{"id":60738,"date":"2026-05-18T19:33:09","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T16:33:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/orsiad.com.tr\/?p=60738"},"modified":"2026-05-18T19:33:09","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T16:33:09","slug":"ismail-belen-advisor-to-yomsad-and-chair-of-the-un-forum-on-forests-met-with-president-of-uzbekistan-shavkat-mirziyoyev","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/orsiad.com.tr\/en\/ismail-belen-advisor-to-yomsad-and-chair-of-the-un-forum-on-forests-met-with-president-of-uzbekistan-shavkat-mirziyoyev.html","title":{"rendered":"\u0130smail Belen, Advisor to YOMSAD and Chair of the UN Forum on Forests, Met with President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\u0130smail Belen, Advisor to YOMSAD and Chair of the Bureau of the United Nations Forum on Forests, participated in forestry, green development and ecological restoration programs held in Uzbekistan between March 29 and April 4, 2026. As part of the visit, Belen attended the opening ceremony of the National Dendrology Park Project in Tashkent, held with the participation of President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev.<\/p>\n<p>The program, which addressed Uzbekistan\u2019s green development vision, afforestation campaign, restoration efforts in the Aral Sea basin and policies aimed at developing modern forestry infrastructure, served as an important gathering for the country\u2019s sustainable environmental goals. Uzbek sources stated that the National Dendrology Park was launched under the Yashil Makon initiative and that the project is being implemented as a large-scale green space investment near Tashkent.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Green Development and Forestry Vision Discussed<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>During the visit, \u0130smail Belen held meetings in Tashkent, Karakalpakstan and the Aral Sea basin on sustainable forest management, combating desertification, modernization of forest nurseries, expansion of green areas and ecological restoration.<\/p>\n<p>On March 30, 2026, Belen attended the international forum titled <strong>\u201cDialogue for Sustainable Green Development: Investing in a Common Future\u201d<\/strong> in Tashkent. In his remarks at the forum, he emphasized that forests are not only ecological assets, but also one of the fundamental elements of economic and social development.<\/p>\n<p>The forum, organized on the occasion of the International Day of Forests, brought together national institutions, international organizations, financial institutions, forestry administrations, research centers and experts. The program addressed the role of forests in sustainable economy, green investment, regional cooperation, land restoration and combating desertification.<\/p>\n<p>Belen underlined that Uzbekistan\u2019s efforts to expand green areas and advance ecological restoration represent a remarkable example not only for Central Asia, but also on a global scale.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-60734\" src=\"http:\/\/orsiad.com.tr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/214.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1080\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/orsiad.com.tr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/214.jpeg 1080w, https:\/\/orsiad.com.tr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/214-500x333.jpeg 500w, https:\/\/orsiad.com.tr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/214-630x420.jpeg 630w, https:\/\/orsiad.com.tr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/214-120x80.jpeg 120w, https:\/\/orsiad.com.tr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/214-600x400.jpeg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>He Spoke at the Opening of the National Dendrology Park Project<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>One of the most important parts of the visit was the opening ceremony of the National Dendrology Park Project, held on April 1, 2026, with the participation of President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev.<\/p>\n<p>According to information reported in the Uzbek press, President Mirziyoyev attended a sapling planting event during the opening program and launched the National Dendrology Park project. The project was described as an important part of the nationwide Yashil Makon initiative and as a development aimed at increasing green areas. Some sources reported that the park would be established on an area of 108 hectares and that the project would include centers for medicinal plants, seed production, selection and laboratory infrastructure.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking at the ceremony in his capacity as Chair of the Bureau of the United Nations Forum on Forests, \u0130smail Belen drew attention to Uzbekistan\u2019s recent efforts to increase green areas, restore degraded lands and carry out large-scale afforestation activities on the dried bed of the Aral Sea.<\/p>\n<p>In his speech, Belen stated that forests are not merely collections of trees, but can be carried into the future through a strong vision, scientific planning, qualified nursery infrastructure and institutional determination. He emphasized that the specialized forest nurseries planned to be established and modernized in Uzbekistan are a strategic investment for the country\u2019s long-term green development goals.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u201cUzbekistan\u2019s Green Development Vision Can Inspire the World\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u0130smail Belen stated that Uzbekistan\u2019s work in the fields of environment and forestry has attracted international attention, noting that the country has significant potential in afforestation, reforestation, land restoration and combating desertification.<\/p>\n<p>Belen also emphasized the <strong>2027-2036 United Nations Decade of Afforestation and Reforestation<\/strong> initiative, stating that Uzbekistan is one of the countries capable of assuming a leading role in this process. He noted that this initiative, supported by many countries, should be implemented through visible, measurable practices that create global impact.<\/p>\n<p>Stating that Uzbekistan is not only a country participating in this process, but also one with the capacity to lead it, Belen expressed that the United Nations Forum on Forests is ready to support Uzbekistan\u2019s efforts in sustainable forest management, afforestation, reforestation and combating desertification.