Uzbekistan presents forest initiatives at the UN forum

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The delegation of the Republic of Uzbekistan participated in the 21st session of the United Nations Forum on Forests held in New York.

The delegation included Presidential Advisor on environmental issues and Chairman of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change Aziz Abdukhakimov, as well as Uzbekistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ulugbek Lapasov.

The forum brought together delegations from UN member states, ministers, heads of specialized agencies and international organizations, as well as representatives of environmental conventions. Participants discussed key areas of global forest policy, including the implementation of the UN Strategic Plan for Forests, preparation of the Global Forests Report 2026, and integration of the forest sector into climate and water agendas.

Speaking at the opening of the forum, Aziz Abdukhakimov emphasized the role of forests in combating desertification and climate change, noting the consequences of the drying of the Aral Sea and the formation of the Aralkum desert.

He also highlighted Uzbekistan’s large-scale greening efforts under the national program “Yashil Makon,” under which more than 1 billion trees have been planted over the past five years. According to him, the country’s green coverage has increased from 8% to 14%, with a target of reaching 30% by 2030.

A joint initiative by Uzbekistan and the Republic of the Congo was also presented, proposing the declaration of 2027–2036 as the “Decade of Action on Afforestation and Reforestation” under the auspices of the United Nations.

The proposal also includes the development of a global forest restoration roadmap, expanded cooperation in combating desertification, the introduction of drought-resistant plant species, and the creation of early warning systems for dust and sand storms.

In addition, a regional initiative by Central Asian countries titled “Green Shield” was presented, aiming to establish transboundary forest areas covering a total of 1.5 million hectares by 2035.

A special side event was also organized within the forum with participation from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the International Union for Conservation of Nature. It focused on nature-based solutions for forest restoration, water security, and climate resilience.

During the event, Uzbekistan’s environmental reforms were presented to international partners, including programs such as “Yashil Makon,” “Bionaсlediye,” “Clean Air,” “Zero Waste Territory,” and “Eco Culture,” aimed at restoring degraded land, combating desertification, expanding green areas, and preserving biodiversity.