Samarkand neighborhood builds shaded walking street
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Residents of the Saykal mahalla in Samarkand, Uzbekistan are gaining a new shaded walking street as part of the nationwide Yashil Makon project.
The initiative involves planting 550 trees and shrubs along a 700-meter stretch of sidewalk to improve the local environment. Project planners expect the landscaping will lower ground temperatures from 43°C to 35°C and reduce asphalt temperatures from 48°C to 39°C.
This work is part of Uzbekistan’s broader strategy for 2030, which prioritises developing green infrastructure in cities and towns. Specialists believe expanding green spaces can reduce air pollution by 5 to 10% and lower sidewalk temperatures by 3 to 5°C, encouraging residents to walk more. The Yashil Makon project, launched in 2021 at the direction of Uzbekistan’s President, aims to plant at least 200 million trees and shrubs each year.
Beyond planting, the project focuses on the “3 to 30 to 300” principle of urban landscaping, ensuring people can see three trees from home, that 30% of a neighborhood is covered by trees, and that every building is within 300 meters of a park or green space.
