From Degraded Land, to Protected Forests

An initiative to combat land degradation has been launched across Uzbekistan, aiming to restore 6.1 million hectares of forested land by 2030.

“The project will also support food systems, infrastructure, and nature tourism,” says Uzbekistan’s Minister of Ecology, Aziz Abdukhakimov.

The World Bank is supporting the nation’s efforts by providing $153 million in funding. Overall, the project will not only restore degraded forest lands but also enhance land management, mitigate soil erosion, promote agroforestry, and create local employment opportunities. Support will be provided for local farmers, and eco-tourism will be promoted for the newly protected areas. The program is part of the larger RESILAND CA+ program, which has similar initiatives in place in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.