Uzbekistan and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) are collaborating on joint grant projects exceeding $22mn, as revealed during a meeting between Aziz Abdukhakimov, the Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change of Uzbekistan, and the newly appointed Director General of IUCN, Dr. Grethel Aguilar, who assumed her position on October 20, 2023, the Ministry of Ecology's press service reports.
The projects, aimed at environmental protection, land restoration, enhancement of Uzbekistan's valuable ecosystems' resilience to climate change, and the development of human and institutional capacity, were discussed during the meeting.
The Director General of IUCN emphasized the significance of Uzbekistan, considering its rich biodiversity and cultural heritage. She expressed anticipation for IUCN's participation in the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS COP14).
“IUCN does a lot of work to protect these animals around the world, including the Red List of Endangered Species and conservation work in protected areas. But most of all we are looking forward to the opening day of the IUCN Central Asian Office in Uzbekistan, when we will be able to share this joy together with the Uzbek people. Therefore, this event is very important for us, and we want to express our deep gratitude to the Government of Uzbekistan for supporting us and becoming a partner in nature conservation in Uzbekistan and around the world,” added the IUCN Director General.
The parties also discussed the opening of the first IUCN office in Central Asia, scheduled during the 14th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS COP14) in February 2024.
Looking ahead, the World Conservation Congress (WCC) in Abu Dhabi, UAE, and the Regional Conservation Forum for Europe, North, and Central Asia in Bruges, Belgium, are significant events on the agenda for the coming year.
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