Ministry of Natural Resources of Uzbekistan renamed

The document renamed the Ministry of Natural Resources into the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change.

According to the decree, from July 1, 2023, the “Public Environmental Controller” system will be introduced.

Also, the position of Deputy Prosecutor General, responsible for compliance with and supervision of the implementation of legislation in the field of ecology, environmental protection and forestry, has been introduced. 

The ministry has created an inspection of state environmental control, without the status of a separate legal entity.

The document states that by December 1, 2023, automated substations for background monitoring of atmospheric air pollution in districts (cities) will be installed. Until the end of 2025, as an experiment, a system for forecasting and early warning of the population of territories with a high level of natural air pollution across the territory of the republic is being introduced.

In addition, by the end of 2024, an eco-indicator.uz rating will be formed based on environmental assessment indicators for all regions of the republic and an environmental passport for each region will be published.

In accordance with the decree, a list of objects of national natural heritage is being introduced. Since 2024, 500 billion soums have been allocated annually and the funds are spent on:

- creation and maintenance of them until the transfer to permanent users of protective forest plantations "green belt", "green garden", "green public park" and "green coverings";
- planting tree seedlings along the main railways and main roads;
- creation of gardens on at least 5 hectares of area in each district and city.

By the end of 2023, each state organization and each administration will create their own gardens, which will be cared for for three years.

From January 1, 2024, the activity of growing seedlings of trees and shrubs at home or on the basis of homework is an activity (work, service) that self-employed persons can engage in.