Tajikistan is intensifying efforts to combat climate change and land degradation by expanding saxaul plantations across several regions of the country.
In the Shahriotus district of Khatlon province, saxaul has already been planted on more than 250 hectares, while 70 hectares have been covered in the Asht district of Sughd province, The Caspian Post reports, citing Tajik media.
Officials plan to significantly broaden the initiative, with the total area of saxaul plantations in Asht expected to exceed 350 hectares by 2027.
Forestry specialists say the project plays a key role in climate adaptation. Nourali Huseinov, director of the Research Institute of Forestry, explained that saxaul is particularly effective at stabilizing sands and preventing sandstorms. Its deep and powerful root system укрепляет sandy soils, slows desertification, and helps reduce the spread of dust. The plant also improves soil quality, retains moisture, and creates favorable conditions for other vegetation, supporting local ecosystems.
Land degradation remains one of the world’s most serious environmental challenges. Experts estimate that more than 12 million hectares of fertile land are lost globally each year, while by 2050 drought could affect up to 75 percent of countries. In Tajikistan, these pressures are reflected in soil erosion, desertification, and a growing frequency of dust storms, with specialists noting that dust and haze often originate from arid areas of neighboring Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Afghanistan.
Saxaul, a hardy desert shrub or small tree native to Central and Western Asia, is well adapted to extreme conditions. Resistant to drought, high temperatures, and saline soils, it helps preserve desert ecosystems and reduce wind erosion.
The expansion of saxaul plantations is part of Tajikistan’s broader forest restoration programs, aimed at strengthening environmental resilience and mitigating the long-term impacts of climate change.