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Restoration Efforts in the Aral Sea Basin Examined<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>On April 2, 2026, a field visit was carried out to the Republic of Karakalpakstan and the dried bed of the Aral Sea. During the visit, large-scale afforestation and ecological restoration activities in the region were examined on site.<\/p>\n<p>It was stated that the efforts in the Aral Sea basin are of great importance in terms of reducing the effects of desertification, preventing salt and dust storms, rehabilitating degraded lands and increasing ecological resilience.<\/p>\n<p>During the meetings in Karakalpakstan, discussions were held with senior representatives from the administrations of Uzbekistan and Karakalpakstan. The talks addressed the environmental situation in the Aral Sea region, sustainable forest management, land restoration, combating desertification and opportunities for cooperation in climate change adaptation.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-60732\" src=\"http:\/\/orsiad.com.tr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/215.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/orsiad.com.tr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/215.jpeg 1600w, https:\/\/orsiad.com.tr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/215-500x375.jpeg 500w, https:\/\/orsiad.com.tr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/215-560x420.jpeg 560w, https:\/\/orsiad.com.tr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/215-120x90.jpeg 120w, https:\/\/orsiad.com.tr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/215-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/orsiad.com.tr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/215-800x600.jpeg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Modernization of Forest Nurseries Placed on the Agenda<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Another important topic of the visit was the planning and modernization of forest nurseries in Uzbekistan under the RESILAND CA+ Project. At the meeting held on March 30, 2026, at Uzbekistan\u2019s National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, the strategic role of nursery infrastructure in the country\u2019s afforestation success and green area targets was discussed.<\/p>\n<p>In this context, \u0130smail Belen visited the <strong>\u201cYashilloyiha\u201d State Design Institute<\/strong> on April 3, 2026. During the meetings, technical studies on national greening projects, forest planning, landscape design and the development of nursery infrastructure were evaluated.<\/p>\n<p>RESILAND Uzbekistan sources stated that \u0130smail Belen serves as a forest nursery strategy advisor within the project and that nine strategic forest nurseries in the country are being considered as an important production and distribution backbone for large-scale ecological restoration.<\/p>\n<p>During the meetings, evaluations were made on developing cooperation between the Project Implementation Unit, the Forestry Agency and the Institute regarding the establishment, operation and management of nine state forest nurseries.<\/p>\n<p><strong>International Support for Uzbekistan\u2019s Green Transformation Process<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The contacts held throughout the program demonstrated Uzbekistan\u2019s goal of strengthening international cooperation in the fields of green development, sustainable forestry and land restoration. It was stated that topics such as the Aral Sea basin, combating desertification and modern nursery infrastructure are among the priority areas in the country\u2019s environmental policies.<\/p>\n<p>The visit of \u0130smail Belen, Advisor to YOMSAD and Chair of the Bureau of the UN Forum on Forests, to Uzbekistan was regarded as a noteworthy contact in terms of T\u00fcrkiye\u2019s forestry expertise and international green development vision contributing to environmental and restoration efforts in Central Asia.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u0130smail Belen, Advisor to YOMSAD and Chair of the Bureau of the United Nations Forum on Forests, participated in forestry, green development and ecological restoration programs held in Uzbekistan between March 29 and April 4, 2026. As part of the visit, Belen attended the opening ceremony of the National Dendrology Park Project in Tashkent, held [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":60730,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[252,2010,254,179],"tags":[8795,8449,8801,8796,8804,8803,8800,8797,8798,8799,8802,8407],"class_list":["post-60738","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-forestry","category-associations","category-headline-news","category-journal","tag-aral-sea-basin","tag-ismail-belen-en","tag-karakalpakistan-en","tag-national-dendrology-park","tag-ozbekistan-en","tag-sevket-mirziyoyev-en","tag-taskent-en","tag-un","tag-united-nations","tag-united-nations-forum-on-forests","tag-yashil-makon-en","tag-yomsad-en"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/orsiad.com.tr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/213.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/orsiad.com.tr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60738","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/orsiad.com.tr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/orsiad.com.tr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/orsiad.com.tr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/orsiad.com.tr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=60738"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/orsiad.com.tr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60738\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":60740,"href":"https:\/\/orsiad.com.tr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60738\/revisions\/60740"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/orsiad.com.tr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/60730"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/orsiad.com.tr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=60738"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/orsiad.com.tr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=60738"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/orsiad.com.tr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=60738"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}