Careful treatment of forests and tree planting play an important role in preserving biodiversity, mitigating the effects of climate change and air pollution. The General Assembly adopted a resolution on sustainable forest management at the initiative of Uzbekistan Climate and Environment
On Tuesday, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on promoting sustainable forest management at the initiative of Uzbekistan: the document speaks of its economic, social and environmental benefits.
Protective treatment of forests and tree planting play an important role in preserving biodiversity, mitigating the effects of climate change and air pollution, ensuring food security and eradicating poverty, according to the authors of the resolution.
The document states that the General Assembly “seeks to intensify the provision and mobilization of new and additional resources… for the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of forests, particularly in developing countries.”
The resolution calls for participation in tree planting projects on degraded lands, including in drylands, to ensure long-term conservation of planted trees through the development of effective care strategies, and to strengthen international cooperation, public-private partnerships and intersectoral linkages at all levels to promote sustainable forest management.
UN entities are encouraged to include sustainable forest management issues in their programs when providing support to countries affected by desertification and land degradation.
The resolution was co-sponsored by 102 countries representing all regions of the world. Among them are Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Russian Federation, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.
Uzbekistan’s Efforts at the National Level
Uzbekistan is implementing a number of afforestation projects at the national level. In order to mitigate the consequences of the environmental disaster, trees were planted on an area of two million hectares on the dried-up bed of the Aral Sea. The forest area helps to contain sandstorms, improve the ecosystem and create sources of income for local communities.
The nationwide program “Yashil Makon” (“Green Land”) is also being implemented, which envisages planting a billion trees within five years.