Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Ecology has issued a response to businessman Murod Nazarov’s recent proposal to lift the ban on tree felling in Tashkent and replace it with compensatory measures, such as a “tree bank” and “compensatory planting.”
In a statement released, the ministry emphasized that Uzbekistan, as a landlocked country with more than 60% of its territory covered by deserts and semi-deserts, faces heightened vulnerability to climate change. This geographic and climatic reality, it noted, makes the preservation of green areas a national ecological imperative.
The moratorium on tree felling is a critical measure to safeguard ecological sustainability. It cannot be replaced by schemes that carry high risks of corruption and are not scientifically equivalent in environmental impact.
Referring to global best practices, the ministry highlighted that many countries impose strict penalties for illegal tree felling. In Germany, fines can reach €50,000, while in the UK, offenders can face imprisonment and penalties of up to £20,000. Neighboring Kazakhstan and Russia also have criminal provisions for such violations. In one notable case in 2023, a man who cut down the iconic Sycamore Gap tree in the UK was sentenced to over four years in prison.
The Ministry of Ecology argued that compensatory planting cannot serve as a true replacement for mature trees.
“One mature tree absorbs about 21 kilograms of carbon dioxide per year—an ecological service no sapling can match for decades,” it said.
The proposed “tree bank” system, it warned, could become a breeding ground for corruption and administrative abuse. Furthermore, it noted ongoing concerns that some developers have already been evading the moratorium by artificially drying out trees to justify cutting them down.
The ministry particularly criticized Nazarov’s recent remarks at a July 17 construction sector meeting, where he argued for lifting the moratorium in Tashkent. His comments, which were met with swift backlash from environmental activists and the Ecological Party, included references to various “methods” used to fell trees.
“In light of his statements, the Ministry believes that a full audit by law enforcement agencies is necessary to thoroughly investigate Nazarov’s activities and approaches to tree felling,” the statement said. “We hope this audit will provide clarity and allow appropriate conclusions to be drawn regarding his past practices.”
Officials also reminded the public that Uzbekistan has declared 2025 the “Year of Environmental Protection and the Green Economy,” and that any rollback of ecological protections is at odds with the country’s stated priorities and international ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) commitments.
“Sustainable construction is about preserving green areas—not cutting down trees and compensating afterward,” the ministry concluded.
According to official data, in the first half of 2025 alone, 3,235 applications for tree felling were rejected, resulting in the preservation of 453,238 trees—of which 86,309 were valuable species.
Follow Daryo's official Instagram and Twitter pages to keep current on world news.
Comments (0)