National Report on the
State of the Environment REPUBLIC OF
UZBEKISTAN
Illustrative Summary Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan
Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan
The National State of the Environment Report of Uzbekistan was prepared by the team of the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan and other contributors: Khaniya Asylbekova, Zulfiya Yarulina, Marina Plotsen, Khalilulla Sherimbetov, Tatyana Li, Jakhongir Talipov, Umarjon Abdullaev, Bobur Makhmudov, Numonjon Shakirov, Javohir Abdulkhalikov, Azizbek Kalimbetov, Anvar Tursunaliev, Shakhnoza Usmanova, Olga Mirshina. The authors would like to thank Aziz Abdukhakimov, Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan, for his continued support and guidance. The National State of the Environment Report was prepared with the support of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and with financial support from the Global Public Goods and Challenges (GPGC) Programme Cooperation Agreement between the European Commission and UNEP. The efforts and contributions of the team at the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) are gratefully acknowledged: Livia Bizikova and Avet Khachatryan provided methodological guidance, capacity building, and overall guidance for the development of the report.
Zoï Environment Network, in collaboration with the Ministry and with support from UNEP, developed this Illustrative Summary. Maps, illustrations and layout were developed by Matthias Beilstein, Aleksandra Povarich and Dina Adylova. The concept and supervision was provided Viktor Novikov. The findings, interpretations and conclusions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations or its Member States. The text, maps and illustrations may be used without prior permission, provided the source is acknowledged. Data are mainly for 2020–2022, depending on the subject. Photos are by courtesy of Natalia Shulepina, Anastasia Pavlenko, Anna Barashkova, Khaniya Asylbekova, Viktor Novikov.
Contents Introduction to Uzbekistan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Air quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Water resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Soils and land resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Wild nature and biodiversity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Climate change. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Health and environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 The Aral Sea region. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Waste and chemicals management. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Uzbekistan is the most populous country of Central Asia, with a population of 36 million and an annual growth of 750 000. Half of the population is urban. The rural population lives mainly in irrigated areas and river valleys, as large parts of the country are deserts. Mountains play an essential role in forming water and supporting rich biodiversity. Uzbekistan is one of the world’s top ten producers of cotton, gold and uranium and has a well-developed industrial and science base. The country’s economy and population depend on natural resources. Syr Darya
KAZAKHSTAN
KY RGYZSTAN
Tashkent
TURKMENISTAN Uzbekistan is party Am uD to 14 international conTAJIKISTAN ar ya ventions and more than 20 agreements and memoranda of understanding on environmental protection. The Ministry of Ecology cooperates with the United Nations and other organizations, such as the International AFGHANISTAN Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the European Union (EU). Regional cooperation is promoted via the Central Asia Regional Environmental Centre (CAREC), the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) and its structures — the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination (ICWC) and the Interstate Commission on Sustainable Development (ICSD) — and other platforms. The Ministry of Ecology is implementing 31 international grant projects totalling $100 million, and eight more projects with the total budget of $40 million are in the pipeline. Project themes include biodiversity conservation, including migratory species; measures on climate change and forests; desertification; improving the situation in the Aral Sea region; and sound waste and chemicals management.
Natural resources of Uzbekistan in figures Glaciers melted by
30% due to global warming
3
50 km 80% of river runoff
is formed in the mountains outside the country
Mountain areas are rich in species of flora and fauna
Mountain forests:
446 000 hectares
Scenic mountains attract the development of tourism, sports and recreation Pastures 21.2 million ha
12 km3
runoff from inland rivers
Volume of all reservoirs
20 km3
60%
of irrigated land depends on pumping
Protected areas 14% Irrigated lands 4.3 million ha
Oil, gas, gold and uranium extraction is concentrated in desert areas
Riparian forests т
Desert soils and climate cover 70% of the country Wetlands are important for fish and migratory birds
38 000 ha
Main areas of international environmental cooperation
O3 Renewable energy
Climate change
Sound waste and chemicals management
Ozone layer protection
Combating desertification
Biodiversity conservation
Regional environmental cooperation
Migratory species, combating wildlife traffic
Conservation of mountain ecosystems and species
Monitoring of glaciers and water resources
Modernising Industrial safety hydrometers, in major river basins improving weather forecasts
Conferences and meetings
International and regional efforts on the Aral Sea 10 50
Afforestation, conservation and restoration of wetlands in the Aral Sea zone
Water and energy saving technologies to improve the living conditions of the population
6
0
Creation of a trust fund and innovation zone in the Aral Sea region to develop alternatives
Gissarak Reservoir
Ancient Bukhara 8
in agriculture and industry
agriculture and industry
per person
and severity of droughts
NOx
SO2
CO
NОx emissions
SО2 emissions
CO emissions
of water saving
Air Quality
Stationary emissions
Mobile sources emissions
Particulate matter and dust
Air quality in major cities
Health and Environment To reduce air pollution, industries and vehicles are being equipped
Atmospheric emissions from stationary sources in Uzbekistan remained stable in recent years, but pollution from mobile sources, including emissions of particulate matter and nitrogen oxides, is increasing. Air pollution is also influenced by natural factors: still weather, temperature inversions and dust storms.
