Tashkent and Samarkand joined the FAO Green Cities Network

Tashkent and Samarkand have joined the FAO Green Cities Network.

On August 20, 2026, the Green Cities Initiative Secretariat, located at FAO headquarters in Rome, issued certificates officially confirming the accession of Tashkent and Samarkand to the Green Cities Network of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

By joining the Network, Tashkent and Samarkand are now part of a global community of cities working together to create greener, healthier, more resilient, and more inclusive urban environments. The Network promotes sustainable urban development by applying integrated approaches to urban greening and strengthening cooperation between participating cities.

The Network promotes integrated solutions and strategies in three main areas: urban and peri-urban forestry; urban and peri-urban agriculture; and a sustainable bioeconomy.

Membership in the FAO Green Cities Network offers Tashkent and Samarkand opportunities to receive technical support and capacity development, share knowledge and experience, participate in inter-municipal cooperation platforms, receive assistance in ensuring compliance with applicable global frameworks and environmental agendas, develop partnerships, mobilize resources and attract investment, and enhance their international visibility as leading cities promoting sustainable urban development solutions.

Launched in 2020, the Green Cities Initiative aims to achieve measurable improvements in the health and well-being of urban residents, as well as environmental health, in 1,000 cities worldwide by 2030.

Collaboration within the Network is based on the Green Cities Communiqué and FAO's principles and criteria for green cities.

The Green Cities Communiqué, presented at the first International Conference on Green Cities in 2025, reflects a shared vision and collective commitment to advancing the global movement for greener cities. The FAO Green Cities Principles and Criteria define the conceptual framework and guiding principles of the Green Cities Initiative.

In the coming weeks, the FAO Green Cities Initiative Secretariat will provide additional guidance for the initial self-assessment. This process will help identify priority areas for each city and tailor technical assistance to its needs.