LocationsUNDP and Uzdavyerloyiha strengthen cooperation on sustainable land-use planning and ecosystem restoration
September 29, 2026
Signing of MOU between UNDP and UzDavYerLoyiha
Tashkent, 29 September 2026 — The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Uzbekistan and the State Scientific Design Institute “Uzdavyerloyiha” under the Ministry of Agriculture strengthened their cooperation today through signing of the Memorandum of Understanding.
This cooperation will contribute to the project “Integrated Conservation Management and Restoration of High-Value Landscapes in Uzbekistan” (ECOLAND), funded by the Global Environment Facility and implemented by UNDP and the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan, with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as a project partner.
This collaboration also involves transfer of new equipment that will strengthen the Institute’s technical capacity for field surveying, spatial data collection and processing, GIS-based planning using Geographic Information System tools for mapping, analysing and managing spatial data, and the preparation of land-use planning schemes that better integrate ecosystem conservation and restoration considerations. The handover includes a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) base station and GNSS rover receiver — high-precision satellite positioning equipment used together for accurate land surveying and geospatial mapping — as well as computer/workstation equipment and an A3 printer.
The Memorandum establishes a framework for cooperation between UNDP and Uzdavyerloyiha in the development and implementation of LDN-compatible Integrated Land Use Planning, integrated spatial planning, GIS-based planning tools, knowledge exchange and institutional capacity development. It also promotes the exchange of spatial data, GIS products and technical knowledge relevant to sustainable land management and ecosystem restoration.
“Effective land-use planning depends on reliable data and strong institutions, but its real value is turning evidence into informed decisions on the ground. By systematically integrating ecosystem restoration and conservation into spatial planning, this cooperation can help protect natural resources and strengthen climate resilience of the communities,” said Akiko Fujii, UNDP Resident Representative in Uzbekistan.
The cooperation also supports the Government of Uzbekistan’s efforts to strengthen district-level land-use planning. According to the Memorandum, Uzdavyerloyiha is responsible for preparing district land-use planning schemes under the national framework established by the Cabinet of Ministers.
Through ECOLAND, UNDP and its partners are working to strengthen integrated landscape management, restore degraded ecosystems, support sustainable livelihoods and improve the use of evidence and knowledge in environmental decision-making. These priorities reflect the project’s wider objective of combining ecosystem conservation and restoration with sustainable development outcomes.
The handover of the equipment is therefore more than a technical upgrade. It is intended to help specialists move from better geospatial data and mapping to better land-use decisions, supporting more sustainable management of landscapes, natural resources and ecosystems.
The ceremony brought together representatives of UNDP, the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, the Ministry of Agriculture, Uzdavyerloyiha and the media.
About the ECOLAND Project
The Ecoland project is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) implemented by UNDP and the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan, with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as a responcible party.
The project works across the West Tian Shan, Nuratau and Kugitangtau landscapes to strengthen integrated landscape management, ecosystem restoration and biodiversity conservation. The project aims to improve management across 1.3 million hectares, restore nearly 140,000 hectares of pastures and forests, bring around 350,000 hectares under improved practices, and strengthen conservation of 881,000 hectares of Key Biodiversity Areas. A key area of work is LDN-compatible integrated spatial planning in nine target districts, supported by GIS-based decision-making, stronger institutional capacity and better use of geospatial data.
