The first regional office of the International
Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has opened in the Uzbek capital. Its primary
goal is to strengthen cooperation with the Central Asian countries.
Additionally, the new office will serve as an expert platform, linking national
and regional initiatives with global environmental standards. The IUCN is
implementing projects focused on environmental management, transboundary water
partnerships, and the restoration of natural habitats.
«We would like to work hand in hand with the
people of Uzbekistan, with your experts, with the people who are graduating
from the universities. Conserving nature is very important because we humans
depend on nature to our survival. We would like to work on adaptation to
climate change. We are here also to protect the species. We are the ones who do
the Red List of threatened species. With information from Uzbekistan, it’s
important not just to say which species are in danger, but also to save the
ones that can be in a critical state,» noted IUCN Director General Grethel
Aguilar.
Uzbekistan is actively promoting the
environmental agenda. The year 2025 has been declared the ‘Year of
Environmental Protection and Green Economy’ in the country. The office of the
International Union for Conservation of Nature has been opened at the country’s
first specialized environmental university. This strategic decision is aimed at
engaging youth, scientists, researchers and experts.
«The Green University is a remarkable place,
not only because of its location for hosting offices, but also for the
opportunities it provides to engage with students and specialists. It offers a
platform for holding events and doing everything possible to preserve the
unique nature of Central Asia and Uzbekistan, as well as to improve the
well-being of its residents,» said Dmitry Gorshkov, Head of the IUCN office in
Tashkent.
«The opening of the office is set to broaden
the horizons of this cooperation. Most importantly, it will introduce
international standards for documenting rare and endangered species of plants
and animals in Uzbekistan. This year, the sixth edition of the Red Data Book of
Uzbekistan is being prepared. It will also facilitate coordinated efforts with
other Central Asian countries to preserve these rare and endangered species,» said
Shakhlo Turdikulova, Vice President of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan.
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