with pollution reduction technologies and filters, and urban green zones are being expanded. Much of Uzbekistan’s road transport is powered by low-carbon natural gas. The import and use of electric vehicles is growing. The general public has open access to real-time informationNutrition on air quality viaAccess the monitoring.meteo.uz web-portal Child Lifemain expectancy diseases Cancer to safe Population exposed The emissions are registered in theHeart Tashkent, Kashkadarya, development drinking water to polluted air and AirUz app. Syrdarya and Samarkand provinces, where mining and processing supply enterprises, power stations and petrochemical plants are located. In accordance with the decree of the President of the Republic of Emissions from stationary sources amount to 874 000 tonnes per year. Uzbekistan, the area and length of parks, avenues and green zones in Tashkent will be increased by 2030. The use of public transport will There are 4 million cars in Uzbekistan, annually emitting 1.3 million double, and the proportion of electric buses will reach 50 per cent. tonnes of pollutants, mainly in the Tashkent city and province. The number of cars is increasing.
Climate Change s
t
Air quality is monitored by 66 monitoring stations in 26 cities of Uzbekistan. Industrial emissions are monitored at 800 enterprises. The Atmospheric Pollution Index (API) is used to assess air polluNumber Volume and tion.Greenhouse Over the past five Warming years, therates API has remained low in many cities gas emissions of hot days size of glaciers of Uzbekistan. The country’s industrial areas and large cities sometimes experience situations of excessive air pollution.
Use of renewable energy, % share
Adaptation measures
Improved observation networks
Sound Waste and Chemicals Management
Waste generation per person
Total household waste
Household waste collected
Household waste recycled 9
Awareness and environmental actions on waste
Hazardous waste management and recycling
Monitoring and statistics on waste
Factors influencing air quality and emissions 4 000 000 vehicles
Outdated fuel use standards, growing number of cars Use of coal and wood for heating, atmospheric inversions in winter Insufficient use of air cleaning technologies and treatment
Emissions of air pollutants 874 000 tonnes
1 297 000 tonnes Dust storms
Stationary sources
Mobile sources
10
Natural factors and conditions
Pollution reduction measures 500
inspectors involved
357
filters installed
e-cars
2100 import in 2022 Euro 4
115 companies reduced emissions by 5 000 tonnes
Operation "Clean Air" to control and reduce emissions
AirUz Mobile app on air quality
Transition to e-cars and use of Euro 4 fuel standard
Measures to improve air quality in Tashkent by 2030 Reduce greenhouse gas emissions Use of e-buses
50% 17%
Expand green alleys
300 000
150 km
150 000
42 km
60% Use of public transport
Afforestation of cities and desert areas to reduce dust and pollution
30%
170 km Expand bicycle lanes
65 km
11
12
Youth on bicycles 13
of protected areas
conservation measures
List species
landscapes
on natural landscapes
monitoring
and restoration of wildlife and birds
Duration and severity of droughts
Adoption of water saving
Water Resources
Water use in agriculture and industry
Water loss in agriculture and industry
Water pollution
State of glaciers
Water availability per person
Air Quality
Water is becoming increasingly scarce in Uzbekistan. This is partly Poor water quality affects human health. The pollution of water bodies due to population growth and increasing public demand for food and with plastic waste and sewage leads to a loss of the value of water energy. On the other hand, the effects of climate change, especially for recreation and fishing. Increased salinity of water affects soils, NO SO2 CO low river levels and droughts, are evident. Snow cover and glaciers in xcrop yields and ecosystems. the mountains are diminishing, and the risk of intense rainfall leadThe main use of groundwater is for municipal and domestic puring to mudslides and flooding is growing. poses. A total of 50 000 wells are in operation in the country. The Agriculture accounts for 90 per cent of water use in Uzbekistan. most important reserves of non-saline groundwater are