“Green Legacy” of Kyrgyzstan
Turns into Desert
Turns into Desert
“Green Legacy”
of Kyrgyzstan
Turns into Desert
of Kyrgyzstan
Turns into Desert
In Kyrgyzstan, based on the reports of state bodies, new trees are widely planted across the country, while the area of forests is increasing steadily. However, thousands of dead plantlets and wasted millions of dollars are hidden behind fine words and figures.
In Kyrgyzstan, based on the reports of state bodies, new trees are widely planted across the country, while the area of forests is increasing steadily. However, thousands of dead plantlets and wasted millions of dollars are hidden behind fine words and figures.
In 2022, Sadyr Japarov launched the national campaign ‘Jashyl Muras’ (translated from Kyrgyz as Green Legacy). Its main goal was is ensure ecological safety, environmental protection, conservation and extension of the forest area.
According to the ‘Jashyl Muras’ plan, 5-6 million plantlets must be planted every year in the country. All state bodies must submit a report about planted trees to the Department of Forestry no later than the 5th day of every month. In turn, the ministry of natural resources must report to the presidential administration on the project implementation.
“We make sure that every tree is taken care of duly. No tree will be left uncared,” said Azamat Temirkulov, representative of the administration.
On March 12, 2002, Japarov in his message to representatives of international organisations and diplomats emphasised the importance of forests for the future generations at the ceremony of official launch of the initiative at the national park Ala-Archa:
According to the ‘Jashyl Muras’ plan, 5-6 million plantlets must be planted every year in the country. All state bodies must submit a report about planted trees to the Department of Forestry no later than the 5th day of every month. In turn, the ministry of natural resources must report to the presidential administration on the project implementation.
“We make sure that every tree is taken care of duly. No tree will be left uncared,” said Azamat Temirkulov, representative of the administration.
On March 12, 2002, Japarov in his message to representatives of international organisations and diplomats emphasised the importance of forests for the future generations at the ceremony of official launch of the initiative at the national park Ala-Archa:
“Climate change, weather deterioration, glacier melting is the challenge not only for our country, but also for the entire world. Therefore, every human in the world, regardless of who they are and what country they live in, must contribute to addressing the challenge.”
The president took the decision on ‘Jashyl Muras’ campaign after the world leaders summit in Glasgow (UK), where Kyrgyzstan offered to declare 2022 the year of sustainable mountain development at the 76th session of the UN General Assembly.
Official data on ‘Jashyl Muras’ national campaign
According to Kumar Mambetaliev, chief of bioresources management department of the ministry of natural resources, the statistics of planting during the national campaign looks promising.
5.4 million plantlets were planted in 2022, and 7.6 million in 2023.
5.4 million plantlets were planted in 2022, and 7.6 million in 2023.
According to ‘Jashyl Muras’, 8 million trees were scheduled for planting in 2024. By the end of July 2024, it became known that 5.6 million young plants were planted.
However, the data taken from interviews of representatives of state bodies, official websites and official responses of ministry of natural resources and forest service fail to match.
However, the data taken from interviews of representatives of state bodies, official websites and official responses of ministry of natural resources and forest service fail to match.
However, despite the mismatch, the figures are high. But CABAR.asia managed to find out that it was not all as good as representatives of state bodies reported. The journalists visited some spots in Chui and Talas regions, where plantlets were planted under the ‘Jashyl Muras’ project.
The editorial staff talked to foresters in Issyk-Kul region about the situation with planting there.
Karkyra – Most Widespread Planting of Sovereign Kyrgyzstan
Over 332 thousand young plants were planted in the area of 300 hectares in the Karkyra natural landmark of Tyup district, Issyk-Kul region, at the end of May 2024 with financial support of Kumtor Gold Company (4,525,715 som or nearly 51.4 thousand dollars). According to Azamat Mambetov, deputy chief of Ministry of Emergency of the Kyrgyz Republic, it is the most widespread planting of Kyrgyzstan in 30 years. 13 forest farms were involved in planting in Chui, Issyk-Kul and Naryn regions.
