Tashkent (TDI): Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev underscored the vital role of collective efforts in tackling environmental challenges during a tree-planting event held under the “Yashil Makon” (Green Space) initiative on Saturday.
The nationwide project aims to enhance greenery and combat pressing ecological issues in the country.
As part of this year’s drive, President Mirziyoyev planted trees in a newly established green belt along the Tashkent Ring Road in Bektemir district.
The site, spanning 100 hectares, is set to feature 100,000 tree and shrub seedlings within two years, supported by three artificial reservoirs and 12 wells for irrigation.
Speaking at the tree-planting ceremony, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev expressed gratitude to the public and foreign diplomats for their contributions to the ambitious environmental program.
“This tradition is deeply ingrained in our culture,” the president noted.
“We regard nature as ‘mother’ and have always treated land and water with reverence. In the face of pressing environmental challenges, this truth has become even more evident.”
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Highlighting the urgency of ecological conservation, President Mirziyoyev emphasized the importance of the “Yashil Makon” project, which has evolved into a nationwide movement.
He announced that the coming year would be observed as the Year of Environmental Protection and Green Economy”, underscoring the need to promote sustainable practices, particularly among the youth.
“These initiatives must be widely disseminated and firmly rooted,” he said, adding that every household and enterprise must actively contribute to protecting and preserving the environment.
Yashil Makon Project Becomes a Widespread Public Movement
Launched three years ago, the “Yashil Makon” project has evolved into a widespread public movement, reviving the tradition of seasonal tree planting.
The initiative aligns with Uzbekistan’s ambitious goal to increase urban greenery to 30 percent by creating green belts around cities.
This autumn, 80 million tree and shrub seedlings are planned for planting, following the 138 million planted earlier in spring.
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Ministries and local administrations have already established 257 parks, and tree planting is ongoing around industrial zones, landfills, and infrastructure corridors.
Over the past three years, Uzbekistan has planted 646 million tree and shrub seedlings nationwide.
In the environmentally fragile Aral Sea region, green spaces now span more than 2 million hectares, reflecting the country’s commitment to ecological restoration.
