President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has approved proposals to strengthen Uzbekistan's efforts to combat desertification between 2026 and 2030 and launch the Green Samarkand initiative aimed at transforming the city into a climate-resilient urban centre.
The proposals, reviewed by the president, come as Uzbekistan faces mounting environmental pressures linked to climate change, water scarcity and land degradation.
Around 80% of the country's territory consists of desert or semi-desert landscapes, with soil salinisation, shifting sands and dust storms posing growing risks to agriculture, public health and economic development.
The government noted that the strategy for 2026–30 will focus on restoring ecosystems while creating new economic opportunities through what it described as a "desert economy" model.
Under the plan, forests will be established or restored across 1.27mn hectares, while protective forest belts will be planted on 16,000 hectares of desert, mountainous and foothill areas.
Authorities also intend to create 10,000 hectares of new green cover in Surkhandarya region and establish an 84km "green wall" along border areas of Syrdarya region.
The initiative builds on existing reforestation programmes, including efforts to stabilise the dried seabed of the Aral Sea. More than 2mn hectares of forest plantations have already been established on the former seabed, while the nationwide Yashil Makon (Green Nation) programme has planted more than 1bn trees and shrubs since its launch, increasing Uzbekistan's green coverage from 8% in 2020 to 14.3% in 2025.
Mirziyoyev noted that desert regions should be viewed not only as an environmental challenge but also as a source of economic growth.
The proposed desert economy strategy includes developing nurseries for desert plants, expanding cultivation of salt-tolerant crops, increasing pasture productivity and supporting livestock farming, ecotourism and scientific research.
Plans also include establishing desert plant nurseries in Karakalpakstan, creating pistachio plantations in the Babatag area, expanding halophyte gardens and developing a regional bank of drought-resistant plants and seeds. Authorities aim to attract international financing and private investment to support the projects.
The proposals also call for stronger regional cooperation among Central Asian countries, including expanding the activities of the Central Asian Regional Research Centre for Combating Desertification and Developing the Desert Economy, increasing projects under the regional Green Shield programme and preparing a regional strategy on desertification through 2040.
Separately, the government presented the Green Samarkand initiative, which aims to transform the historic city into a climate-resilient urban centre by 2030.
The programme sets environmental targets including preventing the release of 51,200 tonnes of air pollutants, halving concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 particulate matter, reducing construction-related dust by 80%, cutting vehicle emissions by 50% and increasing green space to an average of 30% across populated areas.
A dedicated Yashil Samarkand Project Office will be established to coordinate implementation across urban planning, transport, construction, tourism, industry and municipal services.
The strategy also introduces stricter environmental standards for new construction, requiring energy- and water-efficient technologies, waste sorting and recycling systems and compliance with green building standards.
Transport reforms include the purchase of 50 electric buses, installation of 150 new traffic lights and a commitment to transition public transport and taxi services to electric vehicles by 2030.
Authorities also plan to introduce a Park & Ride system, expand pedestrian-friendly tourist areas and gradually reduce private vehicle access to the city centre.
Infrastructure projects include the construction of at least four artificial lakes and reservoirs in Samarkand, development and restoration of 319km of irrigation canals and creation of a 102.7km green belt covering 3,532 hectares around the city's New Grand Ring Road.
The government also plans to develop a 300-hectare Green City Samarkand district featuring residential, commercial, tourism and public facilities built to international sustainability standards.
Industrial facilities will be required to adopt best available technologies, digital environmental monitoring and "Zero Visible Emission" systems, while eight high-risk industrial enterprises are expected to be relocated outside the city.
Additional measures include introducing a zero-waste management system, developing carbon reduction targets for 2030 and 2035, launching climate finance and environmental monitoring platforms and promoting biodiversity through new tourism and conservation initiatives.
Officials said the programme is intended to position Samarkand as Central Asia's capital of green investment and innovation.
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