located in SО2 CO Air quality Stationary Mobile sources Particulate NО Wateremissions abstraction and use varies from matter year toand yeardust dependingemissions on x the provinces of Tashkent, Samarkand, emissions emissions Surkhandarya, in majorNamangan cities emissions water availability and demand, and averages 52 km3/year. The irri- and Andijan. gated area of 4.3 million ha is supported by an extensive irrigation Uzbekistan has adopted state programmes to conserve and protect network of 28 000 km of canals and 70 reservoirs with a total volume water resources. It has also introduced payments and fines for water of 20 km3. About 60% of the irrigation area is dependent on pumping pollution and overuse. The application of Integrated Water Resources stations, which consume 8 billion kWh of energy annually. Management (IWRM) principles, water accounting and water saving Water-saving technologies are used on 23 per cent of cultivated systems is increasing. In the near future, 13 000 water management land. Large water losses occur in main and inter-farm canals and facilities will be equipped with digital technologies. Drip and sprinin Life on-farm networks. Average water use inHeart irrigation (10 700 m3/ha) technologies have already been introduced 400 000 Child expectancy diseases Cancerkler irrigation Nutrition Access to safe Population on exposed development drinking water airbeing remains high. Other water consumers are: residential and municipal ha. Drought-resistant and early growing varietiesto ofpolluted crops are supply sectors, fisheries and industry. used to reduce water consumption.
Health and Environment
Environmental monitoring shows that most of the country’s waters are classified as moderately polluted (class III). A deterioration in the quality of the water is observed in the areas of large enterprises and downstream of cities. Agricultural run-off and drainage tends to mineralize rivers.
Environmental impact assessments are regularly carried out on proj-
Climateects, Change and surface water and wastewater discharge points are moni-
t
Greenhouse gas emissions
Warming rates
Number of hot days
tored. The Uzbek Hydromet water monitoring network covers 59 water bodies at 108 gauges and 86 locations. More than 1 000 water samples are taken and analysed annually.
s
Volume 14and size of glaciers
Use of renewable energy, % share
Adaptation measures
Improved observation networks
Surface water
Water withdrawal from surface sources 52 km3/year
Glacier reduction 30%
1687 pumping stations
90%
Irrigated land 4.8 mln ha
Agriculture
46,6 km3
1 g/l
Agricultural runoff pollutes rivers
70 reservoirs with a volume of 20 km3
Part of water after irrigation is reused 4.1 km3
3 g/l Water loss up to 50% due to leaks, evaporation
2% 1,2 km3
3% 1,3 km3
5% 2,3 km3
! Domestic water use
! Other uses
Industrial and energy water use
Groundwater Population
53% 7.8 km3 Groundwater use
37% Agriculture
Total estimated reserves 15
Industry
10%
Spas and mineral springs
Consequences of water pollution
Health impacts, disease outbreaks
Loss of recreational value
Salinisation of soils, damage to crops
Impact on aquatic ecosystems
Solutions
100 50
100 50
Compulsory payments and taxes for the use of natural resources, fines, compensation for pollution
Investment in water treatment and purification
New regulations, impact assessments
Integrated water resource management, river basin planning
Improved water monitoring, data digitisation
Interactive maps, accessible reports
16
Amu Darya river suffers from low water levels 17
actions on waste and chemicals
and recycling
on waste and chemicals
Soils and Land Resources
Land use
Soil and water conservation technologies
Mudflows and soil erosion in mountains
Soil salinity
Forests and planted areas
The Aral SeaOvergrazing Region is the main cause of desertification: 70 per cent of pas-
The total land area of Uzbekistan is 44.9 million ha, of which 26.2 million ha (58%) are used in agriculture. Pastures occupy 21.2 million ha or half of the country’s area.
tures in Uzbekistan are degraded. Reducing or stopping grazing helps to restore grass cover, but some types of soil degradation are irreversible — for example, the destruction and pollution of soils by industry or toxic waste.
