Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- As part of the Seventh EU-Central Asia High-Level Conference on Environment and Water Resources, taking place on 23-24 February in Rome, a meeting was organized between the Minister of Natural Resources of the Republic of Uzbekistan Aziz Abdukhakimov and the First Deputy Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Thomas Laurent. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Natural Resources.

FAO ongoing joint projects aimed at increasing adaptation to climate change, combating land degradation, loss of crops and biodiversity were discussed.

The First Deputy General Director of the organization stressed that in recent years Uzbekistan has been making a worthy contribution to the development of important initiatives and documents in the region, proactive participation in the implementation of grant projects with the involvement of the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

At present, 5 projects are being implemented jointly with FAO for a total of US$25.2 million financed by the GEF.

Also, he welcomed the initiative of the country’s leadership to mitigate the consequences of the ecological catastrophe of the Aral Sea.

The UN side noted the readiness to provide assistance for the implementation of the project aimed at the conservation of biodiversity and sustainable management of plant genetic resources in accordance with the Cartagena Protocol.

An agreement was reached to advance a project application in the amount of US$6.4 million to attract GEF grant funds under the 8th funding cycle (2022-2026).

At the same time, the parties emphasized the interest in cooperation in the implementation of projects from the global allocation of the GEF, on transboundary water resources management, as well as the safe management of persistent organic pollutants (POPs).

The delegation visited the thematic lounge area "Uzbekistan" at the FAO headquarters. In turn, T. Laurent highly appreciated the creation of a traditional and at the same time modern Uzbek hall in the FAO building, calling it one of the most favorite places among employees.

At the end of the meeting, FAO representatives were invited to the upcoming high-level UN events to combat desertification and drought, as well as the conservation of migratory species of wild animals, which will be held this autumn in the city of Samarkand.