Land Restoration Investment Initiatives Presented at COP17

On 24 August 2026, the side event “From Investment to Impact” was held at the Uzbekistan National Pavilion on the margins of the 17th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP17). The discussion explored practical ways to mobilize investment for degraded land restoration, strengthen climate resilience and bring successful environmental solutions to scale.

The event featured Aziz Abdukhakimov, Adviser to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Environmental Issues and Chair of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change; Dr Tarifa Alzaabi, Director General of the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA); Professor Bakhtiyor Pulatov, Rector of the Central Asian University of Environmental and Climate Change Studies (Green University); and Dr Marguba Rejapova, Postdoctoral Researcher at ICBA CAC.

A project supporting resilient agricultural production on degraded land in Karakalpakstan was presented as an example of how targeted financing can generate lasting results. Implemented in 2023 by the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change in partnership with ICBA, the initiative received USD 5.1 million from the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development.

The initial investment financed three demonstration sites, trials of climate-resilient crops, and the development of improved approaches to soil, water and agricultural production management. The solutions were subsequently expanded: between 2025 and 2026, the programme reached an additional 4,144 farmers across all 15 districts of Karakalpakstan, while more than 20.9 tonnes of quality seeds were produced and distributed.

Participants stressed that the next stage should go beyond extending individual projects. It should establish a structured pipeline of well-designed initiatives capable of attracting further public and private investment.

One of the proposals was to establish the Central Asian Center for Biosaline Agriculture and Climate Resilience (CABACRH) at Green University. The center would connect field implementation with laboratory research, professional training and the practical application of technologies.

The proposed infrastructure would include a USD 5 million spirulina research laboratory supporting studies of microalgae, water resources and salinity. The facility could also provide hands-on training for students, researchers and farmers.

Another initiative presented at the event was the Drylands Project Lab at Green University. It would help transform environmental ideas into investment-ready projects by developing baselines, budgets, environmental and social safeguards, key performance indicators and suitable financing models. Its first international cohort is proposed for 2027, bringing together specialists from Central Asia, Mongolia and other dryland regions.

Participants also considered the development of a Regional Land Restoration Quality Standard supported by a monitoring, reporting and verification system (MRV). The proposed framework would measure more than the total area restored. It would also assess vegetation recovery, soil condition, water balance, land productivity and socioeconomic benefits. An initial pilot phase covering five to ten restoration projects was proposed.

To strengthen the regional pipeline of financeable initiatives, the establishment of a Central Asia Land Project Preparation Center was also discussed. The center could support feasibility studies, baseline development, MRV design, environmental and social safeguards, economic analysis and financial structuring.

Projects prepared through this mechanism could subsequently be submitted to existing sources of finance, including the Global Environment Facility, the Green Climate Fund, international financial institutions, bilateral partners and private investors.

Professor Bakhtiyor Pulatov and Dr Marguba Rejapova also presented opportunities to expand scientific and institutional capacity, knowledge exchange, professional training, and cooperation with farmers and national institutions. Particular attention was given to the partnership between Green University and ICBA and to AquaBio Lab as a platform for research, innovation and technology development.

The discussion concluded with a central principle: every successful investment should prepare the ground for the next one by generating credible evidence, strengthening capacity, spreading effective technologies and building a pipeline of projects ready for financing.

📌 Source: National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan.