Uzbekistan has taken a step towards global environmental stewardship with the launch of the Global Partnership on Ecological Connectivity (GPEC) project, the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of Uzbekistan reported. The event dedicated to the launch took place within the framework of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS COP14) in Samarkand, drawing a distinguished assembly of international environmental leaders.
The event saw the presence of notable figures including Aziz Abdukhakimov, Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change of Uzbekistan; Amy Fraenkel, CMS Executive Secretary; Madhu Rao, Chair of the IUCN World Commission for Protected Areas; Gary Tabor, Founder and Executive Director of the Center for Large Landscape Conservation (CLLC); Rafael Antelo, Head of the Wildlife Connect initiative; Ronan Dantek, President of the Climate Chance Association; and Ingrid Coetzee, Director of Biodiversity, Nature, and Health at ICLEI Africa, among others.
"Uzbekistan is pleased to be a key contributor to this new Partnership and to be offering the long-term commitment that is integral to its success. The establishment of this new Global Partnership marks a pivotal moment in our collective efforts," Minister Abdukhakimov remarked, expressing Uzbekistan's commitment to the initiative.
The GPEC project aims to foster collaboration among diverse stakeholders for the preservation, enhancement, and restoration of ecological connectivity on a global scale. Amy Fraenkel, in her presentation during the session, underscored the significance of the project and its potential impact on addressing critical ecological challenges.
The implementation of the GPEC project is expected to address vital ecological communication priorities, identify and bridge gaps, and expand policies and activities aimed at preserving and restoring interconnectedness at national, transboundary, and international levels. The project will focus on four key aspects: research, data, and monitoring; environmental policy and legislation; implementation and execution; and awareness-raising.
Earlier the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), alongside the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change of Uzbekistan, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), have united their efforts to rejuvenate landscapes and land resources in Uzbekistan. This collaborative endeavor was formalized through the signing of a Letter of Intent during a high-level plenary session titled “Nature Knows No Borders: Working Together for Migratory Species and Sustainable Development in Central Asia.”
This collective endeavor aims to expedite cooperation and propel the execution of the “Food Systems, Land Use, and Restoration Impact Program in Uzbekistan,” a pivotal element of the broader Global FOLUR Impact Program. Backed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the project endeavors to introduce effective land management technologies and conservation strategies in landscapes primarily dominated by wheat production. Furthermore, it seeks to establish eco-friendly value chains, facilitating a shift from ecosystem degradation to sustainable management practices.
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