Recommendations for mitigating land degradation and desertification
1. Strengthening measures for sustainable land management:
-
Development of programs to combat desertification, soil erosion and their restoration.
-
The use of innovative technologies to restore soils and prevent erosion.
2. Expansion of environmental protection and forest restoration programs:
-
Continuation of afforestation initiatives, especially in regions prone to desertification (the Aral region, etc.).
-
Attracting private investment and international support for reforestation projects.
3. Improving the resilience of agriculture to climate change:
-
Development of agroforestry and sustainable agricultural practices, including drip irrigation and crop rotation.
-
Supporting farmers in developing sustainable agricultural technologies.
4. Improving the water resource system:
-
Increasing the efficiency of water use in agriculture, introducing modern irrigation systems.
-
Expanding access to safe drinking water in rural areas.
5. International cooperation and funding:
-
Attracting additional financial and technological resources through partnerships with international organizations (GEF, UNEP, FAO).
-
Development of programs for the exchange of experience and transfer of environmentally sustainable technologies.
6. Development of educational and information programs:
Government plans to restore and combat these problems
1. Development and implementation of national programs and action plans:
-
Uzbekistan has developed a national action program aimed at preventing.
-
desertification and mitigating its consequences.
-
The Presidential Resolution of June 10, 2022 provides for the creation of an effective land resources management system, including the development of mechanisms for economic incentives for measures to reduce desertification and climate change.
2. Restoration of degraded lands and greening:
-
In response to environmental and economic problems associated with land degradation, Uzbekistan has initiated landscape restoration projects by planting native tree and shrub species, particularly in the area of the dried-up Aral Sea bed.
3. International cooperation and initiatives:
-
In December 2024, at the 16th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, an initiative by Uzbekistan was adopted - the Samarkand Declaration, calling on countries to integrate strategies to combat sand and dust storms into national plans and develop early warning systems.
-
Uzbekistan strengthens partnership with IFAD to combat land degradation and desertification, including development of desert technologies and sustainable land management.
4. Scientific research and implementation of innovative methods:
-
Together with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), a road map is being developed to combat desertification and drought, including modern methods and approaches to sustainable land management.
-
Scientists from the Institute of Soil Science and Agrochemical Research have developed a set of measures aimed at preventing land degradation, including increasing the humus content in soils and introducing drip irrigation methods.
Conducted events
As part of Uzbekistan’s designation of 2025 as the Year of Environmental Protection and a Green Economy, a number of major events were held to promote the national and regional environmental agenda and sustainable development goals.
On 4–5 April 2025, the city of Samarkand hosted the High-Level Conference on Climate Change: “Central Asia in the Face of Global Climate Challenges: Consolidation for Common Prosperity”, which brought together international organizations, government officials, and scientific experts. Preceding the conference, the First EU–Central Asia Summit took place on 3–4 April, gathering high-level participants from the region and the European Union.
A key focus of the events was the ongoing implementation of the national initiative “Yashil Makon” (“Green Nation”), launched by the President of Uzbekistan in 2021. The program envisions the planting of one billion tree and shrub saplings across Uzbekistan by 2026, contributing to reforestation efforts, desertification mitigation, and environmental sustainability.
From 5 to 9 April 2025, Tashkent hosted the 150th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). On the margins of the Assembly, a joint side event was organized by the Government of Uzbekistan and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), and participants were offered a visit to the Aral Sea region.
Other key events included as part of Uzbekistan’s designation of 2025 as the Year of Environmental Protection and a Green Economy, the country is set to host several key events focused on advancing sustainable development and international environmental cooperation.
One of the most anticipated events is the ECO EXPO Central Asia, scheduled to take place in June 2025 in Tashkent. The exhibition will serve as a platform for showcasing innovative solutions and technologies in green economy, sustainable resource management, and environmental protection.
Additionally, Uzbekistan will host the 20th Conference of the Parties (COP20) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The conference will be held in November–December 2025 in Samarkand, marking the first time a CITES COP will be hosted in Central Asia. Representatives from over 180 countries, along with major international conservation organizations, are expected to attend.
