USAID launched Environmental Restoration of the Aral Sea II aimed at providing technical assistance to the Republic of Uzbekistan in its efforts to improve the resilience and livelihoods of the population living near the Aral Sea. USAID will also facilitate cooperation between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to jointly address environmental challenges.

In Uzbekistan, USAID aims to demonstrate and evaluate a variety of innovative technologies, planting, and irrigation practices that will add new dimensions to the regional knowledge base on the afforestation of desert biomes. USAID will also support private sector initiatives for environmental restoration and agro-business. By incorporating cutting-edge techniques into existing afforestation efforts in Karakalpakstan and by demonstrating the private sector’s commitment, the USAID will promote better public and private ownership of the environmental agenda, thus enabling long-term sustainability of soil improvement and forest reclamation initiatives in Muynak district of the Republic of Uzbekistan. 

USAID representatives visited the Republic of Karakalpakstan. At the meeting held at the International Innovation Center for the Aral Sea Basin, the parties discussed the project implementation issues and outlined plans for the future.

USAID will work in cooperation with the State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Forestry, the State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Ecology and Environment Protection, the Ministry of Innovative Development of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the International Innovation Center for the Aral Sea Basin under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and academic and research institutions and administration (hokimiyat) in Muynak district. USAID will implement proven methods that enhance the sustainability of results and provide options for scaling up and replicating those efforts by local communities, governments of the region, and other donors.

The Environmental Restoration of the Aral Sea is a three-year activity implemented by the USAID Regional Water and Vulnerable Environment Activity, with a budget of $1.35 million, from October 2021 to September 2024.

UzA