Antalya – Turkey – 13 November 2026 – Tajikistan and Uzbekistan signed two Joint Declarations of Intent aimed at strengthening regional cooperation on resilient landscape management and ecosystem protection. The signing took place during the high-level side event “Regional Cooperation for Resilient Landscapes in Central Asia”, held at the Uzbekistan Pavilion at the 31st UN Climate Change Conference (COP31).
The declarations cover two key areas of regional cooperation:
· Joint Declaration of Intent on Nature-Based Solutions for Sustainable Landscape Management and Ecosystem Resilience;
· Joint Declaration of Intent on Establishing a Regional Forest Fire Warning System.
Their signing marks an important step towards coordinated action to address shared environmental challenges and strengthen the resilience of transboundary ecosystems across Central Asia.
The side event was organised by the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) in cooperation with the participating Central Asian countries and with the support of the World Bank through the RESILAND CA+ Programme. It brought together representatives of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to discuss common priorities and opportunities for regional cooperation.
Discussions highlighted the importance of coordinated approaches to addressing shared environmental challenges, including land degradation, forest fires, biodiversity loss, invasive species and growing pressure on protected areas.
The World Bank presented the RESILAND CA+ Programme, a regional initiative supporting landscape restoration, sustainable natural resource management and climate resilience. CAREC coordinates the regional dimension of the national RESILAND projects, facilitating transboundary cooperation, knowledge exchange and the harmonisation of approaches across Central Asia.
The two declarations form part of a broader regional cooperation package comprising six instruments involving all five Central Asian countries. These instruments provide a framework for advancing nature-based solutions, strengthening forest fire early warning, improving biodiversity inventories, addressing invasive species, promoting transboundary conservation and supporting sustainable nature tourism.
The participating countries and CAREC identified the RESILAND CA+ regional platform as a practical channel for continued technical cooperation and follow-up activities. The signed declarations are expected to provide a basis for further coordination, implementation planning and engagement with development partners and financial institutions.
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About the RESILAND CA+ Program
The Central Asia Resilient Landscapes Restoration Program (RESILAND CA+) is financed by the World Bank with support from the the Global Partnership for Sustainable and Resilient Landscapes (PROGREEN) and the Korea‑World Bank Partnership Facility (KWPF).
The Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) implements the regional component of the RESILAND projects in the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
For additional information:
Dilovarsho Dustzoda
Deputy Team Leader of the Project Implementation Group for “Sustainable Landscape Restoration in the Republic of Tajikistan: Regional Component”, CAREC
ddustzoda@carececo.org
Lyudmila Kiktenko
Deputy Team Leader, “The Kyrgyz Republic Resilient Landscape Restoration Project: Regional Component”Project, CAREC
lkiktenko@carececo.org
Azamat Kauazov
Deputy Team Leader of Uzbekistan Resilient Landscape Restoration Project: Regional Component, CAREC
cacip@carececo.org