Forestation for poverty reduction and replenishment of water resources in Uzbekistan.

We are confident that challenges pose opportunities. Challenges faced by Uzbekistan whose 85% of the territory is covered by deserts and semi-deserts while 94% of its water resources are consumed by agriculture. At COP27 this November, it was confirmed that the average warming rate in Uzbekistan is twice higher than the global average, glaciers are not replenishing fast enough, and water resources are becoming even more scarce while the national contribution underlined the commitment to reduce carbon emissions and attain  the necessary economic growth at the same time.
Numerous research by western and national scholars indicate that Uzbekistan possesses vast fossil water reserves under the deserts. Therefore, community-based forestation with endemic trees and shrubs, which possess food and forage value as well as bee-friendly features will be a way to go. “Zamin” Foundation’s “Green cities” and “Green belts” forestation strategy is focused on creating green spaces within communities, districts, regions and around them reaching out to the borders of Uzbekistan gradually filling up empty spaces, which need green cover.
The long-term goal is to soften the climate of Uzbekistan just through the endemic forestation, which will consequentially increase the annual precipitation and thus become a source of effective replenishment of water resources.
There are two interconnected investment opportunities to be launched with a grant:
Silk cocoon production clusters: Uzbekistan is the 3rd largest silk cocoon producer (with just 18K tons), with a 3% share of the global market, after China (403K tons), comprising approx. 67% of total volume and India (161K tons). Forestation and poverty reduction effort here is focused on planting mulberry trees for forage and food purposes along with other food forests of commercial significance, such as almond, walnut, pistachio forests with hawthorn, tamarisk, camelthorn, sea-buckthorn and other bee-friendly shrubs, which are endemic to Uzbekistan.
Solar electricity: Uzbekistan has at least 320 sunny days per year. The growth of the above forests will be supported by solar powered artesian wells and water saving capillary irrigation systems as well as seasonal water storing landscape manipulation techniques, such as swales, which are also good for forest fire prevention. Once the trees reach the water aquifers with their radical roots, artesian wells will not be needed, and solar panels and batteries can be used by local communities to satisfy their everyday needs and can be included in the electric grid or off-grid depending on the more suitable arrangements. After that, trees will become self-sustained and will activate the water cycle contributing to softening the dry climate of the area and creating vast carbon sinks.
The initial grant, or investment, should be about US$3 million with an upscaling investment potential of US$ 9 billion for the whole territory of Uzbekistan in the medium term.
The community-based approach will result in employment opportunities and growth of transformational entrepreneurship creating a demand conducive for the return of labour migrants to Uzbekistan from countries like Russia and Kazakhstan. The significance of this endeavor for the sustainable economic growth of Uzbekistan is comparable to the infrastructural breakthrough projects in the developed countries, such as the United States of the 1950s.