Draft Law on Forestry Considered by the Legislative Chamber
2026-07-14 19:50:00 / News
Addressing the session, Erkin Mukhiddinov, Director of the Forestry Agency under the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan, emphasized that in recent years the country has consistently implemented comprehensive measures to ensure environmental sustainability, conserve biodiversity, protect and expand forests, promote the rational use of natural resources, and mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change.
“This draft law introduces two important amendments to the Land Code. First, a clarification is made to Part Six of Article 9 of the Land Code, removing the authority of regional and Tashkent City khokims to transfer forest fund lands to another land category, alongside agricultural lands,” Mr. Mukhiddinov stated. “Second, Article 76 of the Code is supplemented with a new provision stipulating that forest fund lands are subject to special protection, and their transfer to another land category may be carried out only on the basis of an order issued by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. This provision will significantly strengthen the legal protection of forest fund lands, ensure a unified state approach to making such important decisions, and enhance legal certainty and consistency in law enforcement practice.”
It was noted that the draft law is intended to improve the legal framework supporting the large-scale reforms being implemented in the forestry sector.
Previously, the transfer of forest fund lands to another land category was carried out in accordance with the Regulation approved by a resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers.
Under the proposed amendments, the procedure for transferring forest fund lands to another land category will now be guaranteed and regulated directly by law. To ensure the special protection of forest fund lands, the draft law introduces amendments to the Land Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan stipulating that such transfers may only be carried out on the basis of a document issued by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
The draft law also includes additional amendments and provisions aimed at strengthening the legal protection of forest fund lands.
The adoption of this draft law will help ensure the preservation of forest fund lands, strengthen legal guarantees for their designated and rational use, establish a solid legal foundation for environmental sustainability and biodiversity conservation, and improve the effectiveness of state oversight in the protection of forest fund lands.
The draft law was approved by the deputies in its first reading.