About 70 per cent of Uzbekistan’s territory (31 million ha) is in the arid zone, with a wide distribution of desert soils and sands, frequent dust storms and dry winds. Large areas of these natural deserts aresecurity Uzbekistan isDiseases implementing smalland large-scale measures to comAral Sea drying Loss of biodiversity Food Access to clean subject to water and wind erosion. bat land degradation, to improve thewater condition of arable land and to expand the planting of trees in cities, deserts and mountains. Human activities such as overgrazing, salinization of irrigated land, Scientific research and monitoring of the land is also being carried irrational planning and land use in infrastructure development, indusout. In November 2023, an international meeting of the UN Convention trial pollution and land degradation can have a negative impact on to Combat Desertification was held in Samarkand, where participants soil conditions and desertification. organized a tree planting campaign.
18
Causes of land degradation Soil salinisation and pollution due to over-irrigation and chemicals use
Reduced crop yields and products quality
Run-off containing salts, fertilisers and agro-chemicals to rivers
Increased risk of mudslides
Desertification
Poisoning of flora and fauna
Effects on food quality and human health
Effects of climate change and drought
Chemical and toxic industrial pollution
Overgrazing of mountain and desert pastures
?
Lack of fodder
19
Decline in the endangered and unique plants
Solutions
Drip irrigation
Mulching and compost use
Maintaining good drainage in irrigation
Sand soil stabilisation with saxauls
Agro-forestry
Protection of riparian forests and wetlands
20
Crop rotation, alfalfa
Reduce grazing intensity, irrigate pastures
Planting forests Mapping and remote in mountains to sensing of forests reduce disaster risk and soils
Drip irrigation 21
Wild Nature and Biodiversity
Number and size Other areas with of protected areas conservation measures
Status of Red List species
Status of natural landscapes
Pressure on natural landscapes
Biodiversity monitoring
Breeding and restoration of wildlife and birds
Uzbekistan is implementing its National Biodiversity Strategy and Water Resources Action Plan (NBSAP) for 2019–2028. NBSAP provisions and targets
Intensive grazing results not only in soil and pasture degradation, but also in forest degradation, the disappearance of rare plants and the reduction of wildlife habitats. Aquatic ecosystems have long suffered perhaps the greatest anthropogenic stress. Tugai forests now cover 38 000 ha, mostly in the Republic of Karakalpakstan. This is only 10 per cent of the original area of tugai forests in the Amu Darya delta.
may soon be updated to reflect the recent Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and targets. The Ministry of Ecology approves quotas for hunting and plant harvesting and conducts regular environmental inspections in coordination with the Academy of Sciences.
Poaching affects rare and endangered animals (turtles, marmots, The lands of the State Forest Fund cover 11.7 million ha, or 26 per cent Water use Water loss in Water pollution State of glaciers Water availability Duration Adoption gazelles), raptors and songbirds. total area, of and which 3.5 millionofhawater are covered in agriculture agricultureThe illegal collection of medici- of the country’s per person severity saving by and industry and industry of droughts nal plants, flowers, seeds and bulbs for sale is a threat to the flora. forests (forest cover 7.7%). Since 2021, the “Yashil Makon” countryWild ungulates are in competition with livestock for grazing land. wide project has been implemented to increase forest plantations. Ecosystems and species, such as the snow leopard in the high mounProtected areas form the basis of biodiversity conservation and cover tains and the flora and fauna of the Aral Sea region, are also affected 6.3 million ha (14% of the country’s total area), significantly more by climate change. New categories NOxthan 5–10 years SOago. COand types of protected areas 2 Uzbekistan’s flora includes 4 300 species of higher plants, 10 per cent have been introduced, including integrated landscape reserves and of which are endemic. Of particular interest are the wild relatives of nurseries. Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) have been identified, some the cultivated plants — wild almond, apple, persimmon, onion, spices of which are now targeted by conservation projects. and aromatic plants. There are 715 species of vertebrates: 77 species Stationary Mobile sources Particulate NОx SО2 CO Air quality of fish,emissions 3 species of amphibians, 61 species of reptiles, 467 species emissions matter and dust emissions emissions emissions in major cities of birds and 107 species of mammals. The degree of endemism for reptiles and fish is as high as 50 per cent. Migratory species include mammals (saiga, Bukhara deer, kulan, snow leopard), birds (crane, sociable lapwing) and fish.
