Uzbekistan to use satellite tech for environmental enforcement
Uzbekistan to track illegal deforestation, mining, and pollution using satellite data
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan (MNTV) — Uzbekistan has announced a new initiative to combat environmental violations using satellite technology, in a move that blends space science with environmental governance.
The country’s Prosecutor General’s Office and national space agency, Uzbekkosmos, signed a memorandum of cooperation this week to bolster ecological protection through aerospace tools and satellite data.
The agreement will integrate remote sensing into environmental inspections, regulatory enforcement, and investigations of illegal activity.
According to Uzbekkosmos, the partnership will facilitate real-time monitoring of green spaces, forests, rivers, and construction zones.
Authorities plan to use data from the State Space Monitoring System to detect deforestation, unauthorized tree cutting, and illegal use of forest lands.
It will also track construction in protected zones and monitor land degradation.
One of the key goals is to regulate excavation in riverbeds and safeguard protected water zones. Satellite imagery will help determine whether river cleaning and bank reinforcement efforts comply with environmental standards and identify illicit digging operations.
The partnership extends to mineral extraction and waste management. Officials will assess the scale of material removal from mining sites and detect illegal dumping and storage of industrial or agricultural waste.
It also targets harmful post-harvest practices like crop residue burning, which impacts both air quality and soil fertility.
Authorities say the agreement will increase transparency, promote public awareness, and improve the efficiency of inspections.
It is also expected to foster a stronger culture of environmental responsibility across Uzbekistan.
The move follows President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s ratification in 2024 of Uzbekistan’s accession to the Outer Space Treaty, a landmark UN agreement governing peaceful use of space. First signed in 1967 by the United States, Russia, and the United Kingdom, the treaty now includes 115 ratified countries.
Officials believe that combining environmental enforcement with satellite monitoring will not only improve compliance but also position Uzbekistan as a regional leader in innovative ecological governance.
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