Prominent businessman and developer Murod Nazarov has called for lifting restrictions on tree-cutting in Tashkent, arguing that the current rules hinder construction and fuel corruption. His remarks came during a government meeting on the construction sector held on July 17.
Nazarov, a key figure in Uzbekistan’s real estate market, said that trees often stand in the way of development in the capital, particularly as most new projects involve renovation or reconstruction rather than greenfield construction.
“The Tashkent city master plan is being amended. It will be released soon, we are waiting,” he said. “There is no free space. There are trees around every building. A moratorium was imposed on the thoughtless cutting of trees, which caused a huge resonance. But I have to admit, even if they say they will put equipment in these places during reconstruction, the trees will get in the way.”
The businessman warned that blanket restrictions on tree removal could unintentionally encourage illegal practices.
“There is no need to impose restrictions. Restrictions increase corruption. I am also against privileges,” Nazarov stated.
Instead, he proposed a compensation mechanism. Under his plan, construction companies would be required to plant new trees—either themselves or via third-party contractors—before cutting down any during project execution.
“Let each construction company, or even a third-party company, work on a ‘tree bank,’” he suggested. “We know how much construction will take place next year or the year after. Let’s plant new trees in advance. If a company hasn't planted trees, let it buy the limit from another company that has. Then tree planting becomes an investment.”
Nazarov further proposed that newly planted trees be transferred to the balance sheet of the relevant district government to replace those removed during construction.
Tax Committee Chairman Sherzod Kudbiyev reportedly supported the proposal in principle, saying:
“A builder who planted 1,000 trees in Mirabad, for example, will be able to cut down 50 trees in another place.”
Tougher Penalties Introduced in 2024
On March 1, 2024, Uzbekistan introduced stiffer penalties for illegal tree felling. Under the amended law:
- Citizens face fines of 25 to 50 times the minimum wage.
- Officials can be fined up to 75 times the minimum wage.
Recent cases illustrate the scale of the damage. In Tashkent region, the cutting of two large plane trees resulted in UZS 199mn ($15,577) in environmental damage. In Jizzakh, 19 felled trees caused losses of UZS 435mn ($34,039). Similar violations have been reported in Khorezm, Surkhandarya, and elsewhere.
Despite the introduction of a moratorium on illegal logging, violations persist, though they have reportedly decreased by 60% compared to the pre-moratorium period. In the first half of 2025, authorities recorded 848 illegal tree-cutting incidents nationwide.
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