The Government of Uzbekistan presented Dr. Tarifa Ajeif Alzaabi, director general of the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture, with the Tabiat Himoyachisi or Defender of Nature badge of honour, a report from the center’s website stated. The honour was handed over by Aziz Abdukhakimov, minister of ecology, environmental protection and climate change, at a ceremony in the Uzbek capital. Dr. Alzaabi leads an organisation that collaborates with Uzbekistan on projects introducing salt-tolerant crops, improving irrigation and training local agricultural workers. The badge was established under Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 443 to recognise leadership in ecological restoration, scientific innovation and sustainable resource use, according to the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture. Dr. Alzaabi said in a statement carried by the center, “This recognition is both an honor and a responsibility that I proudly share with ICBA’s dedicated scientists, researchers, and field teams, as well as our valued partners in Uzbekistan.” The award coincides with broader regional efforts to address land degradation and water scarcity, issues that a series of joint initiatives between ICBA and Uzbek institutions have targeted since the center expanded its Central Asian partnerships. Under Dr. Alzaabi’s direction the center has established field trials, early warning systems for soil salinity and programmes that have trained hundreds of specialists including women and youth in Uzbekistan, the center’s assessment found. These activities form part of ICBA’s mandate to develop climate-resilient solutions for marginal environments across the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia, according to institutional records. The International Center for Biosaline Agriculture, headquartered in the United Arab Emirates, operates with support from the UAE government, which the award statement noted as a key partner in advancing practical research into actionable field outcomes.
