“Trees Get in the Way”: Developer Calls to Revise Uzbekistan’s Logging Ban
Murad Nazarov, founder of Murad Buildings, has proposed a review of Uzbekistan’s current moratorium on tree cutting. Speaking at a meeting held on July 17 with the participation of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the entrepreneur addressed the unintended consequences of the ban in the construction sector.
Nazarov pointed out that despite the existing ban, trees are often damaged by construction equipment. «Trees, of course, get in the way. One way or another, they are still cut down. The moratorium was introduced in response to a public outcry after trees were cut recklessly in the past. But even during reconstruction and renovation, trees obstruct access for machinery and are eventually removed,» he explained.
A Mechanism for Compensation
He argued that outright bans only encourage corruption, and instead suggested a system of mandatory compensation through the pre-planting of trees — a so-called «tree bank.» This system, he said, could be used by both construction firms and third-party companies.
Nazarov proposed that the size of the original tree be taken into account when determining compensation: «If, for instance, a tree with a diameter of 40 cm is cut down, regulations could require the planting of ten new trees with a diameter of 15–20 cm each.»
He added that in some cases, construction companies are willing to plant three or four times the number of trees based on diameter calculations.
Such a system, Nazarov believes, could motivate others in the industry to act more responsibly.
Public and Parliamentary Opposition
However, Bobur Bekmurodov, Member of the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis, rejected attempts to legitimise tree cutting.
«The moratorium is not up for debate. A developer argues that logging should be legalised, while environmentalists say developers should build outside city limits. Who decides what is right? The public. Today, people are calling not for more urban development, but for more green space,» he said.
Bekmurodov also criticised the idea that planting new trees could justify removing mature ones. «It takes seven to ten years for a plane tree to grow enough to provide shade. Has the developer proposing this mechanism planted trees or created a park in previous years?» he asked.
Fines For Illegal Logging in Uzbekistan
According to amendments to the legislation, legal entities in Tashkent found guilty of illegally cutting down trees face serious consequences. The fines range from 100 to 300 base calculation values (BCV), amounting to between 34 mln and 102 mln UZS ($2,686-$8,058) in 2024. In addition to financial penalties, companies are required to plant at least 100 saplings for each illegally removed tree and are obliged to care for them for a period of three years.
These strict measures were introduced to curb uncontrolled deforestation and preserve what remains of the city’s green zones.
Kursiv also reports that in the first half of 2025, residents of Uzbekistan received mortgage loans totalling 9.4 trln UZS.
