Environmental protection is a key priority of the New Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan, like many other countries, faces serious environmental problems that have a negative impact on human health and ecosystems. However, taking into account the need to preserve the resources and health of citizens, the government of the country is actively developing measures to prevent environmental crises and introducing innovative approaches to improve the state of the environment. Today, the field of ecology in Uzbekistan is undergoing a radical transformation, and the right of every person to a favorable environment has been enshrined in the new Сonstitution of the country.

The republic has the Concept of Environmental Protection of the Republic of Uzbekistan until 2030, more than 30 legislative acts and about 200 by-laws in the field of ecology, environmental protection, and rational use of natural resources. Among them are the laws of the Republic of Uzbekistan: “On nature protection”, “On the protection of atmospheric air”, “On water and water use”, “On the protection and use of flora”, “On the protection and use of wildlife”, “On forests”, “On protected natural territories”, “On subsoil”, “On waste”, “On environmental expertise”, “On environmental control”, “On environmental audit”, “On the use of renewable energy sources”, “On sanitary and epidemiological welfare of the population”, the Land Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and others.

In 2021, at the initiative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, a large-scale nationwide program called “Yashil Makon” (“Green space”) was launched in the country, which provides for the annual planting of 200 million trees and shrubs until 2030. As a result, an increase in the area of green spaces in cities is expected from the current 8% to 30%, as well as an increase in the forest cover area of the state forest fund from 7.5 to 15%.

Over the past period, within the framework of the national “Yashil Makon” project, about 500.0 hectares of parks, 935 hectares of green zones, 6179.2 hectares of public parks, as well as green belts around the cities of Bukhara, Nukus, Khiva, and Urgench with a total length of 40 km have been created.

As part of the systematic organization of work on the development of “green” areas, 219.7 million seedlings of fruit and ornamental trees and shrubs were planted in 2023. 2.83 million seedlings were planted around 189 industrial enterprises with a high impact on the environment, “green belts” with 220,000 tree seedlings were created; and 196 garbage collection points were organized, around which arboretums were created.

In addition, in recent years, innovative measures in Uzbekistan that have no alternative in the world include “green covers” created on the dried-up bottom of the Aral Sea. It is important to note that the scope of its application is expanding. In 2019–2023, forest reclamation activities were carried out on an area of more than 1.7 million hectares in the arid areas of the Aral Sea. The “Green Covers” were created using small aircraft and tractors.

According to scientists, the condition of the dried-up bottom of the Aral Sea is ambiguous: there is a big difference in the condition of the site that dried up 5 years ago and 50 years ago. It is not recommended to plant one type of plant everywhere. Each site requires a unique approach. Given the state of the earth, sand, and salinity, only properly selected seedlings can survive. Saxaul seeds were mainly sown on sandy and clay soils, tamarix seedlings and karaburak seeds were sown on saline lands.

To accelerate the planting work on this site, a new unit was created for planting seedlings of desert plants. With its help, the planting capacity increased 1.5 times, i.e. about 4000-4500 seedlings were planted per hour.

Uzbekistan is also conducting consistent and effective reforms in the field of waste management, improving the quality of services provided to the population, and combating environmental pollution. Thus, according to the plan, in 2024-2028, by attracting investments, waste recycling, alternative energy, and organic fertilizer production projects will be implemented in each region of the country. Indicators will also be set for the annual production of 2,000 MW of alternative energy from 2.8 million tons of waste, the production of 1.1 million tons of organic fertilizers from 1.3 million tons of waste by composting, and the commissioning of 14 waste recycling plants.