In a joint effort to combat desertification, the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change, along with the Prosecutor General's Office, is investigating recent incidents of illegal cutting of desert vegetation in Uzbekistan's Bukhara and Navoi regions. These efforts fall under the national "Yashil Makon" (Green Nation) project, aimed at expanding green spaces and tackling environmental degradation in desert-prone areas.
The Bukhara and Navoi regions are predominantly desert and semi-desert landscapes, frequently plagued by sand and dust storms. Over the past five years, desertification has intensified, leading to the degradation of more than a million hectares of land.
Key desert plants like saxaul, Tamarix, and Calligonum, which are essential for stabilizing soil and reducing wind erosion, have faced illegal cutting, exacerbating erosion and desertification.
The increase of airborne dust and sand from these disturbed areas threatens the health of local communities, as well as local flora, fauna, and agricultural productivity. Recognizing this, the president has outlined comprehensive measures to address desertification and its impacts on livelihoods, launching a program to create more green spaces in affected regions.
In collaboration with environmental and forestry authorities, local government, and scientific institutions, the initiative seeks to establish green zones in severely impacted desert areas while enhancing protections for existing vegetation.
Authorities are currently investigating the causes of the illegal cutting, and officials found responsible for environmental negligence or misconduct will face disciplinary measures.
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