Journal of International Economics Research JIER Pending 10.54216/JIER https://www.americaspg.com/journals/show/4196 2025 2025 University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia Botirjon Botirjon Alfraganus University, Tashkent, Uzbekistan Ziyodulla Khakimov Tashkent State University of Economics, Tashkent, Uzbekistan Shirin Karimova Arid and semi-arid regions are facing faster land degradation and growing water stress. Planners need indicators that connect conservation goals to everyday decisions. In Uzbekistan’s Zomin region, few long-term, spatial studies combine vegetation condition with water-conservation capacity. We develop a transparent Spatial–Ecological Sustainability Index (SESI) to describe ecological quality and water support and to guide restoration and protection. The method merges several remote sensing and GIS layers: multi-decade NDVI from Landsat and Sentinel, terrain measures such as slope and flow accumulation, and land-cover permeability. We normalize these layers and combine them with a tested weighting method, producing SESI maps and summaries for districts and protected areas. The results show clear patterns by elevation and land use: upper catchments have strong water-retention potential, while valley bottoms near settlements show mixed conditions. The approach is reproducible, decision-ready, and adaptable to other mountainous, water-limited regions. 2025 2025 10 25 10.54216/JIER.010102 https://www.americaspg.com/articleinfo/42/show/4196