“In Tajikistan, forest cover accounts for only 2 percent. To address the threats posed by climate change, this level needs to be increased to 20 percent, for example, to help combat dust storms,” said Solijon Mirzoev, Coordinator of the project “Restoration of Sustainable Landscape in the Republic of Tajikistan”, at the Regional Dialogue on the Restoration of Landscapes in Central Asia in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Solijon Mirzoev informed dialogue participants about the results of the RESILAND CA+ Program in Tajikistan, emphasizing that Tajikistan faces challenges similar to those in Uzbekistan. Due to climate change, it has become necessary to adapt to new climate realities. For example, as in Uzbekistan, tree-planting strategies in Tajikistan have changed: planting now begins in November, as spring water availability is insufficient.
Solijon Mirzoev highlighted the importance of the RESILAND CA+ Program for Tajikistan, which was the first country in Central Asia to implement this project. The project focuses on the restoration of forests, pastures, and protected areas. Significant progress has also been made in the institutional sphere: an Environmental Code has been prepared and submitted to the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan for consideration.
Within the framework of the project, a “Green Country” initiative has been developed, under which more than 2 billion trees are planned to be planted in Tajikistan by 2040.
Another key activity is forest inventory. According to Solijon Mirzoev, this type of forest inventory, using the latest advanced technologies to accurately determine forest composition, is being conducted in Central Asia for the first time.
Solijon Mirzoev noted that the Central Asian region faces common challenges caused by climate change and requires a unified system to respond to natural phenomena.
“This event provided an excellent platform, facilitated by the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia, to jointly address the environmental challenges faced by Central Asian countries,” said Solijon Mirzoev.
It is recalled that the Agency for Increasing Forests and Green Areas and Combating Desertification under the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change of Uzbekistan hosted the Regional Dialogue on the Restoration of Landscapes in Central Asia on 9–10 December 2025 in Tashkent.
Government officials from Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, together with international experts, discussed enhancing regional cooperation in forest management and transboundary landscape restoration. The event was held under the World Bank–funded Central Asia Resilient Landscapes Restoration Program (RESILAND CA+), the largest ecosystem restoration initiative in the region, which supports climate resilience across all five Central Asian countries through projects implemented by national authorities.
The Program is aimed at strengthening climate resilience in urban and rural areas of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
The Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) is implementing the regional component of the RESILAND Kyrgyz Republic, RESILAND Tajikistan, and RESILAND Uzbekistan projects.
Additional information:
Azamat Kauazov - Deputy Team Leader of Uzbekistan Resilient Landscape Restoration project: regional component, CAREC
Dilovarsho Dustzoda — Deputy Team Leader of the Project Implementation Group for “Sustainable Landscape Restoration in the Republic of Tajikistan: Regional Component”, CAREC
Lyudmila Kiktenko – Deputy Team Leader, “Restoration of Sustainable Landscapes in Kyrgyzstan: Regional Component” Project, CAREC