Nurzhan Mukanov, ex-forester and activist, resident of Tyup district, said to the editorial office that the forest in Karkyra could die. According to him, the forest was planted in June-July (while March is the desired month) in the area of cattle grazing.
Nurzhan Mukanov, ex-forester and activist, resident of Tyup district, said to the editorial office that the forest in Karkyra could die. According to him, the forest was planted in June-July (while March is the desired month) in the area of cattle grazing.
Nurzhan Mukanov talks about planting young plants in Karkyra
According to another forester Zhumgalbek Toktonaliev, young plants were planted in in Karkyra from Naryn and Chui forest nurseries, which “are not prepared for planting, and could possibly die in the cool temperatures of the natural landmark”.
“Was there ever a situation when there were no young plants left for planting at Issyk-Kul? It is a shame. We’ll see in spring 2025 if 300 hectares of young plants survive in the natural landmark,” he said.
However, according to the official information of the Forest Service, the establishment in this area is 81 per cent.
But let’s get back to the project beginning.
But let’s get back to the project beginning.
Chui region
In 2022, Zhumgalbek Toktonaliev, a forester with 30 years of experience, held a press conference at the 24.kg news agency, where he said about the death of young plants planted under the ‘Jashyl Muras’ programme.
“Unfortunately, forest planting in Kyrgyzstan has turned into a show. Spin doctors are involved, not forest farm specialists. In the past, hundreds of hectares of forest were planted, and they established. Now, they plant 20 young plants and shouted it from the housetops. But they cannot keep what they have already planted. 13 hectares of plants died: 10 hectares of walnut trees and 3 hectares of apricot trees,” he said.
The young plants that died were planted in Ak-Beshim forest farm of Chui region. After the press conference, responsible aiyl okmotu returned and planted new plantlets instead of the ones that died, according to the message addressed to CABAR.asia.
In the interview to CABAR.asia, Zhumgalbek Toktonaliev said that irrigation water was not fed to the plants, which made them wither and die. Moreover, the plant spacing was disturbed.
In the interview to CABAR.asia, Zhumgalbek Toktonaliev said that irrigation water was not fed to the plants, which made them wither and die. Moreover, the plant spacing was disturbed.
“Sadyr Japarov initially declared the project, which is very important for Kyrgyzstan, but officials made everything according to their best traditions – they implemented the budget, made photos of them wearing white gloves, and that was it,” he said.
According to the activist, after he held the press conference, they immediately came there and planted new plantlets instead of the plants that died. The press conference yielded no results.
The forest service confirmed to CABAR.asia that 42 per cent of young plants established in the area of 13 hectares, and additional plants were planted in 2024.
On June 21, 2024, the team of CABAR.asia visited the spot located 1 kilometres away from the village of Chapaev, Chui region, and recorded hectares of dried-up plants that were planted on the stony soil without irrigation. The young plants were dried up, the spacing between them was 3-5 metres. It was clear the area was not irrigated.
The forest service confirmed to CABAR.asia that 42 per cent of young plants established in the area of 13 hectares, and additional plants were planted in 2024.
On June 21, 2024, the team of CABAR.asia visited the spot located 1 kilometres away from the village of Chapaev, Chui region, and recorded hectares of dried-up plants that were planted on the stony soil without irrigation. The young plants were dried up, the spacing between them was 3-5 metres. It was clear the area was not irrigated.
Talas region
In Talas region, 24,512 young plants were planted in 2023 in the area of 74.9 hectares in the amount of 2,605,974 som (31 thousand dollars) under the ‘Jashyl Muras’ programme, according to the official website. According to the plenipotentiary representation, over 32 thousand trees were planted in the region in 2024. In the conversation with local activists, we found out that half of young plants die after planting. There are several reasons to it, but the main one, according to activists, is neglectful attitude to the planting itself and to the tree care afterwards.
