Nature4Health Uzbekistan Scoping Phase
Nature4Health is a global initiative working to reduce the risk of pandemics by strengthening the environmental and preventive dimensions of One Health. The initiative supports countries in better understanding the links between human, animal, and ecosystem health, and in integrating these connections into decision-making, policy, and practice.
Uzbekistan has been selected as one of the 6 participating countries for the Nature4Health (N4H) Phase 2, reflecting the country’s commitment to advancing preventative One Health approaches and multisectoral collaboration.
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan faces growing environmental and public health challenges that increase the risk of zoonotic disease emergence. Climate change, land degradation, biodiversity loss, and changing wildlife–livestock–human interactions are creating new pathways for disease spillover.
The Karakalpakstan region is considered particularly vulnerable due to the long-term impacts of the Aral Sea crisis. Desertification, ecosystem degradation, water scarcity, biodiversity loss, and climate extremes are increasing pressure on both ecosystems and communities, while also intensifying wildlife–livestock–human interactions.
Wild ungulates such as urial, ibex, argali, and markhor increasingly share grazing areas with domestic livestock, while seasonal livestock movements and overgrazing further amplify spillover risks. Environmental degradation and habitat fragmentation may also contribute to the reactivation and spread of dormant pathogens.
Uzbekistan has already taken important steps toward strengthening One Health coordination through national strategies and partnerships with organisations including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, World Health Organization, United Nations Development Programme, and IUCN, as well as through the regional 1Health4Nature: The One Health in nature conservation in Central Asia project, of which the Uzbekistan N4H scoping phase forms an important contribution.
The N4H Approach in Uzbekistan
The Nature4Health scoping phase in Uzbekistan will focus on upstream and preventative action rather than reactive outbreak response. In doing so, it will help strengthen preventive One Health approaches by linking biodiversity conservation and ecosystem resilience with public health priorities.
By addressing the environmental drivers of zoonotic disease emergence and strengthening collaboration across sectors, the initiative aims to support healthier ecosystems, healthier communities, and a more resilient future for Uzbekistan and the broader Central Asian region.
Objectives of the Scoping Phase
To work with partners in Uzbekistan to understand the main needs, priorities and opportunities, and to develop an Implementation Project Document showing how Nature4Health can help reduce pandemic risks by strengthening preventive One Health action. The scoping phase will focus initially on Karakalpakstan Region while maintaining strong linkages with national policies and coordination mechanisms.
Key activities
- Conduct stakeholder consultations and systems mapping workshops
- Assess zoonotic spillover risks and institutional gaps
- Undertake field visits and consultations in Karakalpakstan
- Develop and validate an Implementation Project Document (IPD) for the implementation phase
The scoping phase will deliver a comprehensive Implementation Project Document (IPD) outlining future priorities, activities, and partnerships with the overall outcome areas:
- Assess: enhancing evidence on links between biodiversity, climate change, and health for better decision-making
- Build: supporting governments to develop effective policies, structures, and frameworks for preventative One Health
- Enable: building capacity, knowledge management, and advocacy to implement such policies and frameworks
- Sustain: establishing sustainable partnerships and governance
Through this process, Nature4Health aims to support healthier wildlife, healthier ecosystems, healthier communities, and more resilient approaches to zoonotic disease prevention in Uzbekistan. The Nature4Health Uzbekistan Scoping Phase represents an important opportunity to strengthen preventative One Health approaches by connecting biodiversity conservation, ecosystem resilience, and public health priorities.
N4H was initiated by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) with a contribution of €50 million. BMUV is one of eight N4H Partners, including the Convention on Biological Diversity, United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Environment Programme, World Health Organization, World Organisation for Animal Health and International Union for the Conservation of Nature, who bring extensive multisectoral and diverse One Health practical experiences. N4H is hosted by the UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office (MPTFO), and the Secretariat is based at UNEP in Nairobi, Kenya.
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