President of Uzbekistan Reviews Proposals to Combat Desertification and Promote Green City Principles

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed proposals aimed at combating desertification, developing the desert economy and implementing Green City principles, the Dunyo News Agency reports.

According to the Presidential Press Service, climate change, dwindling water resources, land degradation and desertification have become major environmental challenges for Central Asia, directly affecting sustainable agriculture, food security, public health and economic development.

Around 80% of Uzbekistan's territory consists of desert and semi-desert landscapes. Soil salinisation, sand migration, dust storms and dry winds pose serious threats, particularly to the Republic of Karakalpakstan and the regions of Bukhara, Navoi, Khorezm, Kashkadarya, Surkhandarya and Jizzakh.

The drying up of the Aral Sea has significantly accelerated these processes. The exposed seabed has formed the Aralkum Desert, from which salt and dust are dispersed across vast areas. Uzbekistan has therefore continued large-scale afforestation efforts by planting saxaul and other desert vegetation, creating more than two million hectares of new forests on the former seabed.

The nationwide Yashil Makon (Green Space) initiative has also resulted in the planting of over one billion trees and shrubs, increasing the country's green coverage from 8% in 2020 to 14.3% in 2025.

During the presentation, proposals for 2026–2030 were reviewed, including plans to establish and restore forests across 1.27 million hectares and create 16,000 hectares of protective forest belts in desert, mountainous and foothill areas.

Additional initiatives include establishing green cover across 10,000 hectares in Surkhandarya Region, creating an 84-kilometre Green Wall in border areas of Syrdarya Region, introducing terraced tree planting in mountainous areas and testing advanced agricultural technologies on degraded land.

The President stressed that desert territories should be viewed not only as an environmental challenge but also as a source of new economic opportunities. He highlighted the importance of developing a desert economy by creating sustainable income sources on saline and degraded land, expanding desert plant nurseries and seed production, cultivating halophytes, improving pasture productivity, developing livestock farming, promoting eco-tourism and strengthening scientific research.

Among the proposed measures are the establishment of desert plant nurseries in Karakalpakstan, scientific expeditions to the dried Aral seabed, expansion of pistachio plantations in Babatag using modern cultivation methods, development of halophyte gardens, creation of a regional drought-resistant seed bank, and mobilisation of international funding and private investment.

The presentation also emphasised the importance of strengthening environmental cooperation among Central Asian countries. Proposals included expanding the activities of the Central Asian Regional Research Centre for Combating Desertification and Desert Economy Development, increasing practical projects under the Green Shield regional programme and preparing a regional desertification strategy through 2040.

A major focus was the Green Samarkand initiative, designed to transform Samarkand into Central Asia's leading climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable city.

By 2030, the project aims to prevent 51,200 tonnes of atmospheric pollutant emissions, reduce PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations by 50%, cut construction dust by 80%, halve vehicle emissions, reduce landfill waste by 50%, and increase green urban areas to an average of 30%.

A dedicated Yashil Samarkand Project Office will be established to coordinate implementation in cooperation with the Samarkand regional administration and the National Committee for Ecology and Climate Change.

The initiative introduces a special eco-urban planning regime requiring all new and reconstructed buildings to comply with green construction standards, including energy- and water-efficient technologies, waste sorting and recycling systems, and mandatory environmental compliance.

In transport, Samarkand will transition towards sustainable mobility through the purchase of 50 electric buses, installation of 150 new traffic lights, full electrification of public transport and taxis by 2030, introduction of a Park & Ride system, development of pedestrian-oriented green tourism zones and gradual restrictions on private vehicles entering the city centre.

The project also includes construction of at least four artificial lakes and reservoirs in Samarkand, one in every district centre across the region, installation of 10 new fountains, modernisation of existing water features and rehabilitation of 319 kilometres of irrigation canals.

A 102.7-kilometre green belt covering 3,532 hectares will be established along the New Outer Ring Road to reduce dust, improve air quality and strengthen climate resilience.

A 300-hectare Green City Samarkand district will be developed according to international sustainable urban planning standards, integrating residential, business, tourism and public infrastructure.

Within industrial zones, the best available technologies, Zero Visible Emission systems and digital environmental monitoring will be introduced. Green buffer zones will surround industrial areas, while eight high-risk industrial enterprises will gradually be relocated outside the city.

The Zero Waste Samarkand programme will introduce comprehensive waste separation, recycling and landfill reduction systems, supported by digital monitoring to detect illegal dumping.

Climate policy measures include carbon reduction targets for 2030 and 2035, the Carbon Neutral Samarkand roadmap, the Green Samarkand Climate Finance Facility, and the Green Samarkand Dashboard for transparent public monitoring.

Tourism and biodiversity initiatives include the Green Samarkand brand, Green Hotels Samarkand certification, the Samarkand City Biodiversity Index, the Urban Biodiversity Samarkand pilot project and the Save Biodiversity volunteer programme, positioning the city as a regional hub for eco-tourism, green investment and sustainable urban innovation.

Overall, the initiative is intended to establish the institutional, financial and practical foundations for transforming Samarkand into the Green Investment and Innovation Capital of Central Asia.

The President approved the proposals and instructed the relevant authorities to strengthen efforts to combat desertification, ensure sustainable management of land and water resources, reinforce environmental standards in urban development and create a healthier living environment for the population.