It is known that the Forestry Research Institute was first created in 1927 as the Central Forestry Experimental Station of Central Asia as part of the All-Union Agroforestry Research Institute (VNIALMI) and experimental forestry stations of Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, Fergana, and the Aman Koton base stations were attached to it , Kulsoy, Arslanbob, Bukhara, Termez, Andijan. He then worked under various names until 2017. In 2017, based on the decision of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. PQ-2966 dated May 1, 2017, it was reorganized into the Forestry Research Institute. Currently, the institute has 1 branch Andijan branch (founded in 2017), 2 scientific centers, 5 experimental stations and 8 scientific laboratories.

So, how organized is the activity of this center today? What practical work has been organized in this area? On these issues, Saidkul Arabov, director of the Forestry Research Institute, said:

- The institute employs 47 employees, of which 13 are managers and 34 researchers (21 with academic degrees). According to Saidkul Arabov, 14 doctoral degree applicants are also studying in doctoral studies.

- Over the past 6 years, the indicator of scientific potential at the institute has increased from 18% to 47%. The average age of scientists has been reduced from 71 to 50 years. 12 professors and a senior researcher were trained.

- Can you say what measures have been taken to resolve environmentally pressing issues facing the industry, in particular, the creation of protective forests on forest fund lands, increasing green spaces and creating plantations of forest fruit and medicinal plants for the efficient use of land?

- The head of state adopted a number of documents for the development of the industry. In order to ensure the execution of these documents, 9 scientific projects were carried out to develop advanced technologies and the results of scientific cooperation were put into practice. Doctoral candidates initiated doctoral dissertation research in 17 areas.

310 scientific articles, 10 monographs and 21 scientific recommendations have been published in international scientific journals and at scientific and practical conferences. 14 new developments have been patented.

- Of course, where there is work, there will be disadvantages. If you also dwell on the existing shortcomings...

- As you noted, there are many problems that await solutions. In particular, in the last 2-3 years, sand and dust storms have been observed in the regions of the republic, especially in the Republic of Karakalpakstan, Khorezm, Bukhara, Samarkand and Tashkent. Unfortunately, fundamental research to substantiate their positive impact on mitigating the negative consequences of external factors, the construction of “Green spaces” in the context of territories in order to eliminate these problems, is not carried out enough.

The city of Tashkent ranks one of the 10th in the world in terms of pollution. The main reason for this is due to the increase in the number of vehicles and manufacturing plants in urban centers and the increase in toxic gas emissions. In accordance with this, transport and factories are developing innovative ideas - technologies (including multi-stage filters, etc., aimed at reducing the amount of toxic gases emitted by factories, as well as the coefficient of their emission into the air) are underdeveloped.

Separately, it is worth noting that research in the field of developing the theoretical foundations for the use of renewable alternative energy sources in manufacturing enterprises is practically not conducted.

The digitization of the lands of the forest fund of the republic and existing natural forests and cultural green spaces in territories not included in it, as well as the assessment and monitoring of their condition are not fully established.

In order to prevent problems and find positive solutions, several priority tasks have been outlined. First of all, we must achieve the preservation of greenery, its expansion. Today, work on planting seedlings has been carried out locally in the spring and autumn seasons, and all responsible organizations are involved in this direction. Seedlings are selected based on the climate of each area. To properly care for seedlings, appropriate agrotechnical measures are carried out in a timely manner.

Each of us is equally responsible for preserving nature and a clean ecological climate. Only if we follow this will we be able to achieve the expected results.

Thanks for the insightful conversation!