Yashil Makon tree-planting programme in Uzbekistan
- In Akhangaran district near Tashkent, 30% of seedlings on central streets dried out for lack of watering, according to prosecutors in 2023. Anhor.uz
- In Syrdarya 1,355 seedlings died, and in Tuprakkala district of Khorezm more than half of 3,500 seedlings died, according to prosecutors in 2023. Anhor.uz
- In 2024, 580,000 seedlings stood on my land where there was no irrigation and more than 19,000 died because they were not planted on time, according to the Prosecutor General's Office as reported by UzDaily. UzDaily
- Some of the saplings planted last spring have dried out, the president said on 21 September 2026. Dunyo.info / UzA
- 333,100 of the trees planted on my land died.Karakalpakstan, planted on plots without irrigation (Prosecutor General's Office).
- 1,355 of the trees planted on my land died.Syrdarya.
- More than 19,000 of the trees planted on my land died.Died because not planted on time (Prosecutor General's Office, via UzDaily).
- Government and regulators Government of Uzbekistan (21 May 2025): 872 million seedlings planted over four years; reported actual of 136.9 million in spring 2025 against a plan of 125 million. Government of Uzbekistan (Forestry Agency)
- Government and regulators Prosecutor General's Office (August 2023): Seedlings died on plots without irrigation, others were entered in reports but never planted, and about 90% of seedlings reported as planted in Akhangaran were still cuttings in nurseries. Anhor.uz
- Government and regulators President of Uzbekistan (21 October 2024): Over 1 million trees were planted on non-irrigated land or falsely reported. Gazeta.uz
- Government and regulators President of Uzbekistan (21 September 2026): Some of the saplings planted last spring have dried out. Dunyo.info / UzA
The government reported 872 million seedlings planted over four years under Yashil Makon, against an annual plan of 200 million. Prosecutor inspections in 2023, statements by the president in 2024 and 2026 and an Accounts Chamber audit in 2026 recorded seedlings entered in reports but not planted, planted without irrigation, or dried out.
Government press conference, 21 May 2025; the annual plan is 200 million. Prosecutors reported 333.1 thousand seedlings dead in Karakalpakstan and 136,100 entered in reports but never planted (2023).
Status As of September 2026: the president said part of the spring planting had dried out and ordered survival to be measured after one, three and five years; the Accounts Chamber audit is published; the outcome for the 29 officials named in 2023 is not reported.
- Seedlings in Karakalpakstan, Syrdarya, Khorezm and Akhangaran — 333.1 thousand dead in Karakalpakstan; 1,355 in Syrdarya; more than half of 3,500 in Tuprakkala; 30% of seedlings on central streets in Akhangaran Anhor.uz
What happened
At a press conference on 21 May 2025 the government reported that 872 million tree and shrub seedlings had been planted over the previous four years against an annual plan of 200 million. For spring 2025 the plan was 125 million seedlings (Cabinet Decree No. 145-F of 11 March 2025) and the reported actual was 136.9 million, of which 8.3 million on forest fund land; the autumn 2025 plan was 75.0 million. The forest cover target is to rise from 8% to 15% (6.1 million ha) by 2030. The release headline says "30 percent by 2030" while its text gives a different greenery figure.
The Prosecutor General's Office reported inspection findings on 6 August 2023 (as reported by Anhor.uz, translated from Russian). In Karakalpakstan, 333.1 thousand seedlings died after being planted on plots without irrigation, and 136,100 seedlings were entered in reports "that were actually never planted". In Akhangaran district of Tashkent region, 127.5 thousand seedlings were reported as planted in public places, of which about 90% were still cuttings in nurseries, and 30% of seedlings on central streets dried out for lack of watering. In Syrdarya 1,355 seedlings died, and in Tuprakkala district of Khorezm more than half of 3,500 seedlings died "due to neglect". In Uchkuduk district of Navoi, 2,435 seedlings were recorded but not planted, and "the funds allocated from the budget were spent by workers in the landscaping system" (wording as translated; no charge was stated). The same account said the question of liability for 29 heads of local state authorities and agencies was being decided.
At a presidential meeting on 21 October 2024 the president said over 1 million trees had been planted on non-irrigated land or falsely reported, and asked "Why is the deputy attorney general sitting silently? What are the 75 employees doing? Where is the oversight?". He announced 100 billion soums of extra funding for 2025 and said the investment programme now covers three years of tree maintenance. UzDaily, reporting the Prosecutor General's Office in June 2024, gave 580,000 seedlings planted where there was no irrigation and more than 19,000 that died because they were not planted on time.
