FAO contributes to the GEF projects implementation in Uzbekistan

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan, makes a significant contribution to the implementation of Global Environment Facility (GEF) projects in Uzbekistan, aimed at integrated and sustainable management of natural resources, promoting environmentally friendly production and combating land degradation.

Since 1994 Uzbekistan has participated in over 50 GEF projects at national, regional and global levels. An important step in strengthening this cooperation was the visit of Carlos Rodriguez, head of GEF to Uzbekistan for participation in 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS COP14). During the meeting between the Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan Aziz Abdukhakimov and Carlos Rodrguez, head of GEF, the sides discussed further implementation of the fund’s projects in Uzbekistan.

For reference, within the framework of the 66th meeting of the GEF Council that took place in Washington (USA) in early February this year, $26 million was allocated to finance 5 projects of the Regional Program “Interconnection of Water and Land Resources of Central Asia (CAWLN) for Ecosystem Restoration, Improved Management of Natural Resources, and Increased Sustainability”. It is important to note that four of the five projects totaling $ 18.6 million will be implemented in Uzbekistan with FAO assistance.

“I believe that these projects will make significant contributions to the development of Uzbekistan, especially in the context of climate change and the protection of biodiversity. We will introduce  innovative approaches for sustainable agricultural production and mitigation of the climate change negative impacts on agrifood systems. I express confidence that in close cooperation with the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change we will achieve great success”, - Sherzod Umarov, Assistant FAO Representative in Uzbekistan stressed.

The joint efforts will be aimed at land restoration in vulnerable ecosystems of Central Asia; strengthening integrated water resources management in the basins of the Amudarya, Zarafshan, Panj, Syrdarya, and Narin rivers; integrated natural resource management to improve the conservation of ecosystems and biodiversity. In particular, FAO implements the following GEF funded projects in cooperation with the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan: “Sustainable Forest Management in Mountain and Valley Areas of Uzbekistan”, “Integrated Natural Resources Management in Drought-prone and Salt-affected Agricultural Production Landscapes in Central Asia and Turkey”, “Sustainable Forest and Rangelands Management in the Dryland Ecosystems of Uzbekistan”, “Food Systems, Land Use and Restoration Impact Program in Uzbekistan”.