Kalyibek Razakulbek uulu has been involved in the forest and forestry system for 15 years. His father and grandfather worked as foresters for 40 years each. He is aware of how much labour is needed to grow a good plantlet out of a seed. But all efforts of foresters mean nothing if no care is taken of the plants after the planting.
Kalyibek Razakulbek uulu has been involved in the forest and forestry system for 15 years. His father and grandfather worked as foresters for 40 years each. He is aware of how much labour is needed to grow a good plantlet out of a seed. But all efforts of foresters mean nothing if no care is taken of the plants after the planting.
“Local officials take plantlets grown by foresters and plant them in wrong places and do not take care of them. Plantlets die. It takes 5-6 years for a seed to grow in a greenhouse. Thereafter, it takes them 5-6 years to grow in a so-called transplant bed. A forester’s work is invisible, yet requires constant labour. And the years and efforts spent on young plants get destroyed in a few months literally,” Kalyibek said.
According to him, ‘Jashyl Muras’ is an important initiative for Kyrgyzstan, but the problem is how the project is implemented. Most of the trees planted die. He said that main causes of mortality of young plants are bad choice of areas for planting and no irrigation afterwards.
He showed dried-out young plants and a big field with hundreds of dried-up trees in the videos he submitted to the editorial staff. One of the examples is Shumkar Uya aiyl aimak. According to Razakulbek uulu, 5 thousand plantlets of birch (about 1 million som (12 thousand dollars)) were planted there, nearly 2.5-3 hectares. He said that area was swampy, and the young plants were planted without observing the rules (the soil must be loosened near the roots to enhance aeration), and the whole area died.
He showed dried-out young plants and a big field with hundreds of dried-up trees in the videos he submitted to the editorial staff. One of the examples is Shumkar Uya aiyl aimak. According to Razakulbek uulu, 5 thousand plantlets of birch (about 1 million som (12 thousand dollars)) were planted there, nearly 2.5-3 hectares. He said that area was swampy, and the young plants were planted without observing the rules (the soil must be loosened near the roots to enhance aeration), and the whole area died.
“In Talas district, Aral aiyl okmotu, the trees were planted along the stadium just one metre away from the channel. They all died. Last year, 400 Tien Shan spruces were planted in Chon-Koshoi. This year, they added 200 more plantlets to the same place without expanding the area. It means that half of last plantlets died. Local authorities hold volunteer clean-up events, invite 500 persons there, capture videos of them, and plant trees at random. I came there on purpose to watch them – many young plants died (I recorded it on video),” said ecoactivist Kalyibek Razakulbek uulu.
According to him, the young plants die even close to irrigation water in the places he visited. Usually, plantlets are planted on the lands of aiyl okmotu in the framework of the national campaign. Forest farms have a record of how many plantlets are available and how many are ready for planting. There can be cases when new plantlets are planted in the areas where other plantlets died last year.
On June 16, 2024, the CABAR.asia team visited Talas region to record the condition of young plants in the following locations:
1
Talas district, Aral aiyl okmotu, the territory of a local school and stadium, around which the young plants were planted
According to official data, 800 young plants were planted in the area of 2 hectares for 640 thousand som (7.5 thousand dollars) in Aral forest farm in 2023
2
Shumkar-Uya aiyl aimak
5 thousand birches in the area of
2-2.5 hectares
2-2.5 hectares
3
Chon-Koshoi aily okmoty,
Taldy-Bulak
Taldy-Bulak
400 Tien Shan spruces
4
The 197th kilometre of Bishkek-Osh motorway, a plot at
Otmok pass
Otmok pass
Tien Shan spruces
The young plants in the territory of the stadium in Talas district of Aral aiyl okmotu happened to be withered. The area with birches in Shumkar-Uya aiyl aimak also died, just like the young plants in the territory of Chon-Koshoi.
