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“We are excited to mark this milestone, which strengthens our partnership with Uzbekistan and lays the foundation for collaborative initiatives in the country and across Central Asia,” said Dr Grethel Aguilar, ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� Director General. “We look forward to working closely with the Ministry and other partners in Uzbekistan and the region to respond to their needs and priorities in nature conservation, ecosystem restoration, and climate change mitigation and adaptation. ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� is very grateful to Uzbekistan for giving us this opportunity to be more present in the region and make stronger contributions to the region’s efforts in safeguarding its unique biodiversity and precious natural resources.”

The Host Country Agreement provides a legal framework for ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ��’s operations in Uzbekistan, marking a milestone in the long-standing partnership with the country, a State Member of the Union since 2021. It enables more effective collaboration with national authorities and supports ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ��’s contribution to Uzbekistan’s and the region's development priorities in a structured and impactful way.

“We are thrilled that our cooperation with ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� continues to grow through joint projects and activities, and I am confident that the establishment of the Tashkent office will unlock exciting new opportunities for collaboration,” said Aziz Abdukhakimov, Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change of Uzbekistan. “In Uzbekistan, we understand that environmental challenges transcend political borders, making united efforts and transboundary cooperation essential. We are pleased that the ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� Tashkent office will serve not only Uzbekistan but the entire Central Asian region, fostering regional collaboration for nature conservation and sustainable development.”

The partnership between ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� and the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change of Uzbekistan is paving the way for impactful collaborative efforts. Joint initiatives already underway include the IKI-funded regional initiative on One Health in Nature Conservation, led by ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ��, and the GEF project with FAO and ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� focused on landscape and land restoration. Looking ahead, this cooperation will expand further with the upcoming GEF8 project with UNDP on Integrated Conservation Management and Restoration of High-Value Landscapes in Uzbekistan. These projects address pressing environmental challenges and embody the potential for innovative, scalable solutions to benefit people and nature.

������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� is the world’s oldest and largest nature conservation organisation, uniquely bringing together government and civil society organisations. With observer status at the United Nations General Assembly, ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� leverages the expertise, resources, and reach of over 1,400 Member organisations and more than 17,000 experts worldwide.  ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� proudly counts Members in all five Central Asian countries, demonstrating its commitment to fostering regional collaboration.

Headquartered in Gland, Switzerland, ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� operates through a network of offices in over 50 countries. The newly established Tashkent office will be supported by the ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (ECARO), based in Belgrade, Serbia, which celebrates its twentieth anniversary this year.

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Dr Grethel Aguilar, ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� Director General and HE Aziz Abdukhakimov, Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change of Uzbekistan with delegates at the Agreement signing ceremony in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

For more information or to set up interviews, please contact:

Aleksandra Nikodinović, Regional Communications Officer, ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (ECARO), phone: +381 63 357 407, email: [email protected]

Lola Rakhmanbaeva, Press secretary of the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change, phone: +99893 395 36 40, email: [email protected]