The United States Embassy in Tashkent is supporting several programs by Uzbek non-governmental organizations to raise environmental awareness among the people of Uzbekistan.

These NGOs also work to provide the public with information on environmental issues. NGO leaders say public awareness is an important step in dealing with Uzbekistan’s environmental challenges. "The first thing in environmental protection is information," said Saidrasul Sanginov, the director of Logos and a professor of Philosophy at the Tashkent Information Technology University. Logos is an environmental non-governmental organization founded in 2001.

The NGO has received US government support for a program to encourage environmental journalism. "Our mission," said Mr. Sanginov, "is to build a partnership with journalists."

Other US-supported environmental programs include training in best practices in water usage from irrigation canals and the publication of environmental materials for use in universities.

Environmental protection is one of many areas in which the United States cooperates with the Uzbekistan government and non-governmental organizations for the common good of the Central Asia region.