LocationsUzbekistan Launches Innovative Project to Restore Key Biodiversity Areas and Promote Sustainable Landscapes
November 26, 2025
25.11.2025 - Samarkand, Uzbekistan. As part of Uzbekistan’s ongoing efforts to restore high-value ecosystems and strengthen environmental resilience, the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), has launched the GEF-8 project “Integrated Conservation Management and Restoration of High-Value Landscapes in Uzbekistan (EcoLand)”, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
The launch event gathered representatives from the government, international organizations, conservation experts, civil society, and media to highlight the project’s strategic vision, components, and expected outcomes.
Opening remarks were delivered by Mr. Jusipbek Kazbekov, Deputy Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Ms. Akiko Fujii, UNDP Resident Representative in Uzbekistan; and Ms. Grethel Aguilar, Director General of IUCN. Their statements underscored the importance of national ownership and international cooperation in advancing ecosystem restoration and sustainable landscape management.
About the Project
The EcoLand (shortened name) project, with a total budget of USD 6.1 million administered by UNDP, aims to scale up innovative, integrated approaches to ecosystem restoration and conservation, catalyzing transformational change across three high-value landscape clusters in Uzbekistan.
The project will be implemented in six regions and ten pilot districts representing Uzbekistan’s most ecologically valuable and diverse landscapes:
Tashkent Region: Parkent District, Akhangaran District
Surkhandarya Region: Boysun District, Sherabad District
Kashkadarya Region: Dekhanabad District
Navoi Region: Khatyrchi District, Nurota District
Samarkand Region: Koshrabad District, Payariq District
Jizzakh Region: Forish District
These pilot regions were selected for their globally significant biodiversity, ecological sensitivity, and potential for sustainable, community-based management.
Highlighting Uzbekistan’s commitment to environmental reforms, Deputy Chairman of the National Committee for Ecology and Climate Change Jusipbek Kazbekov stated: “Uzbekistan is committed to restoring its valuable landscapes and protecting biodiversity for future generations. This project is an important step forward in our ongoing environmental reforms.”
Akiko Fujii, UNDP Resident Representative in Uzbekistan, emphasized that the initiative reflects the country’s growing role in environmental sustainability: “Uzbekistan is taking significant steps to protect and restore its rich biodiversity and unique ecosystems. UNDP is proud to support the country’s commitment to global biodiversity goals. Collaboration between the government, civil society, and international partners will deliver transformative outcomes and lay the foundation for a greener future for Uzbekistan’s youth.”
Grethel Aguilar, Director General of IUCN, highlighted the importance of combining science and community engagement in restoration efforts: “IUCN is proud to support Uzbekistan in scaling up restoration efforts, integrating scientific knowledge, and ensuring that nature conservation benefits both the environment and local communities.”
As part of the GEF-8 Global Ecosystem Restoration Integrated Programme, the project will address the drivers of ecosystem degradation and biodiversity loss through four interlinked components—combining sustainable land management, biodiversity conservation, climate mitigation, and inclusive community engagement.
Using a participatory approach that ensures the meaningful inclusion of women, youth, and vulnerable groups, the project will improve the management of 1.3 million hectares of land, enhance ecosystem resilience, and promote equitable access to conservation benefits.
The targeted ecosystems represent rural mosaic landscapes, combining high conservation value forests, dry steppe rangelands, and smallholder agricultural areas. The project will introduce integrated multi-stakeholder management mechanisms and pilot innovative financial tools, such as catalytic biodiversity financing mechanisms, to sustain restoration efforts on a scale.
Event Highlights
The event also featured a signing ceremony, formalizing cooperation between the Ministry of Ecology and UNDP through a Statement of Intent to jointly implement the “Integrated Conservation Management and Restoration of High-Value Landscapes in Uzbekistan (#EcoLand)”, funded by the GEF.
The UNDP presentation brought the ERIP project to life, demonstrating its innovative approaches to ecosystem restoration and sustainable financing. Attendees learned about practical interventions, including rehabilitation of Key Biodiversity Areas, promotion of nature-based tourism, and integration of community-driven and gender-sensitive initiatives. The presentation also emphasized the use of biodiversity credits and green investment instruments, designed to ensure long-term sustainability and measurable environmental impact.
For more information:
Otabek Eshmatov, Communication and Knowledge Management Associate, GEF8 Project, UNDP Uzbekistan
Email: otabek.eshmatov@undp.org
