As part of deepening Turkmen-Uzbek environmental cooperation, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are initiating a joint pilot project aimed at restoring populations of wild Ferula species. This project will be part of a larger effort to combat desertification and develop desert agroforestry.
The initiative was agreed upon at a recent meeting in Tashkent, where Turkmenistan's Minister of Environmental Protection Charygeldi Babanyazov and Uzbekistan's Deputy Minister of Ecology Zhusipbek Kazbekov agreed to prepare for the signing of a roadmap for 2026–2030.
Ferula is a valuable medicinal and industrial plant, the restoration of which has great economic and environmental significance.
As part of the agreement, Turkmenistan is considering assisting Uzbekistan in supplying seeds or planting material for this species for scientific research. A joint pilot project to cultivate Ferula is planned for the Surkhandarya region of Uzbekistan.
This specialized project highlights Turkmenistan's unique experience in preserving desert flora. Building on this experience, the parties also expressed their willingness to develop joint research to combat desertification, expand the planting area for desert-resistant crops, and establish a joint nursery.
The Ferula and Desert Agroforestry project is part of a broader Roadmap for Cooperation in Environmental Protection and Forestry for 2026–2030. This comprehensive document covers a number of strategic areas:
Ecosystem Restoration: Exchange of experience in developing nut, pistachio, and olive crops.
Climate Resilience: Joint research on the impacts of climate change, particularly in the drying Aral Sea region, and the implementation of international environmental conventions.
Human Resources: Providing grants to Turkmen students at Green University of Uzbekistan to train specialists in environmental fields.
Regional Agenda: Discussion of the draft Samarkand Declaration and Action Plan for the Sustainable Use of Wild Fauna and Flora Resources.
The agreed measures confirm the readiness of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to intensify practical cooperation and become active players in the sustainable management of forest resources and enhancing the natural potential of the Central Asian region.
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