Uzbekistan is one of the countries most at risk of desertification. About 70% of the territory, especially in the Aral Sea region, is under threat. Rising temperatures, lack of precipitation and frequent dust storms accelerate soil degradation and disrupt the ecological balance.
Since 1995, Uzbekistan has been actively involved in the implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. Work is underway to restore degraded lands, plant saxaul on the dried-up bottom of the Aral Sea, create green belts and digitally monitor soils.
In 2024, at COP16 in Riyadh, Uzbekistan's initiative, the Samarkand Declaration, received international support.
Desertification is a threat to sustainable development. The fight against land degradation is directly related to food security, poverty reduction and protection of public health.
