Cairo: Hani Kamal El-Din
At the International Climate Forum held in Samarkand on April 4–5, the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of Uzbekistan, together with the World Bank, officially launched the ambitious project “Restoration of Resilient Landscapes in Uzbekistan.” The initiative is backed by $153 million in concessional financing from the World Bank, with a 30-year repayment term.
The project is part of a broader regional program aimed at restoring forests and degraded lands across Central Asia. In Uzbekistan, it will focus on six key regions: Jizzakh, Kashkadarya, Namangan, Samarkand, Surkhandarya, and Syrdarya. These areas have been significantly affected by land degradation, desertification, and climate vulnerability.
Objectives and Scope
The initiative seeks to restore degraded lands, improve forest coverage, promote eco-tourism, and support local businesses. Its primary goals include:
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Rehabilitating degraded lands using afforestation strategies such as agroforestry, forest plantations, fruit orchards, and silvopastoral systems.
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Supporting farmers through financial and educational assistance to establish small and medium-sized enterprises focused on sustainable natural resource management.
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Enhancing the governance of protected areas and forest reserves.
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Developing eco-tourism infrastructure like visitor centers, administrative hubs, campgrounds, picnic areas, and hiking trails in protected zones.
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Creating Uzbekistan’s first centralized forestry database and an integrated digital communication platform for the Forestry Agency.
Implementation and Management
The Forestry Agency, under the Ministry of Ecology, will be in charge of implementing the project. It will carry out large-scale rehabilitation of degraded lands across the six regions. These activities are expected to generate short-term jobs for local communities involved in reforestation and greening initiatives.
Minister of Ecology Aziz Abdukhakimov highlighted that planting trees on degraded lands will increase landscape resilience, improve living conditions, and provide employment. He stated that the project aligns with the national Forestry Development Concept of Uzbekistan, aiming to expand the country’s forest area to 6.1 million hectares by 2030.
Integration into the RESILAND CA+ Program
World Bank Regional Director for Central Asia Tatiana Proskuryakova noted that the new project will enable Uzbekistan to actively participate in the RESILAND CA+ program (Resilient Landscapes in Central Asia), which is designed to strengthen climate resilience in both urban and rural areas.
Current Forest Coverage and Legislative Backing
According to the Ministry of Ecology, Uzbekistan currently has 4.4 million hectares of forested land under the administration of the Forestry Agency, comprising 10.6% of the nation’s total area. The project also follows the Presidential Decree of March 27, 2024, titled “On Measures to Implement the Project on the Restoration of Resilient Forest Landscapes in Uzbekistan with the Participation of the International Development Association.”
The decree outlines various interventions:
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Natural forest regeneration across 176,000 hectares
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Restoration of 38,500 hectares of pastures
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Implementation of water-saving technologies and erosion control in 15,000 hectares of mountain forests
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Agroforestry reclamation on 14,200 hectares
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Establishment of industrial forest plantations over 5,000 hectares
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Cultivation of medicinal plant plantations on an additional 5,000 hectares
Scientific Collaboration
During the project presentation, a memorandum of cooperation was signed between the Forestry Agency and Green University. This partnership will promote scientific research in the field of forestry and provide an academic foundation for sustainable land management practices.
The initiative is expected to become a milestone in Uzbekistan’s climate and environmental policy, setting an example for the region in long-term resilience building and green economic transformation.
