Uzbekistan-China Partner to Combat Desertification and Land Degradation

Uzbekistan has reached an agreement with the Chinese National Society for cooperation in ecology. Minister of Ecology Aziz Abdukhakimov met with Chairman of the National Society for Combating Desertification and Desertification of China during the 21st session of the UN Convention on Desertification Review Committee.

They discussed conducting research on land degradation and sustainable land management, exchanging experiences, and implementing joint research activities in Uzbekistan regions with a high risk of dust and sand storms.

The Chinese society is a national academic and non-profit organization comprising specialists in combating desertification. A strategy to combat desertification and sandstorms was adopted. This involves subsidizing pastures, banning private pastures, increasing livestock, creating collective livestock, and restoring forest and grass cover on plowed land.

Aziz Abdukhakimov informed the Chinese side about the growing threat of dust and sand storms in southern Uzbekistan. He discussed the "Green Space" initiative as a control measure within the national initiative. The Minister emphasized the need to reconsider the society's relationship with land and nature.

Both parties agreed to establish close cooperation in combating desertification and land degradation. They will develop and sign a Memorandum on scientific and practical cooperation. The China National Society for Desertification Industry and Sandstorm Prevention, established in 1992, is the only society for desertification prevention in China.