Uzbekistan’s Specialists to Explore Spain’s Best Practices in Sustainable Forest Management
A delegation of 14 forestry specialists from Uzbekistan and Türkiye will visit the Palencia Model Forest in Spain from June 15 to 17, according to Dunyo News Agency, citing the Spanish news outlet Cadena SER.
The visit is being conducted within the framework of the project “Sustainable Forest Management in the Mountains and Valleys of Uzbekistan,” implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) with funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
The project aims to introduce modern sustainable forest management practices in Uzbekistan’s forestry sector. To achieve this goal, participants are studying international best practices in areas recognized as models of effective forest governance.
The delegation includes representatives of Uzbekistan’s Forestry Agency, experts from the FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, officials from the Prosecutor General’s Office of Uzbekistan responsible for environmental and forestry issues, as well as specialists from Turkish consulting companies.
During the visit, the participants will familiarize themselves with sustainable forest management practices, mechanisms for cooperation with local communities, and approaches to forest conservation. The program also includes working meetings focused on the exchange of experience and discussions on future cooperation opportunities.
The Palencia Model Forest was selected due to its internationally recognized expertise in sustainable forest management and its governance model, which is based on broad participation by public institutions, businesses, research organizations, and local communities.
The visit comes amid growing international recognition of the Palencia Model Forest. In April 2026, the area officially joined the Mediterranean and International Model Forest Networks, which bring together more than 60 model forests across over 30 countries worldwide.
The experience gained during the visit is expected to support the introduction of modern forest resource management approaches in Uzbekistan and contribute to the further development of international cooperation in this field.
