Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 25 January, a meeting was held in the building of the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change with the participation of the head of the Department of Protected Natural Areas (PA) Zokir Rakhimov, the head of the UN Development Program cluster on Environment and Climate Bahadur Paluaniyazov , Aral wetlands project manager Akmal Ismatov and others.

The main reason for the meeting was to discuss the project “Conservation and management of lakes, wetlands and coastal corridors as the basis for a sustainable and land degradation-neutral landscape of the Aral Sea basin supporting sustainable livelihoods.”

As part of this project, two off-road vehicles were transferred to the national natural parks “Southern Ustyurt” and “Central Kyzylkum”. The project is being implemented jointly with the Ministry of Environment, the United Nations Development Program and the Global Environment Facility.

The leaders emphasized that the main goal of the project is to expand protected natural areas, preserve wetlands and wetlands, and improve conditions for the sustainability and survival of ecosystems in the Lower Amu Darya and Aral Sea basins. It is planned to open a Monitoring Center for Protected Natural Areas.

It was also noted that it is important to increase the amount of scientific research in the field of protected natural areas. SUVs and other vehicles are designed to enhance annual work in protected areas and improve working conditions.

The project also stipulates the phased strengthening and development of five new protected natural areas in the period from 2023 to 2026. These territories include the national natural parks “South Ustyurt”, “Priarale”, “Central Kyzylkum”, as well as the reserves “Sudochye-Akpetki” and “Barsakelmes” with a total area of more than 3 million hectares.