BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 19. Uzbekistan, the
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Global
Environment Facility (GEF) reviewed efforts to restore degraded
ecosystems and strengthen environmental management in the Aral Sea
basin at the seventh meeting of the coordinating council.


This was reflected in the statement by the Uzbek National
Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, following a meeting
between Alisher Salomov, adviser to the chairman of Uzbekistan’s
National Committee, and Anas Fayyad Qarman, acting UNDP resident
representative in Uzbekistan.


According to the National Committee, in the course of the
meeting, the sides reviewed the project’s results for the second
quarter of 2026, priorities for the next stage of implementation,
and measures related to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem
restoration and environmental governance.


Meanwhile, over the reporting period, the project conducted 17
educational seminars and training sessions for specialists involved
in water and land resource management.


Particular attention was given to a three-day media expedition
held in July 2026, which allowed journalists to visit key natural
sites and ecosystems in the lower reaches of the Amu Darya
River.


The expedition helped raise public awareness of the region’s
natural potential and environmental challenges, as well as the need
to protect its unique ecosystems, according to the project
organizers.


The parties also reviewed proposals under the project’s
micro-grant program, which supports initiatives aimed at conserving
and sustainably using the natural resources and ecosystems of the
Aral Sea basin.







Another key item was the launch of a new UNDP innovation
competition in Uzbekistan, titled ''Innovative Solutions for the
Restoration of Degraded and Saline Lands in the Lower Amu Darya.
''The competition is designed to identify and promote practical
innovative approaches to restoring degraded land and improving the
resilience of ecosystems in the region.


The meeting also addressed legal and institutional measures to
strengthen environmental governance, build institutional capacity
and improve compliance with environmental legislation.


Furthermore, the attendees discussed planned activities and
budget priorities for the project’s third quarter of 2026.


The Aral Sea Wetlands project is being implemented jointly by
Uzbekistan’s National Committee for Ecology and Climate Change,
UNDP, GEF and other partners. Its broader objective is to move from
individual conservation initiatives toward systemic approaches to
ecosystem restoration, stronger environmental governance and
sustainable development across the Aral Sea basin.


The preservation of wetlands in the Aral Sea basin is viewed not
only as an environmental priority but also as an important
component of sustainable regional development, as local communities
depend directly on the condition and availability of natural
resources.