It's been 2 years since our program has been started. We had well celebrated that date having joined it with the World Environment Day. This festival was also held in conjunction with a bicycle game, the results of which were very encouraging and we hope to continue this topic in the future.

But along with the red color of this date on the calendar, working days also come. Under the rules of the GEF SGP, the National Steering Committee of our programs must have a rotational character, in other words its membership must be changed every two years.

We have announced a competition to fill vacancies in the membership of NCC. And now the last approvals were received from the headquarters of the GEF SGP and we are pleased to announce new members of our grant committee. Thus, the new structure includes:

Javlon Tashpulatov – Director of Institute of Microbiology AS RU. Mr. Tashpulatov was reelected for the second term and represents Academy of Sciences RU in our committee.

Mirzohid Yuldashev - Mr. Yuldashev represents the Association of Farmers of Uzbekistan in the Committee and continues his term of membership in our committee, which was started last year. His term of re-election will come in a 1 year.

Dinara Gabdulhakova - also remains from the previous structure, since she didn’t enter it from the very beginning of the committee of the previous convocation. Dinara represents a public of Ferghana Valley in our committee.

Natalia Soldatova - Deputy Director of Ecocenter Djeyran. Natalia is also from the previous composition of the committee and she is one of the universally recognized leaders and most experienced experts on the issues of conservation of biodiversity, exactly on the conservation.

Anna Ten - is a newly elected member of our committee. Anna represents a few interests in the committee. First of all, she is a member and officer of the Society for Bird Protection in Uzbekistan. Secondly, she is an active member of the Youth Environmental Network in Uzbekistan. Now we have a representative from the youth, who can influence decisions within the framework of the GEF SGP. Excellent. Congratulations.

Nazar Ibragimov - we are pleased to welcome our new committee member, a professor who represents the interests of Khorezm and Karakalpakstan. Mr. Ibragimov is deservedly respected and honored as a true professional in the fight against unsustainable use of land and water resources. Nazar-aka is the director of the NGO "Krass", which is also currently the executor of our project on laser levelling. Welcome!

Ravshan Mamatkulov - is a Representative from the State Committee for Nature Protection of RU. His candidacy was recommended by the Chairman of the State Committee for Nature Protection and was approved by our program.

Ludmila Shardakova - is a Representative from Uzhydromet in RU. Ludmila was recommended to us as a good, qualified specialist who will be able to play an active role in the affairs of the Programme. We are really pleased to welcome her to our committee.

Bakhodir Mardonov - continues to be a member of the GEF SGP committee and represents the views of the donor community. Mr. Mardonov is a member of JICA and takes active part in the consideration and discussion of the GEF SGP projects. We're glad that you are with us!

Khurshid Rustamov - is another newly joined member of the committee. Khurshid represents the interests of UNDP in the work of the program and is designated by UNDP Resident Representative in Uzbekistan. Khurshid works in the department of economic management and we are glad to see another economist in our membership. This is very important. Welcome!

I would like to thank all those who worked with us in the previous membership of the GEF SGP National Committee.

I would like to say special thanks to Natalia Shulgina. She was very actively involved and empathized with the fate of the program. I am very sorry that our joint work within the framework of the GEF SGP came to the end, but I'm sure that we will continue to work and cooperate with Natalia as a very good professional of her work and simply as a nice person.

I would say the same huge thank to Khaniya Asilbekova. Khaniya is now working in the State Committee for Nature Protection in RU and I'm sure she will bring much benefit to our country working there. I am very sorry that Khaniya leaves the position of a member of our committee, because she, like any other sincere person, treated all the good initiatives of the program very warmly. Very few people know how she helped us in the celebration of World Environment Day. Thank you so much for everything, Khaniya opa.

Ulmas Sobirov (the State Committee for Nature Protection RU) and Saidrasul Sanginov (Ecoforum and NANNO Uz) are also leaving the Committee. Thank you very much for your work in our committee. Your contribution to the work was really important.

Finally, many thanks to the representative of UNDP. Aziza Umarova, who zealously defended the interests of local people and women at all our meetings. Unfortunately Aziza was unable to take part in our latest meetings for a very pleasant reason: Aziza gave birth to a baby girl and we heartily congratulate her on behalf of our committee and GEF SGP team.

So, the new committee is determined. All we need is just to start the work. The first meeting of the new members will gather next time in early September, 2010. I am confident that the new committee will also actively promote the GEF SGP in Uzbekistan, and we will make much progress towards the conservation of nature in our country!