Concept for the development of the forestry system of the Republic of Uzbekistan until 2030 is a nationwide multi-sectoral policy document defines the strategic goals of protection, conservation of forests and the development of forestry in the Republic of Uzbekistan, priority areas of state policy in this field, its implementation will create environmentally favorable conditions and ensure food security for future generations.
The main objectives of the Concept are as follows: (a) introduction of rules and procedures for leasing and public-private partnerships based on the principles of a market economy in order to ensure the protection, conservation, restoration, afforestation and rational use of forests in the Republic of Uzbekistan; (b) combating desertification, planting protection forests to prevent desertification of the Aral and Aral Sea regions; (c) setting up environmentally friendly, waste-free production in the forests by attracting foreign investment in the forestry; (d) introduction of innovative technologies in the activities of forestry; (e) a phased transition to the practice of self-sufficiency through the introduction of a market economy mechanism in the organization and management of forestry; and (f) increasing the tourist potential of forests.
The implementation of the Concept requires the following approaches: (a) systematization and improvement of the legal framework, i.e., implementation of international norms, codification of forest legislation, calculation of the economic potential of forests, introduction of evaluation mechanisms when leasing them; (b) rational use of the forest land areas of the forest fund, evaluation of the effectiveness of afforestation, desertification control; (c) leasing forest fund lands, ensuring transparency of the rules and procedures for public-private partnerships in their efficient and rational use; (d) improvement of the system for monitoring of the state of forests, formation of a database of information resources; (e) planting of forests based on the soil and climatic conditions of the national territory, the comprehensive expansion of the forest fund, the introduction of innovative technologies in the implementation of measures for their protection; (f) organization of ecotourism routes and the necessary infrastructure for the development of ecotourism; (g) widespread introduction on the land of the forest fund of the results of scientific research in the cultivation of plants that are resistant to salinity and drought; and (h) participation in the activities of the international community to develop the forestry sector and combat desertification.