Uzbekistan plants a forest where a sea once lay

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Report: Afforestation Project in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan

The Aral Sea Crisis and Afforestation Initiative

1. The Aral Sea, once the lifeblood of peoples in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, is parched, shrouded in a layer of toxic salt and dust.
2. Officials from both countries are working with locals to plant a new forest of drought-resistant plants in the dried-out lakebed, to prevent sandstorms and mitigate the health impacts of breathing in the toxic dust.
3. The initiative in Uzbekistan has so far planted 1.7 million hectares (4.2 million acres) of forest, with up to 200,000 hectares (494,000 acres) of new forest planned for 2024.
4. Forestry and climate researchers say the nature-based solution shows promise, but that the afforestation project must follow important steps to succeed and may struggle in the face of increased droughts.

Between the borders of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, the Aral Sea, once the lifeblood of peoples in both countries, is parched, shrouded in a layer of toxic salt and dust that’s now taking a heavy toll on the health and farmlands of these very communities.

Since the Aral Sea, technically a lake, began shrinking in the 1960s, governments on both sides of the border led initiatives to revive tiny fractions of it. But Soviet-era dams, diverting waters feeding the sea to cotton monocultures, squelched the dream. As the Aral Sea dried out, a desert, the Aralkum, emerged and continues to expand on what used to be the lakebed. Today, the bed is caked with a thick layer of salt and of pesticide runoff that crystallized, creating a toxic cocktail of sediment on the ground. When the wind blows, this salt and dust can coat entire communities.

Planting a New Forest

Now, instead of trying to restore the lake, officials from the Uzbekistan Forestry Agency and locals are trying to plant a new forest where it once rested. The main purpose of the afforestation project it to curb the harmful sandstorms and improve the ecosystem by planting desert-tolerant plants like saxaul (Haloxylon ammodendron) on the lakebed.

• Establish forests covering a total area of 150,000 to 200,000 hectares (371,000 to 494,000 acres) in 2024.

Karakalpakstan, an Uzbek region that’s home to the Karakalpak people, is one of the most sandstorm-impacted areas in Uzbekistan. More than 300 residents of Karakalpakstan and around 150 employees from the Forestry Agency are joining hands to plant seedlings on the Aral Sea bed.

Creating an Entirely New Ecosystem

Highly resistant to salt and sand, saxaul is one of the important desert species used in the plantation. A 2023 study found that saxaul formation in desert landscapes helps strengthen mobile sands, slowing down the process of desertification.

Within the plantation area, the vegetation slows down the wind speed, curbing the rise of salt and sand particles in the air. According to the study, a single saxaul shrub that’s 7 to 10 years old can stop 2-4 metric tons of moving sand; and each hectare (2.5 acres) of saxaul releases 0.8 metric tons of oxygen per year while absorbing 1.1 metric tons of carbon dioxide, improving the composition of the air and preventing air pollution.

Local populations suffer from a high incidence of respiratory diseases, anemia, cancer and digestive diseases. The probability of an Uzbek citizen dying prematurely from cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases or cancer is higher than one in four.

Expanding Afforestation Initiatives

Kazakhstan, home to the northern half of the Aral Sea, is also implementing plantation initiatives. The country is set to plant saxaul trees on 275,000 hectares (about 680,000 acres) of the dried-out lakebed to prevent dust storms in the region.

As in Uzbekistan, locals have been brought in to help collect saxaul seeds every September to October, and paid as short-term workers for planting every November until the beginning of March.

To try to cover the more than 6.8 million hectares (16.8 million acres) of dried-out lakebed in Uzbekistan, seeds are dispersed by planes while saplings are planted manually. Around 360 tractors were employed for this initiative.

Challenges and Future Prospects

Adapting to drought by growing a plantation is the primary measure to improve health and livelihoods in Karakalpakstan. However, uncertainties exist regarding how such drought will impact the sustainability of the project.

Proper consultation and involvement of local communities are essential to address their needs and concerns. The Aral Sea crisis highlights the importance of using nature-based solutions when faced with extreme water loss and drought.

In conclusion, planting different types of drought-resistant plants and involving local communities in restoration efforts are crucial steps towards achieving sustainable development goals in regions affected by environmental degradation like the Aral Sea area.

### 1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed:
– SDG 13: Climate Action
– SDG 15: Life on Land

### 2. Specific Targets Identified:
– SDG 13 Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning
– SDG 15 Target 15.3: Combat desertification, restore degraded land, and soil

### 3. Indicators for Measuring Progress:
– Afforestation area covered in hectares
– Number of drought-resistant plants planted
– Reduction in sandstorms and dust particles in the air

### 4. Table of Findings:

| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|——————–|————————————————————————|——————————————|
| SDG 13: Climate Action | Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning | Afforestation area covered in hectares |
| SDG 15: Life on Land | Target 15.3: Combat desertification, restore degraded land, and soil | Number of drought-resistant plants planted, Reduction in sandstorms and dust particles in the air |

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Fuente: news.mongabay.com

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