The extent, diversity and dynamics of a land cover have to be understood to develop management concepts for tree and forest resources in Uzbek drylands. Owing to inapplicability of extensive terrestrial surveys, reliable and up-to-date inventories of natural forests and tree plantings are lacking in Uzbekistan. Based on aerial photographs, a comprehensive assessment of hedgerows and windbreaks, tree plantations and natural floodplain (“tugai”) forests was carried out. Recommendations on the extension of tree plantings within croplands to improve growing conditions of crops and produce useful by-products as well site-specific measures for protecting and restoring the tugai forest ecosystem are given.