This is provided for by Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. 153 "On additional measures to expand the territories of state reserves and national nature parks" dated March 10, 2025.

According to the document, the territory of the Nurata State Reserve was increased by 4265.97 hectares due to the addition of the following plots: 1173.1 hectares of reserve lands in the Farishi district, 270 hectares of the Farishi State Forestry, 1657.41 hectares of lands of the Pangatsky section of the Committee for the Development of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry in the Kushrabatsky district of the Samarkand region and 1165.46 hectares of lands of the Khalkabad section of the Payaryksky district. The total area was 22,017.97 hectares.

The territory of the Zarafshan National Natural Park has also been expanded by 2,807.61 hectares due to the addition of: 275.58 hectares of reserve lands in the Bulungur district, 42.34 hectares of the Jambay State Forestry, 278.78 hectares of the Urgut specialized State forestry, 262.1 hectares of the Dargom State Forestry Production Enterprise in the Tailak district, 1808.79 hectares of reserve lands in the Taylak district and 140.02 hectares of reserve lands. in the Jambay district. The total area of the park was 5,234.01 hectares.

The territory of the Surkhan State Reserve was increased by 249 hectares due to the annexation of the lands of the Kyzyryk State Forestry of the Sherabad district of the Surkhandarya region, resulting in a total area of 24,051 hectares.

In addition, 17,145.2 hectares of lands of the Nurata State Reserve and 16,446 hectares of lands of the Surkhan State Reserve are classified as protected areas.

This decree will help to increase the effectiveness of the protection of existing rare plant and animal species by expanding the area of protected natural areas.

For reference: as a result of the work carried out in recent years to restore ecosystems and preserve biodiversity, the area of protected natural territories has been increased to 14.2 percent of the total area of the republic.

Earlier, the protected areas of two state reserves with a total area of 61,359.89 hectares were identified.