According to Forest Service, the two locations with total area of 4 hectares had 85 per cent and 80 per cent of establishment of birches and Tien Shan spruces, respectively.
The human factor is the main reason of plantlet death, according to activists and former foresters. The plot of ‘Jashyl Muras’ in Talas region starts from the 197th kilometre at the Otmok pass, near the entrance to the region. One metre away from the river the planted plot is enclosed from the livestock, which grazes on hillsides. All young plants dried up and died.
The human factor is the main reason of plantlet death, according to activists and former foresters. The plot of ‘Jashyl Muras’ in Talas region starts from the 197th kilometre at the Otmok pass, near the entrance to the region. One metre away from the river the planted plot is enclosed from the livestock, which grazes on hillsides. All young plants dried up and died.
At the same place, 200 metres away from the plot, local activists planted 20 young plants of spruce at the same time, and they established. According to activists, they asked local shepherds to water them from time to time and they were pleased to take care of the young plants.
Issyk-Kul region
CABAR.asia found out that the story of young plants dying under the ‘Jashyl Muras’ campaign repeats in all northern regions. Thus, 63 hectares of young trees died in Tyup district of Issyk-Kul region in 2023. Nurzhan Mukanov, activist from Issyk-Kul region, submitted the precise data to our editorial staff.
“69,694 young plants of common pine were planted, and out of them 11,915 established, and 57,779 failed,” was written in the report of the Ministry of Natural Resources of October 2023 after inspection of the area of planting under the campaign.
According to official data, 101,659 young plants were planted in 2023 in Tyup district in the amount of 575,000 som (6.8 thousand dollars).
Nurzhan Mukanov on planting young plants in the forestry areas of Issyk-Kul Region
However, Forest Service provides different information. According to their official response, the young plants died only in the area of 23 hectares out of 63 due to weather conditions. In 2024, new trees were planted in the area of 16.84 hectares.
According to Mukanov, the initial plan of planting in the small motherland of Sadyr Japarov in the area of 100 hectares was first reduced to 90, and then to 63 hectares. Even so, the planting stock died, he said. The activist has long tried to reach local representatives engaged in the project. Then he took more drastic actions, he wrote to the chief forest officer of Kyrgyzstan and then to the minister of ecology.
According to Mukanov, the initial plan of planting in the small motherland of Sadyr Japarov in the area of 100 hectares was first reduced to 90, and then to 63 hectares. Even so, the planting stock died, he said. The activist has long tried to reach local representatives engaged in the project. Then he took more drastic actions, he wrote to the chief forest officer of Kyrgyzstan and then to the minister of ecology.
“Last year, 100 per cent of young plants under the ‘Jashyl Muras’ campaign died in Tyup district. 63 hectares of Kudurgu, Taldysuu, Sary-Dobo, Karkara forest farms were selected for planting (there are four forest farms in Tyup). They did not even plant on the prepared area. They hid the planting stock, and it died. The commission from the ministry of natural resources made an inspection visit because I called them. I invited the chief forest officer of Kyrgyzstan, Kozubaev Nadyrbek Omurzakovich, and I said the planting was improper. But he did not come. I had to call the minister of ecology, write a letter, lodge a claim and they found out the mismatch. Yet no one was punished. Where did the money paid for the planting stock go?” said Nurzhan Mukanov.
Mukanov, forester with 30 years of experience, sounded the alarm once he found out that young plants started to die. The commission of the ministry of natural resources arrived to inspect the plot in Tyup following his claim.
“My father is a forester, he worked for 30 years. My father initiated the formation of the Tyup mechanised forest farm in 1990. He organised the forest farm as there was no forest areas in the district,” Mukanov said.
