Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) —
Article Title:
Description:
Keywords: Uzbekistan, IUCN, land restoration, ecosystem restoration, Kashkadarya, Khorezm, Karakalpakstan, FOLUR-Uzbekistan, FAO, environmental protection
Article text:
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has completed an assessment of land and ecosystem restoration opportunities in Kashkadarya and Khorezm regions and the Republic of Karakalpakstan.
The findings will help identify priority areas and develop practical measures to restore landscapes, taking into account environmental conditions and the needs of local communities.
The work was carried out under the FOLUR-Uzbekistan project, which aims to transform food systems, improve land use and restore degraded land. The project is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in cooperation with national institutions and international partners.
For the assessment, IUCN applied the Restoration Opportunities Assessment Methodology (ROAM), developed jointly with the World Resources Institute (WRI). The methodology combines spatial and scientific analysis, field observations, economic factors and local community knowledge.
The study identified several challenges affecting land and ecosystems, including soil erosion, pasture degradation, water shortages, pressure on protected areas and biodiversity, and risks to rural livelihoods.
As part of the assessment, specialists conducted field studies, regional workshops and consultations with farmers, livestock breeders, local residents, forestry and protected-area staff, government representatives and other stakeholders.
Local community participation helped identify areas requiring priority attention, develop restoration proposals and validate the study’s findings against residents’ practical experience.
The completed ROAM report will serve as a basis for developing and implementing specific land restoration projects and nature-based solutions. Separate infographics have also been prepared for each of the three regions, outlining the main environmental challenges, potential restoration measures and expected outcomes.
The materials are intended to support further discussions among government institutions, project partners, protected-area managers, local communities and potential private-sector participants.
Land restoration is expected to strengthen ecosystems, improve the resilience of agricultural landscapes and support local livelihoods amid water shortages and climate change.
