Initiatives to attract investment for land restoration presented at COP17

Initiatives to invest in land restoration presented at COP17

A parallel event entitled “From Investments to Results” was held at the National Pavilion of Uzbekistan within the framework of the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP17). It discussed issues of effective attraction of investments for restoration of degraded lands, increasing climate resilience and large-scale implementation of successful ecological solutions.

The event was attended by Aziz Abdukhakimov, Advisor to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Environmental Issues - Chairman of the National Committee for Ecology and Climate Change, Dr. Tarifa Alzaabi, Director General of the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA), Professor Bakhtiyor Pulatov, Rector of the Central Asian University for Environmental and Climate Change Studies (Green University), as well as Dr. Marguba Rejapova, a postdoctoral fellow at the ICBA CAC.

In his speech, Aziz Abduhakimov noted that the experience of Karakalpakstan shows that targeted investments can have long-term effects beyond a single project. In 2023, with the help of funds in the amount of 5.1 million US dollars allocated by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, the National Committee for Ecology and Climate Change, in collaboration with ICBA, implemented a project to develop sustainable agricultural production systems in degraded areas of Karakalpakstan. Within the framework of the project, three exhibition areas were created, climate-resistant crops were tested, and approaches were developed for the effective management of soil, water resources, and agricultural production.

Aziz Abduhakimov also noted that the initial project gradually developed into a more comprehensive system of technology and knowledge transfer. In 2025–2026, the program covered another 4,144 farmers in all 15 districts of Karakalpakstan, and the volume of quality seeds produced and distributed exceeded 20.9 tons. It was noted that today the task is not only to evaluate the results of initial investments, but also to institutionalize successful solutions, implement them on a large scale and attract new generation investments.

During the event, a concept for further development of cooperation between Uzbekistan and ICBA was also presented. In particular, it was proposed to establish the "Central Asian Center for Bio-Agriculture and Climate Sustainability" (CABACRH) on the basis of the "Green University". This center will combine field projects, laboratory research, personnel training and implementation of technologies. A key component of this initiative is the establishment of a $5 million Spirulina Research Laboratory, which will provide infrastructure for conducting research in the field of microalgae, water resources and salinity, as well as training students, researchers and farmers.

Special attention was also paid to the formation of investment-ready projects in the field of land restoration. As one of the mechanisms, it was proposed to establish a Drylands Project Lab at the Green University. It will prepare projects taking into account baseline indicators, budget, environmental and social safeguards, key performance indicators and possible sources of financing. It is proposed to form the first international group within the initiative in 2027 with the participation of specialists from Central Asia, Mongolia and other regions with arid climates.

The event also discussed the proposal to develop a regional standard for the quality of land restoration and a monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) system. This involves assessing not only the area of restored areas, but also the restoration of vegetation cover, soil condition, water balance, productivity and socio-economic outcomes. At the initial stage, it was proposed to pilot this standard in 5-10 land restoration projects.

In addition, the participants considered the establishment of a land project preparation center in Central Asia aimed at preparing for attracting financing. This mechanism involves supporting such stages as conducting feasibility studies, developing baseline indicators and an MRV system, providing environmental and social safeguards, economic analysis and developing a financial structure. The prepared projects can then be directed to existing financing mechanisms, including the Global Environment Facility, the Green Climate Fund, international financial institutions, bilateral partners and private capital.

During the event, Professor Bakhtiyor Pulatov and Dr. Marguba Rejapova presented issues of scientific and institutional capacity building, knowledge exchange, training, and cooperation with farmers and national institutions. Special attention was paid to the cooperation of Green University with ICBA and the activities of AquaBio Lab as a platform for research, innovation, and technological development, as well as the practical results of international projects. The final part of the event was devoted to the issues of expanding cooperation, scaling up successful solutions, and attracting new investments to support new initiatives in Uzbekistan and ICBA.

In conclusion, it was noted that each successful investment should create a basis for subsequent investment, form an evidence-based base, build capacity, ensure widespread dissemination of technologies, and create a portfolio of projects ready for financing.