Kazakhstan Amplifies Replanting and Conservation Initiatives for Forests
Kazakhstan is devotedly working to regenerate and safeguard its sparsely forested terrain, which covers just 5% of the country yet plays an indispensable role in maintaining ecological harmony and biodiversity. In a commentary exclusively provided to The Astana Times, the Forestry and Wildlife Committee of the Kazakh Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources laid out the nation's forest development strategies, reforestation and afforestation initiatives, and modern advancements in forest management.
Last year, 306 million seedlings were planted across approximately 205,000 hectares. Between 2021 and 2024, a total of over 1.1 million seedlings were planted on 730,000 hectares. To ensure a consistent supply of planting materials, seed collection plans for 2024 surpassed expectations, securing resources through 2027.
By 2025, it is anticipated that the supply of planting materials will reach 90%, with any shortfalls addressed through local nurseries and imports from Russia. The country's plans include establishing 114 new forest nurseries covering 1,300 hectares and constructing six forest-seed complexes, each capable of producing six million seedlings worth 3.5 billion tenge (US$7 million), in several regions. This aligns with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's directive to intensify advanced forest management practices.
In his September 2024 address, Tokayev reaffirmed his commitment to this issue, stating, "Since the beginning of my presidency, I have paid special attention to this issue. The country has made considerable progress in greening efforts, and this momentum must be sustained." The Semei Ormany forest reserve, which houses the only forest seed complex in Central Asia, dedicated to cultivating planting material that meets advanced international standards, is slated for duplication in other forest regions of the republic.
To monitor the nation's ambitious goal of planting two billion trees in the forest fund by 2025, Kazakhstan's national space company, Garysh Sapary, has developed an interactive planting monitoring map. This geographic information system (GIS) technology aids in tracking afforestation, detecting illegal activities, and monitoring forest fires. Over the past five years, territorial inspections have recorded tree-planting data on the map, making it accessible to the public.
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) also play a growing role in forest surveillance. Currently, 65 UAVs are deployed across environmental institutions, with 70 more stationed in forest agencies under local governments. By 2025, all forestry institutions will be required to incorporate UAVs into their monitoring systems. Moreover, colleges offer specialized training programs for future forestry professionals to support these technological advancements.
Kazakhstan's forests face threats from illegal logging, poaching, climate change, and fires. In 2024, officials conducted 1,507 raids and 825 inspections, uncovering 1,204 violations, including 378 cases of poaching and 820 instances of illegal logging. To combat this, early detection systems have been implemented in several regions, with plans to expand this to 24 forestry institutions by August 30 of this year.
International partnerships are also playing a crucial role in restoring fire-affected forests and combating illegal logging. In 2024, SEFE Marketing & Trading signed an agreement with Kazakhstan's SAFC agency to establish a 1,500-hectare forest in the Almaty Region. Additionally, the committee has partnered with KATCO, a joint venture between France's Orano Mining SA and Kazatomprom, Kazakhstan's national atomic company, to support reforestation initiatives.
Efforts to regenerate the Aral Sea basin include the planting of saxaul trees, a proven effective tool for combating the increased amounts of sand and salt caused by the Aral Sea's drainage. Between 2021 and 2024, phytomeliorative plantations were established on 475,000 hectares of the drained Aral Sea bed. In 2024, saxaul was planted on 15,000 hectares, supported by funding from KazMunayGas. Additional restoration work, financed by KATCO, will cover 132,000 hectares by March 2025. Kazakhstan has also introduced academic programs on financial planning for protected areas, indicating a focus on sustainable management practices for forest management and reforestation efforts.
In line with the country's goal to plant two billion trees by 2025, Kazakhstan's national space company, Garysh Sapary, has developed an interactive planting monitoring map, using geographic information system (GIS) technology to aid in tracking afforestation, detecting illegal activities, and monitoring forest fires.
Recognizing the threats to Kazakhstan's forests from climate change, fires, and illegal logging, the country has initiated partnerships with organizations such as SEFE Marketing & Trading and KATCO to restore fire-affected forests and combat illegal logging. This aligns with the nation's environmental-science-based approach to safeguarding its forests and adapting to climate-change challenges, thereby contributing to a sustainable lifestyle and home-and-garden ecosystem.
