Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan is set to establish a Digital Forestry Center, a new government institution that will play a key role in implementing measures for the efficient management of forest resources and combating desertification.

This initiative is outlined in the Presidential decree "On Measures to Organize the Activities of the Agency for Afforestation and Expansion of Green Zones, and the Fight Against Desertification."

According to the document, the main targets for the effective use of forest fund resources include restoring and creating forests over an area of 1.5 million hectares by 2030, as well as organizing plantations of medicinal, food, and aromatic plants on 3,800 hectares. Additionally, the plan calls for the harvesting of 9,200 tons of tree and shrub seeds and the cultivation of 919 million seedlings and saplings. During 2025–2026, it is planned to plant tree and shrub seedlings using the "terrace" method across 500 hectares in mountainous and foothill areas.

The new Digital Forestry Center will be established on the basis of the state unitary enterprise “Urmonthechnoservice” and will operate as a subdivision of the Agency for Afforestation and Expansion of Green Zones, and the Fight Against Desertification. It will serve as the sole operator of the information platform "Smart Forestry," which will provide digitalization of forest resource management processes and enable real-time monitoring of their condition.

The Center will facilitate effective forest management through the application of modern technologies, including artificial intelligence and integrated information systems, allowing for improved quality and timeliness of decision-making in this sector.