Protecting Natural Ecosystems through Scientific Research and Institutional Cooperation
Termez State University undertakes scientific research and maintains partnerships with conservation institutions, protected-area authorities and regional organisations to support the preservation of ecosystems and their biological diversity. These activities address the conservation of rare, endemic and threatened plant and animal species, the protection of natural habitats and the sustainable management of biological resources in southern Uzbekistan.
The university's Faculty of Natural Sciences, particularly its Departments of Zoology, Botany, and Ecology and Soil Science, provides the scientific expertise supporting this work. Its research focuses on the ecosystems of Surkhandarya Region, including the Kohitang Mountains, Surkhan State Nature Reserve, freshwater environments, mountain landscapes and areas experiencing environmental degradation.
The university's conservation activities extend beyond academic teaching through joint field research, wildlife monitoring, species identification, genetic investigations and cooperation with organisations directly responsible for managing and protecting biodiversity.
Scientific Cooperation with Surkhan State Nature Reserve
A central component of Termez State University's biodiversity conservation activities is its scientific partnership with Surkhan State Nature Reserve, a protected natural area situated on the eastern slopes of the Kohitang mountain range in Sherabad District.
The reserve protects mountain ecosystems containing rare and regionally important plant and animal species, including wildlife associated with the distinctive ecological conditions of southern Uzbekistan.
The university's GreenMetric conservation documentation identifies a formal Scientific Cooperation Agreement with the reserve, providing a framework for joint field investigations and the study of biological resources.
Under this cooperation, university researchers contribute to the identification, classification, mapping and monitoring of plant and animal species.
Research activities include the examination of species distribution, population characteristics, habitat conditions and ecological factors affecting biodiversity. Botanical investigations support the documentation of local flora, while zoological surveys contribute information on wildlife populations, species composition and habitat requirements.
The cooperation also encompasses research on rare and endemic species whose populations may be vulnerable to habitat degradation, climatic changes and other environmental pressures.
Scientific findings provide information relevant to protected-area management, biodiversity inventories and the identification of conservation priorities.
Joint Biodiversity Research Published in 2025
The university's collaboration with protected-area institutions is also reflected in scientific publications.
In 2025, research involving Nigora Devonova, a doctoral researcher at Termez State University, Gulnara Mirzayeva of the Institute of Zoology of the Uzbekistan Academy of Sciences, and R. Turdiyev, Director of Surkhan State Nature Reserve, was published in the Bulletin of the Khorezm Mamun Academy.
The study examined butterfly species belonging to the family Nymphalidae within the reserve, focusing on their taxonomic composition, geographical distribution and ecological characteristics.
The researchers examined 85 collected specimens and identified 14 species belonging to eight genera, providing detailed information on the distribution of butterflies across different habitats within the protected area.
The field observations reported in the article were conducted in preceding years, while the joint scientific findings were published in 2025.
This research provides a concrete example of cooperation between the university, a national scientific institute and protected-area management. Its findings contribute to the documentation of biological diversity and provide a scientific foundation for assessing ecological conditions and conservation needs within the reserve.
Cooperation with Termez Zoo on Wildlife Conservation
Termez State University also maintains research and practical cooperation with Termez Zoo, focusing on zoological studies, professional training and the conservation of animal genetic resources.
The university's GreenMetric conservation report identifies an agreement facilitating scientific activities involving university researchers, master's students and zoological specialists.
The cooperation supports studies of animal biology, the identification of species and the preservation of the genetic diversity of rare and endemic animals.
An example of direct participation took place on 3 March 2025, when academic staff and students from the Faculty of Natural Sciences visited Termez Zoo to participate in activities marking World Wildlife Day.
During the visit, university participants volunteered alongside zoo employees, assisting with practical work and gaining experience in the care and management of animals.
The activity strengthened cooperation between university specialists and an institution responsible for maintaining living animal collections, while giving students practical experience of animal welfare and conservation-related responsibilities.
The partnership provides opportunities to connect research and professional education with the work of a regional wildlife institution.
Biodiversity Research in Yuqori To‘palang National Nature Park
The university's conservation partnerships extend to Yuqori To‘palang National Nature Park in Sariosiyo District.
