Forests to be created on 1.27 million hectares in Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan plans to create and restore forests on 1.27 million hectares and establish 16,000 hectares of protective forests in desert, mountain and foothill areas in 2026-2030. This was discussed today, July 6, during a presentation to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on proposals to combat desertification, develop the desert economy, and introduce “green city” principles in urban areas.

It was noted that climate change, water scarcity, land degradation and desertification are becoming urgent environmental challenges for the entire region. These issues directly affect agricultural sustainability, food security, public health and the economic development of regions.

Nearly 80% of the country’s territory consists of desert and semi-desert areas. Soil salinization, shifting sands, dust storms and hot dry winds pose serious risks, especially in the Republic of Karakalpakstan, Bukhara, Navoi and Khorezm regions, as well as in some districts of Kashkadarya, Surkhandarya and Jizzakh regions.

The drying up of the Aral Sea has further intensified this process. The Aralkum Desert has formed on the dried seabed, and salt and dust rising into the air are spreading across vast areas. Therefore, work continues consistently to create green cover and plant saxaul and other desert plants in the Aral Sea region. In recent years, more than 2 million hectares of new forests have been established on the dried bed of the Aral Sea.

Large-scale work is also being carried out under the nationwide Yashil Makon project. More than 1 billion tree and shrub seedlings have been planted across the country, and the level of greening increased from 8% in 2020 to 14.3% in 2025. Work is continuing to create green cover and protective forests in the Aral Sea region, border areas and drought-prone territories.

The presentation reviewed proposals to take desertification control efforts to a new stage in 2026-2030. In particular, it is planned to create and restore forests on 1.27 million hectares and establish 16,000 hectares of protective forests in desert, mountain and foothill areas.

It was proposed to create green cover on 10,000 hectares in Surkhandarya region, establish an 84-kilometer “green wall” in the border areas of Sirdarya region, plant trees and shrubs using the terrace method in mountain and foothill areas, and test modern agricultural technologies on degraded lands.

The head of state emphasized the need to view desert areas not only as an environmental problem, but also as a source of new economic opportunities. For this purpose, the importance of developing a “desert economy” approach, creating sustainable sources of income on virgin and saline lands, establishing seed production and nurseries for desert plants, growing halophyte plants, increasing pasture productivity, and expanding livestock farming, eco-tourism and scientific research was highlighted.

In this regard, proposals were made to establish nurseries for desert plants in Karakalpakstan, conduct scientific expeditions on the dried bed of the Aral Sea, develop pistachio plantations in the Bobotog area using modern methods, and expand the network of halophyte gardens. Issues related to creating a regional bank of drought-resistant plants and seeds, as well as attracting international funds and private investment, were also discussed.

The presentation paid special attention to strengthening environmental cooperation with Central Asian countries. It was emphasized that desertification and land degradation are cross-border problems, and therefore a unified regional approach, scientific cooperation, data exchange and technology transfer are important in combating them.

In this regard, initiatives were put forward to expand the activities of the Central Asian Regional Research Center for Combating Desertification and Developing the Desert Economy, increase practical projects under the regional Green Shield program, and develop a strategy to combat desertification until 2040.

Earlier, it was reported that the Green Samarkand model would be launched in Samarkand region and that private vehicle access to the regional center would be gradually reduced.