Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The European Union (EU) is set to launch an environmental project in Uzbekistan in 2025 aimed at restoring degraded lands in the lower Aral Sea basin.

This project is part of the EU’s "Green Central Asia" program, which seeks to address water resource, energy, and climate change challenges in the region.

The project will primarily focus on Karakalpakstan, a region severely impacted by the environmental issues linked to the shrinking of the Aral Sea. According to Trend agency, the project will be funded by the French Development Agency (AFD) and the European Investment Bank (EIB), with a grant of €8.8 million allocated for its implementation.

The main goal of the project is to improve the socio-economic and ecological conditions of local communities by restoring degraded lands. As part of the initiative, the project will create protective "green" belts in the transitional zone to the dry bed of the Aral Sea, promote the planting of productive trees and forage crops, which will support agroforestry in the region.

Additionally, the project will focus on strengthening the capacity of Uzbekistan’s Forest Agency and other stakeholders in land use planning and forest management.

It is expected that the project will begin in 2025, with loan agreements to be signed between Uzbekistan, AFD (for €30 million), and EIB (for €30 million).

These measures aim to enhance the environmental sustainability of the region and restore natural resources that are critical to the local population and agriculture.