdukhakimov, UN Resident Coordinator Sabine Machl, Deputy Minister of Agriculture Qahramon Yuldashev, Project Technical Officer Feras Ziadat and other officials.

This five-year project, with a budget of $3.8 million allocated by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), aims to support national efforts in promoting sustainable land and forest management and restore landscapes to fulfill Uzbekistan’s commitments to Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN).

"Today, land degradation caused by soil erosion, desertification, sand and dust storms and other natural and human-induced factors poses a serious environmental challenge. Nearly 2 million hectares (45%) of irrigated land are affected by secondary salinization, while 800,000 hectares face problems related to water erosion. In response to these challenges, with the support of the head of state, Uzbekistan is implementing large-scale reforms, including the nationwide "Yashil Makon" (Green Nation) initiative, the creation of over 2 million hectares of green areas in the Aral Sea region and other projects," said A. Abdukhakimov. 

The minister also noted that, in collaboration with international and donor organizations, a number of projects are being carried out to combat land degradation, prevent desertification, conserve biodiversity and adapt to climate change.

Sabine Machl emphasized that the year 2025 in Uzbekistan has been declared by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev as the "Year of Environmental Protection and "Green" Economy."

"Land degradation is a global issue linked to climate change and Uzbekistan is undertaking various efforts in this area. This workshop will provide an opportunity to outline future actions and further strengthen mutual cooperation," said Sabine Machl

The main components of the project include strengthening institutional frameworks, promoting sustainable land management to improve soil health, empowering local communities and enhancing climate resilience. As part of the seminar, the report "Sand and Dust Storms in Uzbekistan: Atmospheric Modeling to Understand Impacts and Mitigation" was also presented. The document, prepared by the International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA) and based on RAMS/ICLAMS system data, analyzes the causes of dust storms and proposes solutions for their mitigation.

By the end of the project, it is expected to restore 13,000 hectares of degraded land, ensure the sustainable management of 225,000 hectares of land resources, improve the condition of pastures and forest lands while enhancing biodiversity, increase farmers’ incomes through the development of dairy production, beekeeping and medicinal plant cultivation, reduce CO₂ emissions by 6.1 million tons, strengthen governance mechanisms for sustainable land use, and implement gender-sensitive strategies to involve women in environmentally sustainable agriculture. This project represents a significant step towards preserving Uzbekistan’s ecosystems and enhancing their resilience to climate change.