Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Ms. Akiko Fujii, the newly appointed Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Uzbekistan, held her first official meeting with Mr. Aziz Abdukhakimov, the Minister of Ecology, Environment Protection, and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan. This introductory meeting served as a platform to reflect on shared achievements and discuss future collaborations.

During the meeting, parties formalized two agreements, including one on jointly implementing Eighth Phase of the GEF Small Grants Programme in Uzbekistan  to be launched in 2025. The Small Grants Programme country programme will support implementation of new national biodiversity conservation targets and National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) in alignment with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. In other words, it will engage local communities, civil society players, and academia in restoration of threatened ecosystems and species through providing technical and financial assistance.

Another one on continuing a joint action in support of the nationwide project Yashil Makon with the funding support of UNHCR and in cooperation with UNECE. Integrated nature of this initiative combines environmental goals with providing support to Afghan citizens residing in Uzbekistan by engaging them to establishing and maintaining tree nurseries to produce regeneration material for Yashil Makon. The project will assist the government in development of a Master plan based on the projections of achieving the planned targets and considering the survival rate of the planted trees. Also, the existing monitoring and information platform of Yashil Makon will be examined, and needs identified for its improvement.

Aziz Abdukhakimov, Minister of Ecology noted, "I am delighted to inform you about the creation of the Climate Council under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, which will become the highest consultative body to the head of state on mitigation and adaptation to climate change. Currently, we are in the process of a radical transformation not only of the Ministry of Ecology but also of the entire environmental protection complex. Solving environmental problems and improving environmental management is a priority in Uzbekistan".

Akiko Fujii, UNDP Resident Representative in Uzbekistan highlighted, “The UNDP reaffirms its support for the Government's reform agenda on nature protection and addressing climate change impacts. We look forward to supporting Uzbekistan as it demonstrates its strong commitment and intensified response to biodiversity, desertification and climate challenges at COP 16 in Colombia, COP 16 in Saudi Arabia and COP 29 in Azerbaijan, with more ambitious and scaled-up targets. Now is the time to deepen our partnership with the Ministry and elevate our collective impact”.

To improve national wildlife monitoring capacity, equipment worth over 2 billion UZS was handed over to eight protected areas in Aral Sea region by the GEF-funded joint project of UNDP and the Ministry. It is expected that protected areas will improve their patrolling and protection performance by using binoculars, camera traps, photo cameras, GPS devices, printers, mountaineering tents, field uniforms, sleeping bags, as well as measuring instruments such as automatic weather stations, thermometers, and optical microscopes. Additionally, South Ustyurt National Park received the field monitoring station and a vehicle equipped with a refrigerator and desalination unit, along with other essential equipment.

This meeting underscores the strong and longstanding partnership between the UNDP and the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change, as both parties work towards sustainable development and environmental preservation in Uzbekistan in close collaboration through six ongoing and eight upcoming projects.