Air Quality
Health and Environment
Life expectancy
Child development
Heart diseases
Cancer 22
Nutrition
Access to safe drinking water supply
Population exposed to polluted air
Impacts on wildlife and biodiversity
Intensive grazing
Forest disturbance
Extinction and decline of plant and animal species
Climate change and land degradation
State of Biodiversity 4300
715
species of higher plants
7,7% forest cover
10% endemic flora
Diverse forests: riparian, montane, desert
Rich genetic resources
14%
6 321 258 ha
Protected areas system
animal species
2
biosphere reserves
1
national park
7
strict nature reserves
12
species management areas
12
nature parks
11
nature monuments
1
nursery
1
integrated landscape reserve
23
2
UNESCO world natural heritage sites
4
Ramsar wetlands
36
Key Biodiversity Areas in mountains and foothills
National conservation efforts
Hunting and plants collection and use permits
Wildlife inventory and reporting
Red List enforcement and update
Ecological inspections
Nurseries for birds, mammals and trees
Grazing pressures regulation Biodiversity monitoring
Education, awareness, alternatives
Clean-up campaigns in lakes and forests
Reforestation involving women and youth
24
25
Pallas’s Cat (Manul) 26
development
drinking water supply
to polluted air
Adaptation measures
Improved observation networks
Climate Change s
t Greenhouse gas emissions
Warming rates
Number of hot days
Volume and size of glaciers
Use of renewable energy, % share
Sound Waste and Chemicals Management
In Uzbekistan, the average annual temperature has increased by Climate warming is caused by global greenhouse gas emissions. In 1.6 °C (from 13.2 to 14.8 °C) since the beginning of instrumental Uzbekistan, emissions have remained stable over the last five years of meteorological observations (1880). Over the last five years, the num- reporting under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate ber of hot days has exceeded the average by 5–7 days, and in the Change (UNFCCC) at 189 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent (according Aral Sea region by 12–17 days. Climate change is associated with to the latest inventory for 2017). The main contributors are fuel proincreased extreme weather events, glacial retreat, increased dust duction and consumption (76%) and agriculture (18%). Compared to Waste and generation Total household Household Household Awareness and Hazardous waste by 7 Monitoring storms desertification, floods and mudslides. the base year 1990, emissions have increased per cent. per person
waste
waste collected
waste recycled
According to climate scenarios, precipitation in the desert areas of Uzbekistan and in the southern regions of Central Asia may decrease, and in mountainous areas during the winter months there may be some increase in precipitation, including in the form of heavy rainfall. In 80 per cent of cases, heavy rainfall is the cause of mudflows. About 800 settlements are located in mudflow hazard zones.
environmental
management
and statistics
actions on wasteof theand recycling waste At the 28th Conference Parties (COP-28) toonthe UNFCCC in and chemicals and chemicals Dubai in December 2023, Uzbekistan for the first time organized its pavilion to inform and engage Parties and partners. As part of its commitments, Uzbekistan prepared and submitted to the UNFCCC three national communications, a biennial report with an inventory of greenhouse gas emission sources for 1990–2017, and its revised nationally determined contribution. Implementation of the Over the last 50–60 years, the volume of glaciers in the Pskem River strategy for the transition to a green economy by 2030 has begun. basin has decreased by 24 per cent, in the Kashkadarya by 70 per A Ministry of Ecology with a climate change mandate has been crecent and in the Surkhandarya by 40 per cent. In the glaciated basins ated through reform, andand the National Adaptation Plan Land use Soil and water Mudflows and Soilinstitutional salinity Forests of medium and large rivers, intensive glacier melting may initially conservation soil erosion planted areas (NAP) is being finalized. lead to an increase in run-off, but by mid-century the flow of theinAmu technologies mountains Darya and Syr Darya Rivers is expected to decrease by 5–15 per cent, leading to an increased water deficit.
