In a step towards sustainable development and conservation efforts, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of Uzbekistan, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) have joined hands to restore landscapes and land resources in Uzbekistan, National Information Agency of Uzbekistan reported.
The collaborative initiative was formalized through the signing of a Letter of Intent during the high-level plenary session titled “Nature Knows No Borders: Working Together for Migratory Species and Sustainable Development in Central Asia.” The session took place in Samarkand as part of the 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS COP14).
Representatives from the three organizations, including Daniel Gustafson, Special Representative of the FAO Director-General; Aziz Abdukhakimov, Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan; and Grethel Aguilar, Director-General of the IUCN, endorsed the commitment.
This joint effort aims to accelerate cooperation and advance the implementation of the “Food Systems, Land Use, and Restoration Impact Program in Uzbekistan,” a crucial component of the broader Global FOLUR Impact Program. Supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the project seeks to introduce efficient land management technologies and conservation approaches in wheat-dominated production landscapes. It also aims to establish environmentally friendly value chains, fostering a transition from ecosystem degradation to sustainable management practices.
The targeted regions for this project include Karakalpakstan, Kashkadarya, and Khorezm in Uzbekistan, where interventions will be focused on assessing current land use and management practices. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) will lead this effort by utilizing its Restoration Opportunities Assessment Methodology (ROAM), Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions, and Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas.
In the initial phase, IUCN will conduct comprehensive analyses to identify restoration potential and explore options for Public Private Producer Partnerships. Subsequently, tailored solutions for landscape restoration and sustainable land management will be developed based on the assessments. These solutions will be piloted, documented, and showcased during the second year of the project.
The 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP14) to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) kicked off on February 12 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. This event commenced amidst growing concerns voiced by environmental organizations regarding the threat faced by various species due to extensive dam and reservoir construction in Central Asia. The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS) plays a crucial role in advancing the objectives of the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). The emblem for COP14 was collaboratively designed with the Uzbekistani government and features a winged snow leopard adorned with the distinctive lapis lazuli tile pattern commonly found in landmarks across Central Asia.
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