On June 3, the First International Workshop on the extinction risk assessment using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria kicked off at the Institute of Botany of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan. This prestigious scientific-practical workshop was organized jointly with the IUCN, the Academy of Sciences, and the World Bank.

Representatives of the IUCN international mission, leading foreign scientists in biodiversity conservation, global experts, and more than 40 specialists from all regions of Uzbekistan are participating in the event.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Vice-President of the Academy of Sciences Shakhlo Turdikulova noted that this event is one of the essential initiatives implemented within the framework of the Year of Environmental Protection and Green Economy.

IUCN Director General Grethel Aguilar stressed that biodiversity conservation has become an urgent global problem, and highly appreciated the reforms being implemented in Uzbekistan in this direction.

According to the organizers, this workshop will serve as a significant methodological basis and practical guidance in preparing the new, sixth edition of the Red Book of Uzbekistan. For the first time, all the species included in the new edition will be evaluated in full compliance with the international criteria of the IUCN.

The workshop also included a meeting attended by Shakhlo Turdikulova, Vice-President of the Academy of Sciences, Grethel Aguilar, IUCN Director General, Dmitry Gorshkov, IUCN Regional Coordinator for Central Asia, Oliver Avramoski, Regional Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and heads of the Institutes of Botany and Zoology of the Academy of Sciences.

The parties exchanged views on important initiatives, implemented projects, and scientific achievements of recent years. In particular, scientific research conducted within the framework of the Digital Nature Program at the Academy of Sciences was presented.

Issues of protecting biological diversity in Uzbekistan, preparing a new edition of the Red Book, and opportunities for international cooperation were widely discussed at the meeting.

The guests became familiar with the unique National Herbarium collections at the Institute of Botany.

Following the meeting, an agreement was reached on further strengthening cooperation.

M. Eshmirzayeva, UzA