Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — From 16 to 20 June 2025, an international training course was held in Tbilisi, organized by the Regional Environmental Centre for the Caucasus (REC Caucasus) in cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

The central theme of the program focused on combating land degradation, soil protection, sustainable land use, and ensuring environmental sustainability. Among the participants was a delegation from Uzbekistan representing the project GCP/UZB/020/GFF “Sustainable Forest and Rangeland Management in Dryland Ecosystems,” implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture in partnership with FAO.

The Uzbek delegation included Project Manager Nazir Gafurov, experts Farrukh Egamov and Aziz Khodzhiev, and project assistant Sunnat Kuziboyev. During the event, they took part in working sessions, thematic discussions, and bilateral meetings with representatives of the Georgian government, FAO, and international organizations.

Discussions centered around best practices and national strategies for preventing land degradation, improving legal frameworks, and implementing innovative technologies and monitoring systems.

Participants visited the Dmanisi municipality, where they observed best practices in pasture management, livestock population control, and the use of electric fencing for land zoning. The practical demonstrations sparked strong interest and lively discussion among attendees.

Additionally, visits to the FAO office in Georgia, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, and the National Agency for Sustainable Land Management facilitated knowledge and experience sharing in public policy, legal regulation, land cadastre, and resource monitoring.

Particular attention was drawn to the presentation by N. Gafurov during the international panel session on June 19. In his speech, he outlined the measures being taken in Uzbekistan amid severe water shortages, including the implementation of water-saving technologies, the use of laser soil leveling, and the application of agroecological approaches in agriculture.

As a result of the event, an agreement was reached to strengthen regional partnerships, deepen cooperation between participating countries, and jointly implement initiatives aimed at sustainable land management and ecosystem protection.