Nukus, Uzbekistan, September 20, 2023– GGGI Uzbekistan handed over 1,384 planting tools to the Forestry Committee of Karakalpakstan to continue the government’s tree planting efforts in cities and towns in Karakalpakstan, to support farmers with trees and to afforest the Aral Sea seabed. The ceremony was organized within the framework of “Green Rehabilitation Investment Project for Karakalpakstan Republic to Address Impacts of the Aral Sea Crisis” (Aral Sea GRIP), GGGI project funded by KOICA. 

At the ceremony, 682 Kolesov swords and 682 augers were handed over to the Forestry Committee for a total of 53,976 US dollars, purchased by GGGI’s KOICA-funded Aral Sea GRIP. GGGI Uzbekistan is devoted to supporting the government’s greening activities to reduce the impact of wind, sand and dust storms and degraded soils on the population, their health and their agricultural activities. 

• Kolesov’s sword is a narrow steel shovel used to manually plant seedlings and saplings. It is widely used in forest planting on the drained bottom of the Aral Sea.  
• Auger is a hand tool used to prepare pits for seedlings. With an auger, one can drill deep holes in the ground to plant trees and shrubs efficiently. 

The handover ceremony was attended by Dr. Aaron Russell – GGGI Uzbekistan Country Representative, Ruslan Zarikeev – Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, Aibek Aminov – Chairman of the Forestry Committee of Karakalpakstan, Markabai Nurmanov – Head of the Secretariat of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, Yeryaz Akimniyazov – Deputy Chairman of the Forestry Committee of Karakalpakstan, as well as employees of the Forestry Committee and Forestry Enterprises of Karakalpakstan, and the GGGI Nukus office team.