The Accounts Chamber published an effectiveness audit of Yashil Makon and the forest management system (period 2023–2024 and the first nine months of 2025; audited body: the Agency for Forestry, Green Areas and Combating Desertification; sample regions Kashkadarya and Surkhandarya) on 23 March and 1 June 2026. It found that the yearly requirement to build at least 50 forest ranger houses and observation towers was not met, that forest guards lacked vehicles, drones, radios and uniforms, that forest fund land withdrawn for projects was used for other purposes, that lease rules were not fully followed and that the pest and disease service was underdeveloped. Presidential Decree PF-47 of 25 March 2026 reflected the audit's proposals and a pest and disease service was set up.
At a presidential meeting on 21 September 2026 the president said "Some of the saplings planted last spring have dried out" and named unsuitable species, planting without water supply and weak pest control as causes. New measures included mahalla green maps, a mahalla "green rating" that includes survival rate, the "3-30-300" rule and a "Yashil AI" tool to flag die-off and water shortage. In November 2021 Kun.uz had reported that staff at several Tashkent schools were told to buy two saplings each at their own expense, at market prices of 40,000–50,000 soums per sapling; the Ministry of Public Education said no such order had been given.
- 2021First autumn campaign; Kun.uz reports school staff told to buy saplings (Nov)
- 2023Prosecutor General's Office inspection findings reported (6 Aug); liability of 29 local heads "being decided"
- 2024Prosecutor General's Office figures on non-irrigated plantings (10 Jun); presidential meeting (21 Oct)
- 2025Government reports 872 million seedlings over four years (21 May)
- 2026Accounts Chamber audit published (23 Mar, 1 Jun); Decree PF-47 (25 Mar); presidential meeting on survival checks (21 Sep)
What was said
“Currently, the question of liability for 29 heads of local state authorities and agencies is being decided.”
“Why is the deputy attorney general sitting silently? What are the 75 employees doing? Where is the oversight?”
“Some of the saplings planted last spring have dried out”
“no order was given in any region or school to bring tree saplings on a mandatory basis”
“Of course, anyone who wishes may bring one.”
Where accounts differ
Each party's account, side by side, with its source. The record does not settle these points; it shows them.
872 million seedlings planted over four years; reported actual of 136.9 million in spring 2025 against a plan of 125 million.
Government of Uzbekistan (Forestry Agency)Seedlings died on plots without irrigation, others were entered in reports but never planted, and about 90% of seedlings reported as planted in Akhangaran were still cuttings in nurseries.
Anhor.uzOver 1 million trees were planted on non-irrigated land or falsely reported.
Gazeta.uzSome of the saplings planted last spring have dried out.
Dunyo.info / UzAStaff at several Tashkent schools were told to buy two saplings each at their own expense; each teacher was assigned two saplings and pupils collected money in class.
Kun.uzNo order was given in any region or school to bring saplings on a mandatory basis; anyone who wishes may bring one.
Kun.uzHow it looked
Shown
- 872 million tree and shrub seedlings planted over four yearsGovernment of Uzbekistan press conference, 21 May 2025 · Government of Uzbekistan (Forestry Agency)
- No order was given in any region or school to bring saplings on a mandatory basisMinistry of Public Education press secretary, November 2021 · Kun.uz
Recorded
- Prosecutors reported 333.1 thousand seedlings dead after planting without irrigation in Karakalpakstan, and 136,100 seedlings entered in reports that were never planted (2023).
- In Akhangaran district, about 90% of 127.5 thousand seedlings reported as planted in public places were still cuttings in nurseries; 30% of seedlings on central streets dried out for lack of watering (2023).
- The president said over 1 million trees had been planted on non-irrigated land or falsely reported (21 October 2024).
- The Accounts Chamber audit found the requirement for 50 ranger houses and towers a year unmet, forest guards short of vehicles, drones, radios and uniforms, and forest fund land used for other purposes.
- The president said some saplings planted last spring have dried out; survival is to be measured after one, three and five years (21 September 2026).
- School staff at several Tashkent schools were told to buy two saplings each at their own expense, according to Kun.uz (November 2021).
Who gained
Reached nature or the ground
Gained elsewhere
Responses on record
- uzbekistan-gov (2025-05-21): 872 million seedlings planted over four years; spring 2025 reported actual 136.9 million against a plan of 125 million. · Government of Uzbekistan (Forestry Agency)
- uzbekistan-education-ministry (2021-11-13): No order was given in any region or school to bring saplings on a mandatory basis (press secretary Laylo Rustamova). · Kun.uz
- uzbekistan-accounts-chamber (2026-06-01): Problems were discussed with responsible officials, who were given instructions; no referral to prosecutors is mentioned. · Chamber of Accounts of Uzbekistan
In court and with insurers
Lawsuits and rulings
- 2023–Outcome not on recordProsecutor General's Office inspection of Yashil Makon plantingsProsecutor General's Office of Uzbekistan · Administrative · Prosecutor General's Office → 29 heads of local state authorities and agencies (not named)
Reported on 6 August 2023: the question of liability for 29 heads of local state authorities and agencies was being decided. Formal charges were not reported and no outcome has been reported. Anhor.uz
- 2026–2026Outcome not on recordAccounts Chamber effectiveness audit of Yashil Makon and the forest management systemChamber of Accounts of Uzbekistan · Regulatory · Chamber of Accounts → Agency for Forestry, Green Areas and Combating Desertification
Audit of 2023–2024 and the first nine months of 2025, published 23 March and 1 June 2026. The shortcomings found were discussed with responsible officials, who were given instructions; no referral to prosecutors is mentioned. Chamber of Accounts of Uzbekistan
Insurers
What nature saw
Nature's report opens this page. Below: further outcomes measured on the ground.
