Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — c

The Ministry reported that a preliminary nomination file for the national natural heritage site "Zaamin Mountains" has been prepared and sent to the National Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan for UNESCO Affairs for further submission to the World Heritage Center. The review process is expected to take about two years.

The nomination file was developed based on scientific data collected during expeditions to the Zaamin State Reserve and the Zaamin National Nature Park. Specialists from the Ministry of Ecology, experts from the H.M. Abdullaev Institute of Geology and Geophysics, representatives of the Ministry of Mining and Geology, as well as researchers from the Academy of Sciences and the National University of Uzbekistan, contributed to its creation.

Notably, the Zaamin Mountains will be the first national natural site nominated for the UNESCO World Heritage List since Uzbekistan gained independence.

Previously, cross-border sites like the "Western Tien Shan" in 2016 and the "Temperate Deserts of Turan" (Ustyurt Plateau) in 2023 were included. Additionally, the Chatkal Biosphere Reserve (added in 1978) and the Lower Amudarya State Biosphere Reserve (added in 2021) are part of UNESCO’s Biosphere Network.