Uzbekistan’s forest resources cover more than 12mn hectares, with the largest forest concentration on mountain slopes and valley areas. The country is home to nearly 70 wood species, 320 shrubs species, and 130 species of semi-shrub vegetation, with more than 320 rare and endangered species of plants listed in the Red Book of Uzbekistan. The food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) reports that maintaining productive, diverse, and healthy forests are critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
With this in mind, the Uzbek delegation of FAO specialists and Uzbekistan officials visited Turkey in late October to participate in the III Joint Uzbekistan-Turkey Forestry Meeting. The Turkish side was represented by specialists from the relevant ministries and agencies under the leadership of the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Forestry of Turkey, Veysel Tiryaki.
The discussion focused on cooperation in the exchange of experience in combatting forest fires, the establishment of nut plantations, the restoration of mountain forests, the establishment of forest plantations around water bodies, the conservation of forest biodiversity, and improving forestry legislation. Following the meeting, an agreement was reached on implementing joint projects in the abovementioned areas for $2mn. In addition, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Turkey transferred two mini-excavators for $300,000 to support the creation of mountain terraces in the degraded and eroded forest areas in Uzbekistan.
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