What we don't know
Nature
- Disputed Do the planting totals match what was planted and survived?
Money
- None on record Saplings bought by school staff at their own expense (two each) — Market prices of 40,000–50,000 soums per sapling, about 15,000 soums for the smallest (Kun.uz).
Court
Accounts
- Disputed Were school staff made to buy saplings in November 2021?
Record
- Not disclosed Not disclosed: the total programme budget for 2021–2026. The Accounts Chamber news pages and the 21 May 2025 release give no budget totals, loss amounts or survival rates.
- None on record None on record: a published national survival rate for the planted seedlings.
- Not disclosed Not disclosed: the amount of budget funds allocated for the 2,435 seedlings recorded but not planted in Uchkuduk district.
- Not disclosed Not disclosed: the number of dried saplings and any budget figures in Dunyo.info's account of the 21 September 2026 meeting; Gazeta.uz's account of the 21 October 2024 meeting gives no survival data and no sanctions.
- Unclear Unclear: the outcome for the 29 heads of local authorities whose liability was being decided in August 2023; no charges were reported.
- Unclear Unclear: the 21 May 2025 release headline gives a greenery target of 30 percent by 2030, while its text gives a forest cover target of 15% (6.1 million ha) by 2030.
Did the harm stop?
Not stated. In September 2026 the president said part of the spring planting had dried out and ordered survival to be measured after one, three and five years.
Who paid?
The state budget (100 billion soums of extra funding for 2025 announced in October 2024). School staff in Tashkent bought saplings at their own expense in 2021, according to Kun.uz.
Sources
Government and regulators
- The goal is to bring the level of greenery in the republic to 30 percent by 2030Government of Uzbekistan (Forestry Agency) · 2025-05-21
- Audit of the "Yashil Makon" project and forest management systemChamber of Accounts of Uzbekistan · 2026-03-23
- Audit of the effectiveness of activities under the "Yashil Makon" project and the forest management systemChamber of Accounts of Uzbekistan · 2026-06-01
Press and investigations
- 29 officials responsible for Yashil Makon to be held liable (in Russian)Anhor.uz · 2023-08-06
- Yashil Makon (presidential meeting)Gazeta.uz · 2024-10-24
- Over 1 million seedlings were planted in Uzbekistan on paper aloneUzDaily · 2024-06-10
- Tree care and survival rates to become priorities under the "Yashil Makon" projectDunyo.info / UzA · 2026-09-21
Connected cases
- Afforestation of the dried Aral Sea bed in Uzbekistan Uzbekistan · 2018–2026 Related matter
- Government of Uzbekistan (Government) — here: Runs the programme; reports planting totals; there: Runs the state planting programme; reports the area planted
- Over one million unplanted saplings in Uzbekistan reported as planted Uzbekistan · 2024 Related matter
- Kun.uz (Media) — here: Reported school staff buying saplings; there: reported the unplanted saplings
- Tree felling under the Tashkent moratorium: damage assessments, prosecutor cases and ministry counts Uzbekistan · 2020–2025 Related matter
- Government of Uzbekistan (Government) — here: Runs the programme; reports planting totals; there: Presidential decree extending the moratorium indefinitely
- Paid markhor hunt in Surkhandarya, Uzbekistan Uzbekistan · 2024–2025
- Kun.uz (Media) — here: Reported school staff buying saplings; there: Reported the video and the fee rate
- Sea Breeze resort on the Charvak reservoir, Uzbekistan Uzbekistan · 2024–2026
- Government of Uzbekistan (Government) — here: Runs the programme; reports planting totals; there: Cabinet of Ministers approved the investment project on 1 August 2025
- Uzbek cotton boycott ends forced labour Uzbekistan · 2017–2026
- Government of Uzbekistan (Government) — here: Runs the programme; reports planting totals; there: Government
- Uzbek cotton clusters took farmers' land and set quotas, rights group reports Uzbekistan · 2017–2026
- Government of Uzbekistan (Government) — here: Runs the programme; reports planting totals; there: Government that set up the cluster system
- World Bank $800m Uzbekistan operation; Tanzania project halted Uzbekistan · 2017–2025
- Government of Uzbekistan (Government) — here: Runs the programme; reports planting totals; there: recipient of the policy operation