Its documented research cooperation includes zoological investigations conducted alongside specialists from the Institute of Zoology of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan and researchers from other national universities.
These investigations focus particularly on molluscs and insects, examining their species composition, geographical distribution, population density and ecological requirements.
The research is relevant to understanding the condition of mountain ecosystems, identifying species with restricted distributions and assessing potential threats to biodiversity.
By studying organisms that respond to changes in habitat conditions, researchers develop information that can contribute to environmental monitoring and the development of appropriate conservation measures.
This cooperation also supports the preparation of scientific inventories and the exchange of expertise among researchers, protected-area personnel and specialists in biodiversity conservation.
Genetic Research and Conservation of Threatened Species
The university's Programme for the Conservation of the Genetic Resources of Local Plants and Animals provides a research framework for studying rare, endemic and environmentally vulnerable species.
The programme addresses the systematic identification of biological resources, the documentation of species distributions and the application of modern methods for examining genetic diversity.
According to the university's GreenMetric conservation report, research activities undertaken during 2025 included molecular and bioinformatics investigations of the genetic diversity of local species.
Reported activities encompassed DNA barcoding, population-genetics analysis and the development of a genetic database of local endemic species.
These methods can help researchers identify species more accurately, investigate genetic differences between populations and establish scientific information relevant to biodiversity protection.
The university's research programme also addresses the long-term conservation of plant and animal genetic resources, recognising the importance of genetic diversity for ecological resilience and adaptation to environmental change.
The reported 2025 activities form part of the institution's research-based conservation strategy, while their individual outputs can be documented through laboratory reports, scientific publications and project records.
Conservation of Plant Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration
Plant conservation forms another significant element of Termez State University's biodiversity research.
The Department of Botany investigates the diversity, geographical distribution, ecological characteristics and conservation requirements of plants occurring in southern Uzbekistan.
Its research includes rare, endemic and potentially threatened species, together with plants of ecological and economic importance.
The university maintains herbarium collections containing specimens of regional flora, providing material for taxonomic research, species identification and the documentation of botanical diversity.
The GreenMetric archive also identifies greenhouse facilities and plant-propagation research intended to support the cultivation of climate-adapted trees, shrubs and other plant resources.
These activities provide a scientific basis for expanding suitable vegetation, understanding plant adaptation and supporting ecological restoration.
The university's cooperation with Surkhan State Nature Reserve includes botanical surveys, the classification of plant species and the preparation of geographical information relevant to conservation.
Research into soil degradation, desertification and regional climatic conditions further informs the protection and restoration of vegetation in environmentally vulnerable landscapes.
Cooperation with Environmental Authorities and Regional Enterprises
Termez State University maintains cooperation with the Surkhandarya Regional Department of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change, protected-area institutions and organisations involved in managing natural resources.
The university's research structures contribute scientific information on biodiversity, environmental conditions and the sustainable use of biological resources.
Its Department of Zoology also reports contractual scientific work with external organisations, alongside investigations of regional fauna, parasitic organisms and the ecological conditions affecting plants and animals.
The university's wider cooperation with agricultural enterprises addresses the sustainable management of biological resources, including the ecological effects of agricultural practices and methods for controlling organisms that damage crops.
These relationships provide channels for applying university research outside academic laboratories and for connecting scientific investigations with environmental and resource-management challenges.
Field Research Infrastructure and Long-Term Monitoring
The Darband Field Training and Research Station provides additional infrastructure for ecological investigations, species observation and scientific training in natural environments.
The station supports studies relating to regional biodiversity, the adaptation of plants and animals to local climatic conditions, and the management of biological resources.
The university's conservation facilities also include zoological collections, preserved biological specimens, herbarium materials and laboratory resources used for taxonomic and genetic investigations.
Together, these resources strengthen the institution's capacity to undertake field-based research and maintain scientific information relevant to the long-term protection of biodiversity.
Termez State University's partnerships with nature reserves, a national park, Termez Zoo and regional environmental organisations connect its scientific activities with institutions directly responsible for the conservation and management of threatened ecosystems.