BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 9. Uzbekistan and
the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) have agreed to
develop a regional portfolio of investment projects to address land
degradation, desertification and the growing impact of sand and
dust storms across Central Asia.


This was reflected in the statement by the National Committee on
Ecology and Climate Change of Uzbekistan.


The agreement was reached during a meeting between Aziz
Abdukhakimov, chairman of Uzbekistan’s National Committee on
Ecology and Climate Change, and Yasmin Fuad, executive secretary of
the UNCCD, on the sidelines of the UNCCD COP17 conference in
Mongolia.


The sides discussed strengthening regional cooperation on
restoring degraded land, combating desertification and reducing the
environmental and socioeconomic effects of sand and dust
storms.


Particular attention was given to moving from strategic planning
toward the implementation and financing of practical projects aimed
at restoring land resources and strengthening the resilience of
Central Asian ecosystems.


With UNCCD and its Global Mechanism support, the sides agreed to
develop a regional investment project portfolio and seek financing
from international financial institutions and climate funds,
including the Global Environment Facility, Green Climate Fund,
World Bank, Asian Development Bank and Islamic Development
Bank.


“The priority is to move from regional environmental priorities
to concrete investment projects with clear financing mechanisms,
responsible implementers and measurable results,” the Uzbek
National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change said.


One of the key priorities will be securing financial, technical
and expert support for the establishment of a Regional Early
Warning Center for sand and dust storms.


The proposed system would strengthen regional capabilities to
monitor and forecast sand and dust storms, improve early warnings
for communities and relevant services, and help reduce their
environmental and socioeconomic impacts.







The meeting also saw the proposal of a Central Asian Investment
Program focused on addressing dust and salt emissions and land
degradation. The program could bring together projects in three
priority areas:


• reducing dust and salt emissions across the region;


• restoring saxaul ecosystems in the Kyzylkum Desert;


• developing a regional early warning system for sand and dust
storms.


The program is expected to draw on international financing,
technical expertise and modern ecosystem monitoring and restoration
technologies.


Fuad also highlighted the growing role of Uzbekistan’s Green
University as a scientific and educational center for ecology and
sustainable development in Central Asia. The sides emphasized the
importance of strengthening scientific capacity, training
specialists and developing an expert base capable of addressing
cross-border environmental challenges.


Uzbekistan has consistently promoted regional cooperation on
land degradation, desertification and sand and dust storms. The
proposed investment portfolio is intended to bring together Central
Asian countries and international partners around large-scale
environmental projects and move regional initiatives toward
implementation.