President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed a presentation on taking the national Yashil Makon project to a new level, improving environmental conditions in mahallas and introducing innovative solutions.
Extensive work is underway across the country to expand green areas and create parks and gardens. However, shortcomings remain in ensuring the survival of seedlings, providing adequate irrigation and organizing systematic care.
Some of the seedlings planted last spring have dried up. Among the reasons are the selection of tree species unsuitable for local climatic and soil conditions, planting seedlings in areas without adequate water supply, and insufficient measures to combat diseases and pests. Problems related to the care and protection of forests established on the dried-up bed of the Aral Sea were also noted.
The President emphasized the need to assess the effectiveness of greening efforts based on seedling survival rates after one, three and five years.
In this regard, comprehensive approaches covering the entire greening process were presented – from scientifically based planning and soil preparation to establishing irrigation systems and ensuring seedling care for at least three years. Planting periods will be determined based on the weather conditions of each region and scientific recommendations, with priority given to species adapted to the local climate and resistant to heat, cold and water scarcity.
The Head of State instructed the Committee on Ecology to develop “green maps” for each mahalla and make them available to the public, indicating the types of seedlings, planting locations and irrigation systems. He also instructed responsible officials to regularly monitor the condition of trees and seedlings on every street together with mahalla chairpersons, identify the causes of trees drying out and take measures to address them.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized the importance of prioritizing tree planting in densely populated areas, along pedestrian paths and on streets with round-the-clock activity. He also noted the need to increase the number of shade trees in these areas to create comfortable conditions for walking and recreation.
During the presentation, proposals were also considered to provide comprehensive services to mahallas under the “My Green Mahalla” program. The program envisages supplying quality seedlings, organic fertilizers and water-saving irrigation equipment based on mahalla needs, as well as providing services to protect trees from diseases and pests.
It is also planned to assign a mentor forester to each mahalla, train residents in planting, watering and caring for seedlings, and create small green spaces and public parks between residential buildings, schools and kindergartens. The President instructed responsible officials to actively involve volunteer groups comprising mahalla activists and young people in this work.
A proposal to introduce a “green rating” for mahallas was also discussed. The main criteria will include the share of green areas, the number of trees per capita, the survival rate of newly planted seedlings and public participation. The Head of State instructed to develop mechanisms to incentivize mahallas that achieve strong results, including through additional funding for landscaping and targeted micro-grants for “green” projects.
The officials also proposed to implement greening programs based on the “3-30-300” principle. Under this approach, every person should be able to see at least three trees from where they live, work or study, at least 30 percent of residential areas should be covered by tree shade, and a green recreational area should be located within 300 meters of every home.
During the presentation, practical projects based on this approach were presented for Yangihayot district of Tashkent city, Alat district of Bukhara region and Urgut district of Samarkand region, taking into account their respective natural and urban planning conditions.
In Yangihayot, plans include creating mahalla and public parks, shaded pedestrian streets and “green belts” around industrial enterprises. Proposed solutions include collecting groundwater for reuse in irrigation, using permeable paving and producing compost from organic waste. Greening efforts will be carried out alongside measures to reduce industrial emissions, introduce automated air-quality monitoring and improve the waste management system.
In Alat, the main focus will be on expanding green cover using plants adapted to desert conditions and requiring little water. Proposals include developing local seedling production, creating an arboretum and a garden of salt-tolerant plants, and planting protective tree belts along roads and canals.
In Urgut, greening efforts will take into account the specific conditions of mountainous and foothill areas. Plans include creating an arboretum and public parks, as well as establishing “green belts” around the industrial zone and along the railway. In the Omonkuton National Nature Park, measures will also be taken to restore natural vegetation using seeds from local tree and shrub species.
The presentation also addressed strengthening scientific support for the project and introducing modern technologies. Proposals include establishing in vitro laboratories and modern nurseries to grow healthy planting material adapted to different local conditions, as well as gradually replacing water-intensive ornamental lawns with drought-resistant plants.
Plans were also presented to pilot the “Yashil AI” module. Artificial intelligence will be used to analyze data on soil, climate and water availability and, based on this analysis, identify optimal planting sites and recommend suitable tree species. The system will also enable early detection of risks such as seedlings drying out, water shortages, diseases and the spread of pests, provide timely alerts to responsible officials, and allow results to be openly monitored on a unified map.
Measures to combat desertification, restore degraded land and attract international grants in this area were also discussed. The Head of State emphasized the need to effectively utilize land resources and the potential of medicinal plants in desert areas, as well as to launch value-added projects on pastureland with private-sector participation. He instructed responsible officials to launch one such pilot project in each region by July 1, 2027.
The President instructed responsible officials to further develop the proposals presented in light of the views expressed, promote a stronger culture of tree planting and care in mahallas, and strengthen responsibility and oversight for the preservation of green areas.