Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- At the fifty-first plenary meeting of the Senate, the issue of sending a parliamentary request to the Cabinet of Ministers regarding the state of improving the qualitative composition, conservation of flora and fauna and maintaining an inventory of protected natural areas was considered.

It was noted that our country is implementing large-scale reforms to improve the environmental situation, environmental protection, and rational use of natural resources. Combating climate change, mitigating its negative consequences, and expanding protected natural areas have become a priority.

It was emphasized that a strong organizational and legal framework has been created in our country to govern and regulate this area.

As a result of the work implemented, the total area of protected natural areas in the republic reached 6.321 million hectares, which is 14.08% of the country’s territory.

Protected natural areas cover 83% of animal (vertebrate) species and 89% of plant species listed in the Red Book of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

During the discussion, the senators noted that there are issues related to the preservation of biodiversity in protected natural areas, improving their quality, and maintaining an inventory of flora and fauna.

Thus, the total biomass of protected natural areas has decreased due to illegal grazing by the population and other negative factors.

Research work on the study of the biological diversity of protected natural areas, degradation processes and their economic potential is not at the proper level.

Due to the fact that no work is being done to restore areas affected by the crisis, soil erosion under the influence of wind and water, desertification are increasing, and the formation of dust is becoming chronic.

In recent years, due to various natural and anthropogenic factors, the number of animal and plant species has decreased, and the situation in their habitat is sharply deteriorating.

In some protected natural areas, wild animals and plants are harmed as a result of violations of established procedures (regime), including poaching, illegal construction and grazing. In most cases, fire safety rules are not followed.

Due to the insufficiently established system of training specialists in this field, there is a shortage of qualified personnel.

Based on the above, the senators emphasized the need for targeted spending of funds provided for the conservation of biological diversity in protected natural areas and their rational use, prevention of poaching, smuggling of flora and fauna, illegal construction, grazing, generation and analysis of cadastral data, digitization of the sphere.

They also drew attention to the need to further expand the areas of protected natural areas, their effective use, improve rental relations, introduce public-private partnership rules, strengthen fire safety, and increase the effectiveness of practical measures to prevent crime.

At the end of the discussion, the Senate adopted a resolution to send a parliamentary request to the Government regarding the state of improvement of the qualitative composition, conservation of flora and fauna and maintenance of the cadastre of protected natural areas.