Mirziyoyev Approves Strategy to Combat Desertification Until 2030

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed a presentation of proposals aimed at combating desertification, developing a desert economy, and introducing "green city" principles. The presented initiatives provide for large-scale environmental projects spanning 2026–2030, as well as the creation of the Green Samarkand sustainable urban development model in Samarkand.

During the presentation, it was noted that climate change, shrinking water resources, land degradation, and desertification remain among the key environmental challenges for the country. Around 80% of the territory of Uzbekistan is occupied by desert and semi-desert zones, with Karakalpakstan, Bukhara, Navoi, and Khorezm regions, as well as certain districts of Kashkadarya, Surkhandarya, and Jizzakh regions, being the most vulnerable.

Special attention was paid to the consequences of the drying up of the Aral Sea. It was reported that more than 2 million hectares of new forest plantations have been created on the dried bed in recent years. In addition, over 1 billion trees and shrubs have been planted across the country under the "Yashil Makon" nationwide project, increasing the green coverage level from 8% in 2020 to 14.3% in 2025.

In the next phase, which spans 2026–2030, plans include creating and restoring forests on an area of 1.27 million hectares, establishing 16,000 hectares of protective forest plantations in desert, mountainous, and foothill areas, creating green zones across 10,000 hectares in the Surkhandarya region, and forming an 84-kilometer "green wall" in the border areas of the Syrdarya region. Testing of modern agricultural technologies on degraded lands is also envisioned.

The president emphasized that desert territories should be viewed not only as an environmental problem but also as a source of new economic opportunities. In this regard, it was proposed to develop a "desert economy," including the establishment of nurseries for desert plants, cultivation of halophytes, development of seed production, enhancement of pasture productivity, and the expansion of livestock breeding, ecological tourism, and scientific research.

Among the initiatives are the creation of nurseries for desert plants in Karakalpakstan, conducting scientific expeditions to the dried bed of the Aral Sea, developing pistachio plantations in Babatag, expanding the network of halophyte gardens, forming a regional bank of drought-resistant plants and seeds, and attracting international funds and private investments.

A separate block of the presentation focused on developing environmental cooperation with Central Asian countries. It was proposed to expand the activities of the Central Asian Regional Research Center for Combating Desertification and Developing the Desert Economy, increase the number of practical projects under the "Green Shield" program, and draft a regional strategy to combat desertification until 2040.

The president was also presented with the Green Samarkand concept, which envisions transforming Samarkand into a model of an environmentally sustainable and climate-resilient city in Central Asia. By 2030, plans aim to reduce atmospheric emissions of potential pollutants by 51,200 tons, decrease the concentration of PM2.5 and PM10 particles by 50%, reduce construction dust by 80%, cut motor vehicle emissions by 50%, halve the volume of waste sent to landfills, and bring the share of green zones in populated areas to an average of 30%.

To implement the project, the "Yashil Samarkand" project office will be established to coordinate activities in urban planning, ecology, transport, construction, industry, tourism, and public utilities. A special ecological and urban planning regime will be introduced in the city with mandatory "green building" requirements for new and reconstructed facilities, providing for the use of energy- and water-saving technologies, waste sorting and recycling systems, and compliance with environmental standards when commissioning facilities.

In the transport sector, the plan includes purchasing 50 high-capacity electric buses, installing 150 new traffic lights, gradually transitioning public transport and taxis to electric vehicles by 2030, introducing the Park & Ride system, creating pedestrian tourist zones, and gradually restricting the entry of private vehicles into the central part of the city.

The project also involves creating at least four artificial lakes and reservoirs in Samarkand, building ten new fountains, restoring a system of irrigation ditches with a total length of 319 kilometers, and forming a protective "green belt" along the New Large Ring Road spanning 102.7 kilometers and covering 3,532 hectares.

Additionally, provisions are made for establishing the 300-hectare Green City Samarkand district, developing a "green industrial zone" with the introduction of modern environmental technologies, relocating eight industrial enterprises of the first and second categories outside the city, implementing the Zero Waste Samarkand concept, deploying digital platforms for monitoring the environmental situation and financing climate projects, and establishing programs to develop biodiversity and ecological tourism.

Following the presentation, Shavkat Mirziyoyev approved the submitted proposals and instructed responsible agencies to ensure their implementation, with a particular focus on combating desertification, rationally utilizing land and water resources, strengthening environmental requirements in urban planning policy, and forming a favorable environment for the population.