Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change of Uzbekistan has submitted applications to include nine unique trees in the MonumentalTrees.com international registry, which brings together natural monuments from around the world.

The new list of nominees includes:

Five century-old elms from the Chimbay district of the Republic of Karakalpakstan (over 100 years old);

A mulberry tree in the city of Jizzakh, Jizzakh region (over 200 years old);

A mulberry tree in the city of Kattakurgan, Samarkand region (250–300 years old);

A plane tree in the Narpay district of Samarkand region (450 years old);

A plane tree in the Payarik district of the same region, over 1,000 years old.

For reference, trees from Uzbekistan that were previously included in the MonumentalTrees.com registry are:

Eastern arborvitae in the Forish district of Jizzakh region (1,500 years old);

A plane tree in the Urgut district of Samarkand region (1,160 years old);

A juniper (1,000 years old), a hazel (800 years old), and a plane tree (600 years old) in the Bostanlyk district of Tashkent region;

A plane tree in the village of Sayrob, Baysun district, Surkhandarya region (900 years old);

A plane tree in the Dorus-Saodat memorial complex in Shahrisabz city (700 years old);

A hazel tree in Boboyongok, Zaamin National Nature Park, Jizzakh region (700 years old).

Uzbekistan has become the first Central Asian country to have its natural monuments included in the international MonumentalTrees.com registry and the third in the CIS after Russia and Azerbaijan. This highlights the importance of preserving the country's unique natural heritage and promotes its international recognition.