Sustainably managed forests and pastures play a critical role in preventing soil erosion, restoring degraded lands and strengthening ecosystem resilience. In mountainous areas of Uzbekistan, the restoration of tree and shrub cover and controlled grazing practices help stabilize slopes, protect water resources and improve livelihoods for local communities.
These efforts are implemented under the Resilient Landscape Restoration Project in Uzbekistan (RESILAND Uzbekistan), which aims to support the natural regeneration of forest and pasture ecosystems.
Key areas of intervention
The project focuses on:
restoration of pasturelands;
anti-erosion measures in mountain forests;
protection of restoration sites from uncontrolled access and livestock grazing.
While these measures deliver long-term environmental benefits, they may result in temporary restrictions on access to natural resources, potentially affecting local livelihoods.
Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM): ensuring fairness and inclusion
To address these risks, the project is establishing a Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) that allows affected communities to voice concerns, seek solutions and receive fair consideration. The GRM is a core requirement of the World Bank and ensures that project benefits reach local populations.
Capacity building and implementation
Training sessions were conducted in six project regions—Syrdarya, Jizzakh, Samarkand, Surkhandarya, Kashkadarya and Navoi—to prepare local institutions and communities for the operation of the GRM.
Participants were informed about:
complaint submission and review procedures;
multiple grievance channels, including written, verbal, email, Telegram and phone-based submissions;
dispute resolution mechanisms;
timelines for grievance handling.
Complaint boxes have been installed in all participating forest enterprises and are checked regularly. An anonymous contact centre has also been established, and over 300 forestry staff have been trained in grievance handling procedures in line with World Bank standards.
Why GRM matters
An effective GRM:
strengthens social equity and trust;
enables early identification and resolution of conflicts;
enhances community acceptance and participation;
ensures compliance with international environmental and social standards;
supports community-centered forest restoration, including access to alternative livelihood options.
Next steps
To further raise awareness, information banners on the GRM will be installed in all project-supported forest enterprises, national parks and hunting areas.
📌 Source: Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC)