‘Jashyl Muras’
The data available on the official website of ‘Jashyl Muras’ do not correspond to the information provided by officials in their interviews. We have counted the data provided earlier by the ministry of natural resources: 18 million 536 thousand young plants were planted in the area of 13.5 thousand hectares in 2022-2024 under the campaign. The funds spent in this period were never declared. According to the official website of the campaign, 22.5 billion som (265 million dollars) was spent in total.
If we compare the data by regions, we’ll have the following picture:
- 36.5 per cent of total amount went to Naryn region;
- 36.4 per cent or more than a third of planted area accounts for Dzhalal-Abad region;
- 31.6 per cent of all planted trees account for Issyk-Kul region.
If we compare the data by regions, we’ll have the following picture:
- 36.5 per cent of total amount went to Naryn region;
- 36.4 per cent or more than a third of planted area accounts for Dzhalal-Abad region;
- 31.6 per cent of all planted trees account for Issyk-Kul region.
There are questions about why most trees were planted in Issyk-Kul region, while the biggest area of planting is in Dzhalal-Abad region, and the lion’s share of funding went to Naryn region.
There are also questions related to different data provided by officials in interviews and open data available on the official website of ‘Jashyl Muras’.
There are also questions related to different data provided by officials in interviews and open data available on the official website of ‘Jashyl Muras’.
Who supports ‘Jashyl Muras’ financially?
All major enterprises such as Kumtor Gold, Alliance Altyn, international organisations such as the Aga Khan Foundation, joined the president’s initiative. Thus, Kumtor organised the widespread planting at Karkyra in 2024, over 330 thousand young plants were planted in the area of 300 hectares. Previously, right after the campaign was announced in 2022, the company planted over 2 thousand trees in Issyk-Kul and Chui regions.
In the same 2022, Alliance Altyn allocated 400 thousand som (about 4754,55 dollars) for the improvement of the area of 50 hectares on the Suusamyr-Talas-Taraz motorway. In 2023, the company planted 2.5 thousand young plants in Talas region. In 2024, 5 thousand birches were planted in the area of 6 hectares in Shumkar-Uya (previously, the activist from Talas reported their death).
The Aga Khan Foundation and MSDSP KG launched the project in summer 2023 on planting and protecting over 60 thousand trees in Osh, Dzhalal-Abad, Chui and Naryn regions. Over 13 thousand trees were planted in total in the area over 23 hectares.
According to Turdakun Sydykov, chief specialist of the department of forest ecosystem development, Forest Service, Ministry of Agriculture, the state determined the order of procurement of young plants under the ‘Jashyl Muras’ campaign, suggested by forest farms. 50 per cent will be paid by local governments. The rest will be paid by the Nature Protection Foundation of the ministry of natural resources.
The budget constraint in the national campaign on country landscaping prompted the government to ask the citizens for help. In early May 2024, the ministry of finance opened a special account for the national campaign support.
In the same 2022, Alliance Altyn allocated 400 thousand som (about 4754,55 dollars) for the improvement of the area of 50 hectares on the Suusamyr-Talas-Taraz motorway. In 2023, the company planted 2.5 thousand young plants in Talas region. In 2024, 5 thousand birches were planted in the area of 6 hectares in Shumkar-Uya (previously, the activist from Talas reported their death).
The Aga Khan Foundation and MSDSP KG launched the project in summer 2023 on planting and protecting over 60 thousand trees in Osh, Dzhalal-Abad, Chui and Naryn regions. Over 13 thousand trees were planted in total in the area over 23 hectares.
According to Turdakun Sydykov, chief specialist of the department of forest ecosystem development, Forest Service, Ministry of Agriculture, the state determined the order of procurement of young plants under the ‘Jashyl Muras’ campaign, suggested by forest farms. 50 per cent will be paid by local governments. The rest will be paid by the Nature Protection Foundation of the ministry of natural resources.
The budget constraint in the national campaign on country landscaping prompted the government to ask the citizens for help. In early May 2024, the ministry of finance opened a special account for the national campaign support.