Soils and Land Resources
The Aral Sea Region
Aral Sea drying
Loss of biodiversity
Food security 27
Diseases
Access to clean water
Carbon footprint: Greenhouse gas emissions million tonnes of CO2 - equivalent Energy production and use 76%
CO2
49
N2O
32
Oil, gas, coal extraction and transport
6
16
Commercial
Transport
Residential
Agriculture 18%
Uncertainty + - 10%
CН4 N2O
Power plants
Industry and construction
Waste 1%
Livestock and manure
CO2
N2O
0.5
Landfills and wastewater treatment
28
Cement Ammonia and other
Forests and land use 9 million tonnes
2 Fertiliser use
4
21
CН4
11
CO2
4
20
Fugitive emissions
22
Industrial processes 5%
CO2
CH4
Climate Change Annual glacier loss 0.3-0.6% Risk of GLOFs and flash floods, damage to infrastructure
High winds and dust storms
Drought
Risk of landslides and rockfalls
Average temperature trends
1950
1980
2000
2019
Urban flooding
Livestock and crop damage
Changes in water flow
Number of hot days
Precipitation variability
Number of cold days
1950
1980
2000
Solutions
Regular reporting on emissions, targets and action plans
Greenhouses to protect against severe weather
Water saving technologies
29
Renewable energy
Energy efficiency, green cities and public transport
2019
30
Tree planting by participants of the international conference CRIC21 in Samarkand, November 2023 31
Water use in agriculture and industry
Water loss in agriculture and industry
Health and Environment Duration State of glaciers Water availability
Water pollution
Air Quality NO
70% of the population
2
NOx
Stationary emissions
Mobile sources emissions
Air quality
Adoption and severity of water saving Food and nutrition of droughts
per person
SO2
Environmental factors NО SО emissions health emissions affecting
Particulate matter and dust
x
2
Drinking water quality CO and access
Non-compliance with sanitary CO Air quality emissions in major cities and technical requirements for urban water supply
Health and Environment 50%
Leading causes of mortality More than 70%
of deaths in Uzbekistan are caused by non-communicable diseases Life expectancy
Child development
Heart diseases
Cardiovascular diseases Cancer
Cancer Nutrition
Diabetes Access to safe drinking water supply
Respiratory problems
Population exposed to polluted air
quality, including consumption of meat and dairy products, ClimateDietary Change
Studies show that there is a link between air pollution and the incidence of disease. Increased mineralization and drinking water quality affect health. During dry periods, in the lower reaches of the Amu Darya and in some areas of Fergana, Tashkent, Syr Darya, Navoi and Bukhara provinces, the concentration of mineral salts in water supply systems has increased.
t
Greenhouse gas emissions
Warming rates
Number of hot days
eggs, fruits and vegetables, has improved in recent years. This has had a positive impact on the health of the population: the number of underweight children has halved and child obesity is negligible. The incidence of anaemia among women has fallen by a factor of 2.5, and life expectancy has increased.
s
Volume and size of glaciers
Use of renewable energy, % share
Adaptation measures
Improved observation networks
Sound Waste and Chemicals Management 32
Health and Environment Achievements 74
76
68
72
Life expectancy increased
From
14
21
From
17
6
to per 100 000
to per 100 000
Maternal mortality reduced
Infant mortality reduced
Access to safe water increased:
From
28
12
to per 100 000
Under-5 mortality rate reduced
Nutrition and food consumption per person improved: 98%
in urban areas
Vegetables -
Fruits - 4 times
2.6 times
Milk and dairy products -
1.6 times
87%
in rural areas
Eggs - 2.2 times
Meat products -
1.3 times
Solutions
Vaccination
Education on healthy lifestyle and nutrition
Sports, outdoor games, walking
33
Improved health services in rural areas
Online diabetes registry, free medication
Wastewater treatment plant in Samarkand 34
Land use
Soil and water conservation technologies
Mudflows and soil erosion in mountains
Soil salinity
Forests and planted areas
The Aral Sea Region
Aral Sea drying
Loss of biodiversity
Food security
In the second half of the 20th century, the condition of the Aral Sea deteriorated: its volume and area decreased significantly due to the increase in water withdrawals for irrigation and the reduction in the flow of the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers, which feed the sea. Compared to 1960, the volume of the Aral Sea has decreased from 1 083 km3 to 69 km3 (16 times). The negative effects of excessive use of agrochemicals on agricultural fields and poor water quality in the rivers have persisted for a long time.
Diseases
Access to clean water
In 2018, the International Innovation Centre of Aral Sea was created to improve ecosystems and implement best practices on saline lands. The UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund on Human Security for the Priaralie Region (MPTF) was also created. The fund has attracted more than $16 million for the development and implementation of five rural development and climate change adaptation projects, reaching 250 000 people. In 2021, the President of Uzbekistan, Sh. Mirziyoyev, signed the decree “On measures to implement the special resolution of the UN General Assembly of 18.05.2021 ‘On the declaration of the Aral Sea region as a zone of environmental innovation and technology’”. In 2023, Central Asian countries celebrated the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the International Fund for the Saving of the Aral Sea (IFAS), which aims to finance and coordinate measures for the socio-environmental restoration of the Aral Sea basin. Its measures and projects include the creation of water reservoirs in the Amu Darya delta, the establishment of forest plantations and others.
