DUSHANBE, March 19, Asia-Plus  -- A two-day action that saw some 3,000 trees planted in Sughd’s cities of Chkalovsk and Taboshar as well as districts of Bobojonghafurov, Spitamen and Konibodom concluded on March 18, Asia-Plus has learned from the Khujand-based  Youth Group on Protection of Environment (YGPE) Aarhus Center. 

The action was conducted by Aarhus Center, Sughd Agency for Environmental Protection and Green Patrol Public Association under financial support of the OSCE Center in Dushanbe.   

The OSCE Center in Dushanbe monitors environmental developments and assists Tajikistan in its efforts to tackle land degradation and radioactive contamination. The Centre also helps the Government develop environmental strategies and legislation, supports environmental activists and facilitates regional OSCE environmental activities.   

Implementing the provisions of the Aarhus Convention - which focuses on access to information, public participation in decision-making, and access to justice in environmental matters - is an important part of the Center''s activities in the environmental field.

Aarhus Centers in Dushanbe and Khujand in northern Tajikistan publish information materials, organize seminars to raise awareness on the convention and provide journalists and the population with information on environmental issues. 

Since 2003, the Centre has supported a group of young Tajik environmental activists, known as "Green Patrols" because of their involvement in a project financed by the OSCE and other Environment and Security Initiative partners. In 2006, Green Patrols created the central Green Youth Organization.