Context
Despite their limited extent, the woodlands of Kyrgyzstan form an important hotspot of biological diversity. Many domesticated varieties of fruit and nut trees originate in the walnut and wild fruit forests in the south of the country. Preserving these wild species has global significance. The forests also help regulate the water cycle in downstream areas, and the livelihoods of local people are highly dependent on the natural resources, in particular on the use of nuts, pasture and timber.
With an accelerating rate of glacier melt, Kyrgyzstan is now one of the countries of the world most severely affected by global climate change. The existing system of forest and pasture management is not adapted to the changes and it is expected to exacerbate soil erosion, landslides and the ongoing deterioration of pasture and forest resources.
The relevant state structures have not yet succeeded in resolving conflicts over land use or in developing innovative forms of land management involving the participation of local people. Nor are the local communities in a position to introduce sustainable management models which conserve biodiversity, adapt to climate change and increase local incomes.
Objectives
Selected communities in southern Kyrgyzstan are using sustainable models of forest and pasture management in order to promote the conservation of biodiversity, support adaptation to climate change and increase local incomes.
Approach
The work of the project focuses on three main areas. We support state agencies and local communities (forest offices, pasture committees, local self-government, etc.) in developing a joint management plan for natural resources. Forest and pasture users are included in this process. Besides encouraging the introduction of national forestry reforms, this management plan will help establish a balance between the roles and responsibilities of different actors involved in forest and land management. Sustainable pasture management will concentrate on the protection of existing biodiversity, while forests will be managed in accordance with the principles of forestation, preservation and expansion. The pursuit of sustainable management as set out in management plans will improve the condition of the forests and the pastures.
In a number of areas the project is planting forests which, with a mixture of walnut and fruit trees, are better adapted to climate change. Five forest offices receive the necessary assistance for planting young trees. Seedlings from the natural gene-pool of native species are to be grown in nurseries and then planted on currently deforested land.
The findings from agroforestry research as well as innovations from earlier projects will provide an important basis for the work of the project. As the local people will have other, more sustainable options for using the forest resource, forests will be restored and a reduction achieved in the number of trees felled for fuel. New approaches to reforestation and alternative methods of income generation will be introduced and encouraged on a wide scale.