BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 1. Uzbekistan and
Japan’s Organization for Industrial, Spiritual and Cultural
Advancement (OISCA) have signed a memorandum of understanding aimed
at strengthening cooperation in forestry, reforestation, and
efforts to combat desertification, Trend reports via the Uzbek National Committee
on Ecology and Climate Change.
The agreement was signed during the Eighth Assembly of the
Global Environment Facility (GEF) in Samarkand following a meeting
between Erkin Mukhitdinov, Director of the Agency for the Expansion
of Forests and Green Areas and Combating Desertification under
Uzbekistan’s National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, and
Yasuaki Nagaishi, Executive Vice President of OISCA.
During the talks, Mukhitdinov outlined Uzbekistan’s ongoing
initiatives to expand green spaces, establish new forest areas, and
mitigate the impacts of climate change through large-scale
environmental programs.
Under the memorandum, the two sides agreed to implement joint
projects focused on creating and protecting new forest areas and
promoting sustainable forest management practices across
Uzbekistan.
The partnership also considers cooperation with Japanese experts
to develop green belts in arid and degraded regions of the country
as part of efforts to combat desertification and improve air
quality.
In addition, the parties agreed to collaborate on nursery
development, the adaptation of rare tree species to local climatic
conditions, and the exchange of scientific expertise in
forestry.
The agreement also calls for the joint organization of seminars,
training programs, educational courses, and forums to support
knowledge sharing and capacity building in the environmental
sector.
