Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The organizer of the mass race in Uzbekistan Andrey Kulikov overcame 42 km 195 m along the bottom of the dried-up Aral Sea.

Aral Eco marathon was organized by the Ministry of Ecology, Environment and Climate Change in honor of the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought.

The main goal of the race is to draw the attention of the world community to the environmental problems of this region and inspire everyone to take active steps to save our planet.

“At the initiative of the head of our state Shavkat Mirziyoyev, a wide range of measures are being implemented on the dried-up bottom of the Aral Sea to prevent a global environmental problem and improve the socio-economic lifestyle of the population,” said Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change Aziz Abdukhakimov. - In particular, in the period from 2018 to 2022, plantations of various trees were planted on 1.6 million hectares, and in 2023, “green spaces” were created in the Muynak region on an area of 128 thousand hectares. In addition, work is underway to plant saxaul on at least 100 hectares every year.”

As part of the nationwide Yashil makon project, 21.8 million seedlings and cuttings of ornamental, fruit trees and shrubs suitable for climatic conditions were planted in the spring season. On an area of 500 hectares, nurseries were created from species of trees and shrubs suitable for soil and climatic conditions.

In addition, this year “green belts” were created in the region, 3590 seedlings were planted at a distance of 5 km around the city of Nukus, 2500 at a distance of 5 km around the city of Urgench and the Urgench-Gurlan highway, trees suitable for soil and climatic conditions were planted, such like catalpa, cypress, Japanese Sophora.