BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 9. Uzbekistan and the
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
agreed to advance projects on land restoration, water management,
desertification control and sustainable urban development during a
meeting in Samarkand on Oct. 7.
This was reflected in the statement by the National Committee on
Ecology and Climate Change of Uzbekistan, following a meeting
between Committee Chairman Aziz Abduhakimov and FAO
Director-General Qu Dongyu to discuss expanding cooperation on
environmental protection, climate financing, forest restoration,
soil conservation and chemical safety.
"Aziz Abduhakimov stressed the need to move from political
initiatives and agreements to concrete projects with clear
timelines, financing sources and measurable results," the statement
said.
A key focus of the meeting was the Green Shield of Central Asia
initiative, which aims to establish regional protective forest
belts and green barriers to combat land degradation,
desertification and sand and dust storms. The parties discussed
developing a regional project with defined priority areas,
performance indicators and financing mechanisms.
Uzbekistan’s cooperation with FAO currently includes more than
10 projects with total grant funding exceeding $33 million. These
include a €3.9 million FAO-European Union project on the sound
management of hazardous chemicals. Tashkent and Samarkand have also
joined the FAO Green Cities Network.
Additionally, the sides discussed developing the Regional
Research Institute for Combating Desertification and Developing
Desert Economies at Green University, preparations for the United
Nations Decade on Afforestation and Reforestation for 2027–2036,
and the Central Asia Water and Land Nexus (CAWLN) regional
program.
To strengthen regional coordination, the Uzbek side proposed
considering the establishment of a CAWLN program office at Green
University in Tashkent.
Another priority was developing Samarkand as a pilot green and
sustainable city for Central Asia. Proposed measures include
establishing microforests and small botanical gardens in
residential neighborhoods, expanding water-efficient urban
greening, and using mulching and other nature-based solutions that
could be replicated in other cities.
Qu Dongyu shared China’s experience in forest restoration,
combating land degradation and improving water-use efficiency.
Uzbekistan also expressed interest in approaches used in China’s
Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region to restore arid areas. The FAO
chief emphasized the importance of maintaining healthy, fertile
soils for sustainable agriculture and the restoration of degraded
land.
Moreover, the meeting covered workforce development for the
green transition, pesticide and chemical safety, and preparations
for a major climate project in Karakalpakstan.
The parties agreed to continue developing a pipeline of projects
aimed at attracting international climate financing, including
funding from the Green Climate Fund, the Global Environment
Facility and other mechanisms.
Abduhakimov also invited the FAO director-general to attend Eco
Expo Central Asia 2027 in Tashkent, which will take place as part
of the Tashkent International Investment Forum. Uzbekistan proposed
considering an FAO pavilion to showcase advanced solutions and
joint projects across the country and Central Asia.
The discussions reflect Uzbekistan’s efforts to turn regional
environmental initiatives into projects with defined implementation
plans and financing arrangements, particularly in areas affected by
desertification, water stress and land degradation.
