Uzbekistan Advances Green Agenda in 2025 With Tree Planting, Wildlife Protection and Clean Energy Deals
In the first half of 2025, Uzbekistan significantly ramped up its environmental initiatives, launching large-scale programs to fight desertification, reduce emissions, and enhance biodiversity. According to the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change, over 137 mln trees and shrubs were planted under the national «Yashil Makon» campaign, with 746 tons of seeds prepared for further expansion.
More than 55 «green gardens» were established, 71% more than the same period last year. Additionally, the country restored forests on 130,000 hectares of land, including 126,200 hectares on the dried seabed of the Aral Sea.
In biodiversity protection efforts, over 2,400 houbara bustards were released into the wild across Karakalpakstan, Navoi, and Bukhara regions. Meanwhile, in Surkhandarya, conservationists released endangered Central Asian cobras and boa snakes into their natural habitats.
Uzbekistan also attracted $87.8 mln in green investments, surpassing projections, out of an expected $183.9 mln by year-end. Overall, the country is implementing 10 environmental investment projects worth over $1.8 bn.
The government is bolstering air, water, and soil monitoring, with 17 new automated air-quality stations installed in Karakalpakstan and environmental tests conducted at 228 sites. Over 252,000 vehicles underwent eco-inspections, a 22.9% increase from last year.
Efforts in sustainable waste management included the acquisition of 338 units of equipment and the installation of 3 sorting and 12 recycling centers. Uzbekistan also signed waste-to-energy deals with Japan’s Le One Co., Ltd and China’s Shanghai SUS Environment, including plans for a $150 mln incineration plant in Samarkand.
The Ministry concluded agreements with international partners to extract methane from organic waste and generate electricity, including projects in Samarkand and Karakalpakstan.
Key outcomes in H1 2025:
- 137 mln trees and shrubs planted
- 55 new «green gardens» created
- 2,400 houbara bustards released
- 5,400 hectares of cultivated herbal plantations established
- $87.8 mln in green investments utilized
- 17 air monitoring stations installed
- 252,000 vehicles passed environmental inspections
- 23,600 environmental violations detected
- 338 waste management vehicles acquired, including 55 by the state
Uzbekistan continues to position itself as a regional leader in sustainable development, laying the foundation for long-term ecological and economic resilience.