“Taking into account the need to ensure the accumulation of donor, grant funds received to implement the national ‘Jashyl Muras’ campaign, a special account was opened for the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision of the Kyrgyz Republic,” according to the message of the ministry.
Forests today, budgets of forest service and plans of the cabinet of ministers
According to Bakytbek Yrsaliev, deputy director of Forest Service, as of 2022, over 12 tonnes of forest seeds were procured every year; the total area of state forest nurseries is 345 hectares, including 110 hectares of yield-producing area. Moreover, over 15 million of planting stock, over 40 species of forest trees are grown every year by forest farms of the republic. Forestry works, namely planting of forests, are performed on the lands of the state forestry fund in the area of over 1,100 hectares every year. Moreover, forestry farms and national natural parks of the republic afforest over 400 hectares of forest cultures every year.
According to the Forest Service, the area covered by forest in the Kyrgyz Republic was 1 million 207 thousand hectares as of January 1, 2018, and 1 million 254 thousand hectares as of September 1, 2022.
However, according to the National Statistical Committee, the forest areas look differently.
According to the Forest Service, the area covered by forest in the Kyrgyz Republic was 1 million 207 thousand hectares as of January 1, 2018, and 1 million 254 thousand hectares as of September 1, 2022.
However, according to the National Statistical Committee, the forest areas look differently.
It is all ambiguous in financial terms. In early 2024, the ministry of finance said that the Forest Service spent 76.3 million som (868.4 million dollars) in 2023, and 97 million som (1 million 153 thousand dollars) in 2022 for protection and regeneration of forests in Kyrgyzstan.
However, the Forest Service, in reply to CABAR.asia, provided different data.
However, the Forest Service, in reply to CABAR.asia, provided different data.
According to Muslim Razhapbaev, director of the P.A.Gan Forestry Institute, National Academy of Sciences, various readings of the increase in the area of forests may be caused by various approaches to the concept of a forest. In the 2010 government decree, the area of forests was 1 million 156 thousand hectares, or 5.6 per cent of the total area of the country, and now another forest inventory has been made and according to preliminary data, the area covered by forests is 7-8 per cent. Razhapbaev noted that this increase is based on the fact that green planting in populated areas is now falls into the forest category, which it was not previously.
“We have a state forest fund, which is supervised by the forest service. Since 2022, some forests, which are located in conservation areas (reserves, national parks), are being supervised by the Ministry of Natural Resources. Moreover, natural lands were found on the lands of local governments, etc., by means of the state-of-the-art technology. But they were not classified as forests in the documents,” said Razhapbaev.
He added that the forest fund had a plan of planting, a plan of forest industry development until 2040, and a five-year plan. According to them, forest farms are provided with a certain number of hectares every year, where they should plant trees. The forest fund plants 1-2 thousand hectares across the republic every year according to the plan.
“Foresters must take control of the planting. Previously, planting was done with small seedlings, 1-20 centimetres in height. Now, to withstand animals, planting is done with standard planting material – 1 meter and higher. No watering is necessary in the mountains. The method is to dig a hole so that water accumulates in it. As for taking care of the young plants, if [they are planted] in the territory of the forest fund, then foresters look after them. If [they are planted in the territory] of the ayil okmotu, then they are the responsibility of the ayil okmotu and those entities, in whose territory the trees are planted," Razhapbaev said.
Time of planting must be taken into account as well. For example, conifers must be preferably planted in spring and autumn because the trees sleep at that time and the stool bed is soft. In warm season, their survival ability gets much lower. Forestry sector workers are well aware of it.
He said that plantlets need about 20 years to become a forest.
He said that plantlets need about 20 years to become a forest.
Kyrgyzstan has signed a range of international ecological treaties, which allocate budgets for forest regeneration. For example, as part of the Bonn Challenge (2018), the republic has pledged to restore 23 thousand hectares of forests and 300 thousand hectares of degraded landscapes by 2030. According to the Forest Service, forest farms of the republic created forest cultures in the area of 9,043 hectares from 2018 to 2023.
