Uzbekistan is intensifying its efforts towards environmental conservation and biodiversity preservation, with a particular focus on the reintroduction of the endangered Asiatic cheetah to its natural habitat, the ministry of ecology reported. This commitment was reaffirmed during a high-level meeting between Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change Aziz Abdukhakimov and Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity Dr. David Cooper.
Minister Abdukhakimov expressed gratitude to Dr. Cooper for his participation in the CMS COP14 international conference and highlighted Uzbekistan's significant strides in environmental protection and reform.
"2023 has marked a year of substantial changes in Uzbekistan's ecological landscape, with reforms targeting the resolution of current environmental challenges," stated Abdukhakimov.
He underscored Uzbekistan's efforts to expand protected natural areas, noting an increase from 4% to 14% coverage over the past six years, totaling 6 mn hectares. Attention is also directed towards reclaiming degraded lands, including the ambitious project to create vast forests spanning over 2 mn hectares in the Aral Sea basin.
Key points of discussion included cooperation in projects aimed at biodiversity conservation, the formulation and support of a national plan for the reintroduction of the Asiatic cheetah to Uzbekistan, exploration of tourism opportunities in protected areas and natural parks, and strategies for youth involvement in environmental initiatives.
During the meeting, Minister Abdukhakimov highlighted ongoing projects aimed at restoring endangered species crucial for ecosystem stability. The establishment of the "Jeyran" nursery in Bukhara was emphasized as a highly effective breeding center vital for the conservation of endangered species, including the Bukhara deer, which boasts the largest population in Uzbekistan.
Moreover, plans for the restoration of the Asian cheetah population were discussed. Minister Abdukhakimov emphasized the importance of expanding and enhancing the network of protected areas to support the unique species' revival.
“Uzbekistan has the largest population of endangered Bukhara deer. We are working to expand and improve the network of protected areas for this unique species,” Minister Abdukhakimov noted.
The creation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Program (GBF) foundation was also announced during the meeting, reflecting Uzbekistan's commitment to international cooperation in biodiversity preservation.
Biodiversity in Uzbekistan
In the last 500 years, human activity has led to the disappearance of over 800 species from the Earth, equating to an average loss of nearly two species per year. This ongoing process continues to threaten numerous animals, insects, plants, and other organisms, pushing many towards critical endangerment.
In Uzbekistan, the absence of species like the Turan tiger, the Asiatic wild ass of Turkmenistan, the Aral Sea trout, and the cheetah vividly exemplifies the pressure human activities exert on the country's biodiversity. Particularly concerning is the recent disappearance of the cheetah, which vanished from Uzbekistan's territory and the entire former Soviet Union in the 20th century.
Cheetahs are apex predators crucial to the ecosystem's balance, and their population status reflects the overall health of the ecosystem. The absence of large predators can lead to unpredictable changes within the ecosystem, negatively impacting not only the direct prey population but also vegetation communities. The restoration of cheetah populations in Uzbekistan holds significant importance, not just for biodiversity but also for rehabilitating the desert ecosystems.
Cheetahs are categorized as a rare species in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, classified as "Vulnerable," and listed as "Extinct" in the Red Book of Uzbekistan. Historically, cheetahs inhabited Uzbekistan's Kyzylkum and Ustyurt deserts. While they disappeared from the Kyzylkum desert in the 19th century, their presence in the Ustyurt ceased more recently, with no sightings reported after 1973.
The main factors contributing to cheetah extinction include the large-scale development of land, resulting in the displacement of wildlife to less suitable habitats, significant declines in wild ungulate populations—the cheetah's primary prey—and poaching for both captivity and fur. Additionally, inadequate protection measures and a lack of environmental awareness have contributed to the cheetah's demise, with conservation efforts initiated too late to prevent their disappearance.
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