Uzbekistan showcases integrated land management at UNCCD COP17
Uzbekistan highlighted its integrated land management strategies at the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP17).
During a side event dedicated to Food Systems and Soil Health Day, Uzbekistan shared its expertise in sustainable agriculture and land restoration. The presentation focused on actionable methods for combating land degradation and enhancing agricultural resilience.
The event convened experts from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), government officials, and international collaborators to deliberate on Uzbekistan's initiatives concerning soil health, sustainable land and water management, agriculture that considers biodiversity, and integrated landscape planning.
These strategies are being put into practice through the Food Systems, Land Use and Restoration Impact Program (FOLUR). The FOLUR–Uzbekistan project receives funding from the Global Environment Facility and is executed by the FAO, in partnership with Uzbekistan’s National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change and the Ministry of Agriculture.
The core objectives of these approaches are to rejuvenate soil health, mitigate land degradation, and bolster the enduring sustainability of agricultural output.
Sherzod Nizamov, who leads the FOLUR–Uzbekistan project and represents the Ministry of Agriculture, detailed Uzbekistan's integrated landscape management strategy for sustainable wheat cultivation. He emphasized the critical connection between agricultural production and responsible land and water management, alongside planning at the landscape level.
Alexander Iscenko from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) outlined methods for integrating biodiversity protection into agricultural practices, all while upholding sustainable farming and preserving natural ecosystems.
Attendees exchanged insights on regenerative agriculture, production methods that are sensitive to biodiversity, and integrated landscape management, especially in arid regions grappling with land degradation and climate-induced challenges.
Uzbekistan's involvement also served as a platform to showcase its current endeavors in restoring degraded land and fostering more resilient agrifood systems to a global audience, simultaneously exploring avenues for further collaboration on sustainable land and natural resource management.