The first environmental atomic festival was held in Tashkent

The First Ecological Atomic Festival Held in Tashkent

On October 24, 2026, the EcoAtomFest ecological festival, organized by the Rosatom State Corporation with the support of the Uzatom agency, took place at the venue of the Tashkent branch of the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI. This event served as the final chord of the Autumn School and the Impact Team ecological camp.

The festival program united the topics of sustainable development and practical environmental protection work: students from Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Uzbekistan participated in tree planting, attended environmental lectures and masterclasses, met like-minded people, and learned about opportunities to develop their own initiatives.

The main event of EcoAtomFest was the collective planting of 50 ash trees. Before starting work, participants received instructions, divided into small teams, and, accompanied by volunteers, distributed themselves across pre-prepared plots.

Territory greening aligns with Uzbekistan's national priorities in environmental protection and the expansion of green spaces. The nationwide project "Yashil Makon" was launched by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Sh.M. Mirziyoyev, in 2021. According to the plan, by 2030, the overall level of greening in Uzbekistan should increase from 14.2 percent to 30 percent. Tree planting campaigns help involve young people in achieving these goals and foster a responsible attitude toward urban nature.

After planting the trees, participants joined an interactive program. Experts and volunteers prepared sessions on everyday ecological practices, urban nature, and finding solutions to environmental challenges. Volunteers from "Oltin Qanot Volontyorlari" conducted a masterclass on planting microgreens.

Pavel Volkov, head of the NGO "Indigo", explained how to properly care for seedlings and adult trees. Birdwatcher and activist of the birds.uz community Margarita Davydova introduced guests to the birds that can be found around and the practice of birdwatching.

Mokhinurkhon Ergash, an eco-activist and environmental expert at the Volunteer Association of Uzbekistan, invited participants to discuss the environmental problems of the republic's regions and come up with their own ways to solve them. Jamshid Khakimov, Chairman of the NGO "ECOLAND", conducted an introductory lesson on ecology. Visitors were also able to engage in eco-crafts and depict their vision of an eco-friendly house in drawings.

At the festival, participants were presented with Rosatom's international grant support competition for environmental and socially useful projects. Uzbekistan is among the countries whose organizations can participate in this competition.

The competition supports initiatives in environmental protection, ecological culture, education, volunteering, assistance to vulnerable groups, urban environment development, and other socially significant areas. One can submit either a new project or an individual stage of an already existing program to the competition. The best initiatives will receive grant funding, and the winners will be able to count on consulting and organizational support from invited experts.

The cultural program of the festival was opened by students of the specialized boarding school No. 11 "Nurli Maskan" from the Syrdarya region, who presented a dombra performance and a dance number. Aziz and Akmal Anvarov from the Tashkent region performed the "Andijan Polka". The studio Divas Dance Studio performed the Korean folk dance "SARANG-MUU".

In the finale of EcoAtomFest, an award ceremony was held for activists for their contribution to the ecology of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The organizers thanked representatives of environmental and volunteer organizations for their educational work and participation in environmental initiatives. The festival became a space for communication among youth, experts, and public organizations, connecting the educational program with joint work on greening and the development of ecological culture.

"Environmental protection and a safety culture begin with a responsible attitude toward one's actions. That is why it is so important to involve young people not only in discussing environmental issues but also in practical work. At EcoAtomFest, participants were able to apply the knowledge they gained, contribute to the greening of the territory, and learn how to care for the planted trees. Such initiatives meet Uzbekistan's priorities for expanding green spaces and help shape the ecological culture of future specialists," said Alexandra Khidirnazarova, Head of the Industrial Safety, Labor Protection, and Environmental Protection Department of the "NPP Construction Directorate".

"The school-camp gave participants an opportunity to see how closely technologies, ecology, and people's quality of life are connected. Working in international teams, the kids learned to take various factors into account, argue their decisions, and hear one another. It is symbolic that the educational program concludes with tree planting: knowledge of sustainable development acquires special value when it transitions into practical deeds," emphasized Diana Gamazova, member and mentor of the international youth advisory council Impact Team 2050 and project manager of "Atomic Energy for Central Asia".

"Environmental responsibility manifests in concrete actions—from a careful attitude toward resources to participating in the greening of one's city. EcoAtomFest brings together youth, volunteers, and experts around a common cause. For us, it is important that such a meeting is not limited to a single day, but becomes the beginning of new partnerships and long-term environmental initiatives," noted Alexey Dremuchev, General Director of "Rosatom Central Asia".