Water mineralization in the lower river sections reaches 3 g/l in the Syr Darya and 2 g/l in the Amu Darya. Water pollution and dust-salt storms from the bottom of the dried Aral Sea are the main factors behind the increased incidence of anaemia, kidney disease, gastrointestinal disease, respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Agricultural yields in the Aral Sea region are one-half to onethird of normal levels. Declining productivity of pasture and irrigated land, dying tugai vegetation and drying lakes have led to the loss of 100 000 jobs. The situation has stabilized over the past 10 years, but could worsen again if and when Afghanistan completes and commissions the 285 km Kosh-Tepa canal (under construction) in the upper reaches of the Amu Darya. Climate change could increase pressure on the Aral Sea region over time — both through low water and droughts throughout the basin, and through increased heat and water scarcity in the populated area around the Aral Sea.
At the expense of state programmes, 1 500 km of drinking water supply networks have been built and rehabilitated, and access to clean water has increased from 40 per cent to 68 per cent of the population. Five new protected areas were created, covering a total of 3.6 million ha, and 1.7 million ha of saxaul, cherkess and other trees were planted on the dried Aral Sea bottom.
35
Causes of the Aral crisis Largescale irrigation, high water abstraction and losses
Pollution by pesticides and fertilisers washed off fields
Poorly treated wastewater
t Climate change: higher temperatures and drought
Consequences Water volume reduction:
Water shortages and poor water quality
Environmental migration
Decline in fish stocks, ecosystem degradation
Increased desertification and dust storms
1083 km3
69 km3 36
37
Addressing the Challenges of the Aral Sea Region
Birds survey in the Aral Sea and the Amu Darya Delta
Conservation of wetlands in the Amu Darya Delta
1.7 million hectares of forest plantations on former seabed
5 new protected areas covering
!
3.6 mln ha
1500 km of water supply networks constructed and rehabilitated
Development of bio-agriculture under conditions of soil salinisation
New methods of farming and use of saline soils
Innovative technologies
Access to the centralised water supply increased
from 40% to 68%
Support for small businesses
250 000 people are informed on water and soil technologies and climate adaptation
38
Establishment of innovation centre, business training
Saxaul planting on the former Aral Sea bed 39
Greenhouse gas emissions
Warming rates
Number of hot days
Volume and size of glaciers
Use of renewable energy, % share
Adaptation measures
Improved observation networks
Sound Waste and Chemicals Management
Waste generation per person
Total household waste
Household waste collected
Household waste recycled
Awareness and environmental actions on waste and chemicals
Hazardous waste management and recycling
Monitoring and statistics on waste and chemicals
to municipal soild waste, 115 million tonnes of indusSoils and LandIn addition Resources
Waste in Uzbekistan is increasing due to growing population, consumption, industrial production and booming construction. On average, each inhabitant of the country produces 0.77 kg of waste per day. The amount of plastic waste is increasing in Uzbekistan and worldwide. Every day, 1 000 tonnes of plastic waste is generated in the country, 270 tonnes of which is PET.
trial waste is generated in Uzbekistan annually, mainly by the mining and processing industries in the provinces of Navoi, Tashkent and Fergana. About 256 million tonnes of industrial waste are stored in 21 sludge ponds, and almost 3 billion tonnes of industrial waste are stored in 15 tailings. The amount of other industrial waste stored is estimated atSoil 40 salinity million tonnes. Forests Part of the Land use Soil and water Mudflows andindustrial waste and waste Household waste is collected and transported to 165 landfills that and conservation soil erosion planted areas from energy sector is recycled. cover a total area of 1 445 ha. The amount of solid waste that in accutechnologies mountains mulated in landfills is estimated to be 33 million tonnes. There are Eight thousand medical facilities across the country generate 42 000 more than 4 000 waste collection points in the country, where recy- tonnes of medical waste annually, including 1 600 tonnes of hazclable materials as well as hazardous household waste is partially ardous medical waste, part of which is neutralized. The amount of sorted for processing. The current recycling rate is 32 per cent, which e-waste is estimated at 100 000 tonnes per year. is much higher than it was 5 or 10 years ago. Since 2017, Uzbekistan has made significant improvements in its In spite of controls and fines, there is still some dumping of munic- waste management system, and has adopted State decrees, resoluipal solid waste in illegal landfills close to settlements, along the tions and orders of the President and the Cabinet of Ministers, and Diseases Sea drying Food security Access roads, on the edges ofAral agricultural fieldsLoss and of onbiodiversity the banks of rivers the Waste Management Strategy for 2019–2028. Waste clusters to clean water and lakes. In 2022, almost 20 000 cases were registered in connec- with a capacity of 1 million tonnes per year have been established, tion with the dumping of waste in places where this is not permitted. and special vehicles and waste bins have been purchased. A methane capture system is operational at the Tashkent landfill. A ban on the production and sale of packaging less than 100 microns thick will be introduced in 2024, and there are big plans to scale up circular economy principles.
