China and Uzbekistan are joining forces to restore the fragile ecosystem around the Aral Sea, where more than 90 percent of the lake’s area has disappeared since the 1960s following decades of intensive irrigation.

The retreating waters have left behind the Aralkum desert, exposing vast areas of salt and agricultural residues that can be carried hundreds of kilometres by dust storms, creating environmental challenges across the wider region.

Scientists from China’s Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography have been working with Uzbek researchers since 2018, drawing on Xinjiang’s experience in tackling saline-alkali soils. More than 1.3 tonnes of seeds from 36 salt-tolerant plant species have been introduced around the Aral Sea, helping stabilise soil and curb dust.

China’s agricultural expertise is also supporting more efficient cotton production, with precision drip irrigation cutting water use by 40–50 percent while tripling yields.

Together, these efforts are helping weaken dust storms and expand vegetation, with a green belt covering more than two million hectares gradually taking shape across the basin.