Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 23 November, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev planted a tree in a new garden being created as part of the nationwide project "Yashil Makon" (Green Space).

Today, environmental issues are at the forefront of global challenges. Air and water pollution, land degradation, desertification, and global warming are damaging the natural balance and people’s health. Recognizing the scale of these threats, Uzbekistan has already taken steps to protect the environment.

Three years ago, on the initiative of the president, the "Yashil Makon" project was launched, which has quickly turned into a popular movement. The tradition of planting trees in the spring and autumn has once again taken root in society.

The president regularly leads by example in this effort. He previously participated in tree planting in New Tashkent, and in the Sergeli and Chilanzar districts of the capital. This year, a new green belt was established along the ring road in the Bektemir district of Tashkent. For this, 100 hectares of land have been allocated, and over the next two years, 100,000 trees and shrubs will be planted. Three artificial reservoirs and 12 wells have been built to irrigate the area.

The "Yashil Makon" project aims to increase the level of greenery in cities to 30% and create green belts around them. The new area along the ring road will become part of the Tashkent Green Belt, where a natural forest ecosystem will be formed.

During the event, the president interacted with members of the public and foreign diplomats, thanking them for their support of the environmental initiative.

“This tradition is deeply rooted in our people. We hold nature in high esteem and call it our mother. Today, when environmental issues are especially urgent, this truth has become clear. That is why the ‘Yashil Makon’ project was initiated, and next year has been declared the Year of Environmental Protection. It is important for these initiatives to find broad support and become part of everyday life, especially among the youth. Every family, every enterprise must contribute to preserving nature,” Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized.

Residents of Karakalpakstan and other regions, where tree planting activities were also organized, joined the event via video link. As part of the autumn "Yashil Makon" campaign, 80 million trees and shrubs are planned to be planted. In the spring of this year, 138 million saplings were planted. Ministries and local authorities have created 257 parks. Trees are being actively planted around large industrial facilities and landfills, forming green zones.

Additionally, nearly 10,000 residents and entrepreneurs have leased land along roads, rivers, and canals for tree planting. At the same time, 215 projects that won under the "My Garden" initiative are being implemented.

Over the past three years, 646 million trees and shrubs have been planted in Uzbekistan. In the Aral Sea region, the area of green plantings has exceeded 2 million hectares, marking an important step in addressing the region’s environmental problems.