The Aral Sea Region
40
Household waste
Waste management
Composition of household waste
Five years ago – 6 900 000 tonnes Now – 7 500 000 tonnes
33%
32% recycling
Collection coverage Five years ago - 12% Now - 86%
4%
6%
Food waste
Glass
4% Plastic containers 1% Metals 5%
Other plastics
Paper, cardboard
165 landfills cover 1 445 ha 33 000 000 tonnes DO NOT LITTER!
Household waste generation per person 0.7 kg/day
20 000 registered cases of littering in 2022
Industrial waste Industrial waste storage: Industrial waste landfills 40 million tonnes
Volume of ash and slag produced by power stations
700 000 tonnes per year
256 million tonnes in sludge ponds Generation:
115 million tonnes per year
Waste is used in building materials 3 billion tonnes in tailings
Electronic waste 100 000 tonnes 700 containers for batteries
41
Waste measures
Clusters for the collection, transport, sorting, recycling and disposal of municipal solid waste
E-waste recycling
Monitoring of soil pollution
Ban on production and sale of plastic packaging
Measures to reduce the exposure to chemicals
Labels and public information materials
Biological crop protection, organic farming
Waste sorting
Biodegradable materials, recycling technologies
Safe recycling of e-waste
42
Control of hazardous chemicals and waste
Waste minimisation, circular economy
Waste collection and recycling 43
Useful websites with environmental information on Uzbekistan and Central Asia ▶ eco.gov.uz — official website of the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Telegram channel: t.me/ecogovuz ▶ hydromet.uz — official website of the State Hydrometeorological Service under the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan, including an interactive map of air quality monitoring: monitoring.meteo.uz ▶ greenuniversity.uz — official website of the Central Asian University of Environment and Climate Change under the Ministry of Ecology, Environment Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan ▶ iic-aralsea.uz — official website of the International Innovation Centre of Aral Sea ▶ data.gov.uz — open data portal of Uzbekistan, including environmental data ▶ stat.uz — official website of the Statistical Agency under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan ▶ sreda.uz — publications on environmental issues in Uzbekistan and Central Asia by environmental journalist Natalia Shulepina ▶ ekolog.uz — information and news on ecology and environmental protection in Uzbekistan and abroad ▶ ekomaktab.uz — Eco-Maktab environmental resource and education center ▶ uzspb.uz — website of the Uzbek Society for the Protection of Birds ▶ cawater-info.net — water information portal on the Aral Sea basin, SIC ICWC ▶ sgp.uz/ru/publikacii — publications of the GEF Small Grants Program (SGP) in Uzbekistan ▶ aral.mptf.uz/site/aralsea.html — UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund for the Aral Sea Region ▶ cepf.net/our-work/biodiversity-hotspots/mountains-central-asia — Critical Ecosystems Partnership Fund (CEPF) Ecosystem Profile and Small Grants for the “Mountains of Central Asia” biodiversity hotspot
International environmental reporting and reviews on Uzbekistan ▶ UNECE (2020). Third Environmental Performance Review of Uzbekistan: unece.org/DAM/env/epr/epr_studies/ECE.CEP.188.Eng.pdf ▶ Convention on Biodiversity CBD (2018). Sixth National Report of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Biodiversity Conservation: cbd.int/doc/nr/nr-06/uz-nr-06-en.pdf ▶ UN Framework Convention on Climate Change UNFCCC (2021). First Biennial Report of the Republic of Uzbekistan: unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/FBURUZeng.pdf 45
Taking care of the Bukhara deer in the Zarafshan National Park 46
eco.gov.uz/en
uz-eco.tilda.ws/en