Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Green areas and comfortable spaces for walking are being expanded in Uzbekistan’s mahallas as part of the nationwide Yashil Makon project. One such initiative is being implemented in the Saykal mahalla of Samarkand, where sidewalks are gradually being transformed into shaded walking streets.
The project envisages planting 550 trees and shrubs and landscaping an area stretching about 700 meters. The initiative is expected to create a more comfortable microclimate for residents, particularly during hot periods.
As a result of the landscaping, the surface temperature of the ground in the area is expected to fall from 43°C to 35°C, while the temperature of the asphalt surface is projected to decline from 48°C to 39°C.
The creation of shaded walking streets is part of broader efforts to develop green infrastructure in populated areas across the country. Under the State Programme for implementing the Uzbekistan–2030 Strategy during the Year of Environmental Protection and Green Economy, a network of such streets is planned along major sidewalks used by residents.
According to specialists, expanding green areas and creating shaded pedestrian routes can help reduce air pollution by 5–10% and lower air temperatures along sidewalks by 3–5°C. Such spaces can also create more favorable conditions for walking and increasing physical activity among residents.
The 3–30–300 principle in urban environments
Increasing attention is being paid to the 3–30–300 principle in landscaping, an approach used in modern urban environmental planning.
Under the principle, every person should be able to see at least three large trees from their home. The presence of greenery within the immediate visual environment is considered one factor that can help reduce stress and improve the quality of the urban environment.
The second indicator calls for at least 30% of a mahalla or district to be covered by trees. This level of greenery helps provide shade, improve air quality and reduce the urban heat island effect.
The third benchmark calls for access to green space, with every residential building located no more than 300 meters from the nearest park, public garden or other green area. This corresponds to roughly a five-minute walk and creates conditions for regular walking, physical activity and social interaction among residents.
Yashil Makon as a long-term greening initiative
The nationwide Yashil Makon project has been implemented in Uzbekistan since 2021 at the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan. Under the project, at least 200 million fruit and ornamental trees and shrubs are planted annually during the spring and autumn seasons.
The project now goes beyond simply planting trees. New green spaces are being created, mahalla areas are being improved and pedestrian routes are being developed to help improve the microclimate in populated areas.
The example of Saykal mahalla in Samarkand demonstrates how a large-scale environmental initiative is gradually being translated into specific projects that directly affect residents’ daily lives.
The development of green infrastructure, creation of shaded streets and expansion of landscaped areas are viewed as important tools for increasing the resilience of cities to heat and other effects of climate change, as well as creating a more comfortable and healthy urban environment.
