President Shavkat Mirziyoyev chaired a video conference on October 21 to discuss the effectiveness of the "Green Space" national project and future priorities. The President's press service reported this.
Our country aims to increase the greenery level to 30 percent by planting 200 million trees and shrubs annually by 2030. In recent years, this figure has reached 12 percent.
This spring, 138 million saplings were planted. Since the beginning of the year, more than 10 thousand hectares of “green belts”, ministries, and local governments have established 257 parks. The green cover in the Aral Sea region has exceeded 2 million hectares.
From this year, 2 thousand hectares of land adjacent to roads, rivers, and canals were leased for planting to 10 thousand residents and entrepreneurs. Under the "My Garden" project, 49 billion soums were allocated from the budget, and 215 new gardens are being created in neighborhoods.
These efforts are also recognized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the executive body of the Convention to Combat Desertification.
However, it is regrettable that some areas have been negligent in this noble cause. Trees were planted in areas without an irrigation system or not planted in place of cut-down trees in some districts.
The meeting defined tasks for the current season and the coming year.
First of all, the need to increase the breeding of saplings suitable for our country’s climate was emphasized. Particularly, working effectively with the Academy of Sciences, environmental, rural, water and forestry agencies, quarantine systems, research organizations, universities, in-vitro laboratories would result in 2-3 times more profit from seed and sapling production. Science will also advance.
Next year, 4 parks consisting of halophyte plants resistant to water scarcity and salinity will be established in the districts of Nukus, Arnasoy, Qorako‘l, and Muborak. Additionally, saxaul, qandim, and cherkez seeds, which do not require water, will be planted by drones in the deserts of Qoraqalpog‘iston, Bukhara, Jizzakh, Navoiy, Qashqadaryo, Surxondaryo, Khorezm covering 250 thousand hectares.
From the spring season, 1.5 thousand tons of seeds will be prepared annually by selecting healthy mother plantations from forestry enterprises. Following South Korea's experience, 2 million saplings will be produced using container and in-vitro methods resistant to drought and adapted to climate conditions. The institute named after Mahmud Mirzaev will produce 10 million fruit saplings annually in Samarkand, Khorezm, Tashkent, and the Fergana Valley.
The possibilities of organizing tree planting activities with agility were demonstrated.
The main strength is in the neighborhoods. Greenery and well-being, first of all, are essential for the people themselves. Therefore, "neighborhood representatives" will grow a total of 6 million ornamental trees from 100 saplings each in their designated streets. Additionally, 3 million saplings will be planted in other streets, vacant lots, and around multi-story buildings. Overall, it's possible to plant 20 million ornamental and fruit trees in neighborhoods.
The Forestry Agency is tasked with organizing fairs in all neighborhoods and delivering 30 million saplings. It is mentioned that 2.5 million trees can be planted on the territories of over 20 thousand educational institutions and hospitals, and 1.5 million trees can be planted on 60 thousand hectares of land allocated to the youth.
In the fall, ministries and local governments plan to plant 40 million saplings.
In particular, 9 million saplings will be planted along 13 international highways. Additionally, 2 thousand kilometers of roadsides will be allocated to 10 thousand citizens and entrepreneurs for this purpose. Saplings will also be planted along the Tashkent-Samarkand and Samarkand-Qarshi railway lines. Twenty-one million saplings of poplar, mulberry, and grape will be grown on field borders.
The Ministry of Defense will be responsible for planting 200 thousand saplings, and the ministries of internal affairs, national guard, and emergency situations will each plant 100 thousand saplings. A “green belt” will be established around waste landfills.
As noted, next year 100 billion soums will be allocated for the "Green Space" project. Tree care, disease prevention, and irrigation expenses will also be included in the investment program.
Two different experiments related to irrigation will be conducted. Specifically, permission will be given to dig a well in 27 districts. In the spring, 500 hectares of trees will be planted in tiers on the hills and slopes of 14 districts.
Tasks were assigned to develop green areas and public parks as part of the "My Garden" project in the regions. These areas will be listed on the “Open Budget” portal before the planting season, showing the recommended types of trees and their prices. A system for warning negligent individuals through a mobile app will be introduced.
It was noted that dust storms have been occurring more frequently in our country recently. This is caused by illegal logging, water scarcity, unregulated grazing, along with global climate change. The variety of plants in deserts has also significantly decreased.
The head of our state emphasized that pastures are the largest reserve for ensuring food security in the current conditions of a growing population.
Therefore, the management of 16 million hectares of pasture lands was assigned to the Veterinary and Livestock Development Committee. The Committee is tasked with preparing a three-year program to rehabilitate deserts. Next year, initially, 50 million dollars of grant funds will be allocated for these purposes.
Another issue relevant to the sector is the disappearance of desert plant cover. Therefore, officials were instructed to increase green areas in the desert and semi-desert regions of Bukhara and Navoiy provinces.
Together with the “Uzbekcosmos” agency, a platform for monitoring the ecological state of deserts will be created. The responsibility of the Forestry Agency in this direction will be increased. From now on, it will also deal with combating desertification, and the “Roadside Greenery” organizations next to the local governments will join the agency system.
The Agency is tasked, in collaboration with the Academy of Sciences, to create a 20-hectare experimental site for cultivating plants that can rehabilitate degraded pastures.
Our President also touched upon the issues of promoting a healthy lifestyle in society. The importance of introducing new approaches to physical health improvement, sports, walking, and proper nutrition was mentioned.
The information and plans of those responsible for the issues discussed at the meeting were heard.
