A nationwide tree-planting event this coming Saturday, which plans to plant seedlings of deciduous, coniferous, fruit trees and grapes, is of great importance for the country's ecological well-being and mitigating the effects of climate change. The important role of natural forests and artificial plantations in preventing the degradation of natural ecosystems and in combating climate change is emphasized by UN experts, including in the first regional review of the state of the forest sector in the countries of the Caucasus and Central Asia.
The report "State of Forests in the Caucasus and Central Asia", prepared by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), noted that forests in the Caucasus and Central Asia are important for combating erosion and desertification in severe climatic conditions. conditions of this region. Almost 90 percent of forests and other forest lands fulfill protective functions. Saxaul plantations, for example, are one of the few defenses for villages around the Aral Sea, where shrinking water areas have created a salty desert and where the wind brings toxic dust with it. Forests are a source of fuel and food.
In protecting the environment and promoting sustainable development, not only natural forests are important, but also artificial tree planting or afforestation. Greening of cities and towns, the appearance of trees in the place of wastelands leads to an increase in the absorption of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and the production of oxygen. Trees purify the air by recycling nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide. The shadow from their foliage cools the air, saving us from the heat. Trees help to regulate water flow, protect from winds and noise.
The importance of forests and green spaces in the face of climate change has become one of the key topics of the 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change held in Glasgow, Scotland. One of the significant outcomes of the two-day summit held within its framework was the adoption by 105 countries of the world of the Declaration on the Protection of Forests and Land Use, in which world leaders reaffirmed their commitments to sustainable land use and the conservation, protection and restoration of forests and other ecosystems. This document will undoubtedly contribute to the achievement of the goals of the Paris Agreement to reduce the content of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Ogulgozel Rejepova
