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

This is stipulated by Resolution No. 153 of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan, "On additional measures for expanding the territories of state reserves and national natural parks", dated March 10, 2025.

According to the document, the territory of the Nurata State Reserve will be increased to 4265,97 hectares through the annexation of 1173,1 hectares of reserve land in the Farish district, 270 hectares of the Farish State Forestry, 1657,41 hectares of land from the Pangat section of the Committee for Veterinary and Livestock Development in the Kushrabat district of the Samarkand region, and 1165,46 hectares of land from the Khalkabad section of the Payarik district.
 As a result, the total area of the reserve has reached 22017,97 hectares.

Additionally, the territory of the Zarafshan National Natural Park will be expanded to 2807,61 hectares through the annexation of 275,58 hectares of reserve land in the Bulungur district, 42.34 hectares of the Jambay State Forestry, 278,78 hectares of the Urgut Specialized State Forestry, 262,1 hectares of the Dargom State Forestry Production Enterprise in the Taylak district, 1808,79 hectares of reserve land in the Taylak district, and 140,02 hectares of reserve land in the Jambay district. As a result, the park's total area has reached 5234,01 hectares.

The territory of the Surkhan State Reserve has been increased by 249 hectares through the annexation of land from the Kizirik State Forestry in the Sherabad district of the Surkhandarya region, bringing its total area to 24 051 hectares.

Additionally, 17 145,2 hectares of land from the Nurata State Reserve and 16 446 hectares of land from the Surkhan State Reserve have been designated as buffer zones.

This resolution will contribute to improving the effectiveness of protecting rare plant and animal species by expanding the area of protected natural areas.

For reference: As a result of efforts in recent years to restore ecosystems and preserve biodiversity, the total area of protected natural areas has increased to 14.1% of the country's total land area.

It is worth noting that buffer zones for two state reserves, with a total area of 61 359,89 hectares, had previously been designated.