The analysis of judicial practices in Uzbekistan has revealed alarming trends in the field of environmental crimes. In 2024 and the first half of 2025, 220 criminal cases related to violations of environmental protection laws were reviewed.
A total of 403 individuals were brought as defendants in these cases. Guilty verdicts were issued in 213 cases involving 393 individuals, while the remaining seven cases (involving ten individuals) were closed due to various reasons.
The analysis of these crimes showed that the most frequent violations were related to flora and fauna. In 2024, 116 individuals were convicted for violating regulations on the use of wildlife and plant resources, with an additional 77 held accountable in the first six months of 2025.
The second category concerns crimes involving damage or destruction of crops, forests, and other plants. In 2024, 73 individuals were held responsible for such violations, while in the first half of 2025, 21 people faced accountability.
There are also noticeable patterns in the geographical distribution of environmental crimes. In 2024, the Republic of Karakalpakstan led in the number of environmental crimes, accounting for 15% of all cases nationwide.
The next highest regions were Jizzakh and Syrdarya provinces (12% each), followed by Surkhandarya (11%) and Fergana province (10%). In the first half of 2025, however, Karakalpakstan (26%) and Samarkand province (23%) emerged as the leaders in environmental crime cases.
Apart from crimes, courts also reviewed administrative offenses in the field of ecology. During this one-and-a-half-year period, 2,466 administrative cases involving 2,737 individuals were reviewed, and 2,478 individuals were held administratively accountable in 2,235 cases.
Meanwhile, 231 cases (involving 259 individuals) were closed for various reasons. Geographically, half of these administrative offenses occurred in Karakalpakstan, Bukhara, Samarkand, Syrdarya, and Tashkent provinces.
These statistics underscore the need to strengthen measures aimed at preventing environmental crimes and administrative offenses. Special attention should be paid to the Republic of Karakalpakstan and Samarkand province.
As part of the nationwide "Green Space" project, extensive efforts are being made in Uzbekistan to expand green areas. In the spring of 2025, 137 million tree and shrub seedlings were planted across the country.
This initiative is part of a long-term strategy to improve the ecological situation and combat the adverse impacts of climate change.
