On October 25, the first working group meeting on land degradation neutrality was held in Nukus as part of the Aral Wetlands project, jointly implemented by Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Ecology, UNDP, and the Global Environment Facility. The project aims to enhance ecosystem stability and improve livelihoods in the Lower Amu Darya and Aral Sea basins through sustainable land and water resource management.

During the meeting, project components on sustainable land management were discussed, with a focus on soil conservation and future prevention strategies under the Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) framework. Representatives from relevant ministries, research organizations, and the media joined to discuss methods for improving soil health. The project targets the restoration of 1,500 hectares of degraded land and sustainable management of 90,000 hectares of pasture and 10,000 hectares of forested areas.