Photo: factchecknet.uz
The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a resolution proclaiming 2027–2036 the Decade on Ecosystem Restoration with a focus on reforestation. The initiative was introduced by Uzbekistan and the Republic of the Congo, with 80 other countries joining as co-sponsors, according to the UN website.
Titled The UN Decade on Afforestation and Reforestation in Line with the Principles of Sustainable Forest Management, the resolution calls on various UN bodies—including the UN Environment Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organization—to support global efforts in forest recovery.
In its official statement, the UN highlighted Uzbekistan’s active promotion of tree planting and reforestation at national, regional, and international levels. In August of last year, the UN General Assembly adopted another resolution introduced by Uzbekistan: Promoting Sustainable Forest Management, Including Afforestation and Reforestation, on Degraded Lands, Particularly in Arid Areas, as an Effective Means of Addressing Environmental Challenges.
That resolution called on UN agencies and member states to participate in tree-planting projects, especially in arid regions; to ensure long-term maintenance of planted trees through effective care strategies; and to strengthen international cooperation, public-private partnerships, and intersectoral coordination in support of sustainable forestry.
To further accelerate reforestation efforts, Uzbekistan proposed organizing an annual tree-planting campaign dubbed “The Green Belt of Central Asia,” to take place ahead of the spring holiday of Navruz.
The country is also implementing an ambitious national program, Yashil Makon (“Green Space”), launched by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The initiative aims to plant one billion trees across Uzbekistan within five years. In 2025 alone, $7.7 million has been allocated to support the project.
The UN also emphasized another key undertaking led by Uzbekistan: the planting of forests across nearly two million hectares of the desiccated Aral Sea bed. These efforts are intended to mitigate dust storms, rehabilitate ecosystems, and create economic opportunities for local communities. Ultimately, the project is expected to help alleviate the environmental disaster caused by the disappearance of the sea.