The Convention on Biological Diversity binds the republic to plant forest cultures in the area of 1,000 hectares every year. However, we are unaware of whether this plan is followed.
According to the Paris Agreement, which was ratified by Kyrgyzstan in 2017, the state committed itself to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. The joint UN FAO project “Carbon Sequestration through Climate Investment in Climate Investment in Forests and Rangelands in Kyrgyz Republic” was launched in 2023 and 30 million dollars was allocated under it. The project objective is to determine target areas for reforestation, forest restoration, and natural restoration of degraded forests. Over 19.8 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent are expected to be sequestered in 20 years.
“According to the Paris Agreement, Kyrgyzstan should prevent the atmospheric temperature rising above 1.5 degrees Celsius. Every year, the country emits 15 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. Currently, forests can absorb only 11 million tonnes. Therefore, we need to create an opportunity to sequester an additional 4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide in the coming years,” said Bakytbek Yrsaliev, deputy director of the Forest Service.
The forests of Kyrgyzstan play an important role not only in the global, but also in the regional scope.
“Our forests have accounted for the first group of forests since the Soviet period – protective infrastructure forests, which were banned for cutting. It is a set of mountains, forests, glaciers – they are generally essential for the region. We are the source of formation of one of the largest waterways in the region – Syrdarya, it originates in our mountains. The forests play an important protective role in combatting mudflows, landslides, etc. We are in the desert zone in the region, in such a green islet,” said Muslim Razhapbaev.
The Convention on Biological Diversity binds the republic to plant forest cultures in the area of 1,000 hectares every year. However, we are unaware of whether this plan is followed.
According to the Paris Agreement, which was ratified by Kyrgyzstan in 2017, the state committed itself to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. The joint UN FAO project “Carbon Sequestration through Climate Investment in Climate Investment in Forests and Rangelands in Kyrgyz Republic” was launched in 2023 and 30 million dollars was allocated under it. The project objective is to determine target areas for reforestation, forest restoration, and natural restoration of degraded forests. Over 19.8 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent are expected to be sequestered in 20 years.
“According to the Paris Agreement, Kyrgyzstan should prevent the atmospheric temperature rising above 1.5 degrees Celsius. Every year, the country emits 15 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. Currently, forests can absorb only 11 million tonnes. Therefore, we need to create an opportunity to sequester an additional 4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide in the coming years,” said Bakytbek Yrsaliev, deputy director of the Forest Service.
The forests of Kyrgyzstan play an important role not only in the global, but also in the regional scope.
“Our forests have accounted for the first group of forests since the Soviet period – protective infrastructure forests, which were banned for cutting. It is a set of mountains, forests, glaciers – they are generally essential for the region. We are the source of formation of one of the largest waterways in the region – Syrdarya, it originates in our mountains. The forests play an important protective role in combatting mudflows, landslides, etc. We are in the desert zone in the region, in such a green islet,” said Muslim Razhapbaev.
“It is not enough to plant a tree; you should take care of it, water it. It is my request. It will be your contribution to the well-being of future generations,” President Sadyr Japarov said in his message to the participants of the national campaign ‘Jashyl Muras’.
However, no other results but wasted 26 billion som (310 million dollars, according to the official website as of 16.10.2024) and hundreds of thousands of dead young plants appeared two years after its launch. All foresters, who spoke to the editorial staff, unanimously speak about the importance of the project for future forests of Kyrgyzstan and ecology, but admit its implementation is the worst one.
However, no other results but wasted 26 billion som (310 million dollars, according to the official website as of 16.10.2024) and hundreds of thousands of dead young plants appeared two years after its launch. All foresters, who spoke to the editorial staff, unanimously speak about the importance of the project for future forests of Kyrgyzstan and ecology, but admit its implementation is the worst one.
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