Tajikistan’s Forests on the Brink of Extinction
Tajikistan's forests, already scarce, covering just 3% of the country's territory, are facing unprecedented threats due to climate change and human activity. These fragile ecosystems, vital for maintaining the country’s ecological balance, are rapidly disappearing, with far-reaching consequences for the environment and public safety. Since the early 1990s, Tajikistan’s forest area has shrunk significantly. Currently, forests cover approximately 423,000 hectares, compared to about 20% of the national territory a century ago. In the 19th century, tugai forests alone spanned one million hectares, now reduced more than eightfold. The causes of deforestation are complex: widespread logging during past energy crises, land conversion for agriculture, rising temperatures, and declining precipitation. These factors have accelerated ecosystem degradation and disrupted the country’s water balance. Forest loss is also directly linked to the rising frequency of natural disasters. According to the National Climate Report, the number of mudslides and landslides has increased by 25-30% over the past two decades. Experts estimate that one in five landslides in mountainous regions is directly related to deforestation. Climate warming is also hastening snow and glacier melt, resulting in sudden floods, while prolonged droughts render the soil brittle and unstable. Forests once served as a natural buffer against these effects, but are no longer able to perform this function effectively. As temperatures rise, Tajikistan’s forests are becoming increasingly susceptible to fires. In 2025 alone, wildfires scorched over 430 hectares of forest in nine regions, including Varzob and Penjikent. Compounding the crisis is inadequate infrastructure. “There are no roads, equipment cannot reach the area, and the material and technical base is poorly developed,” said Davlatali Sharifzoda, Deputy Director of the Forestry Agency. Rising temperatures are also fueling the spread of pests such as bark beetles, which threaten rare species already listed in the Red Book of endangered flora. Forest degradation is also contributing to soil erosion, particularly in mountainous areas. This poses a serious threat to agriculture, which occupies 3.7 million hectares of Tajikistan’s land. “Soils are becoming less productive due to rising temperatures and reduced rainfall, which reduces crop yields and complicates the lives of farmers,” said Murod Ergashev, a researcher at the Institute of Soil Science. Tajikistan’s forests are home to approximately 270 species of trees and shrubs, 30 of which are endangered. Biologist Rustam Muratov warns that ongoing degradation could lead to the irreversible loss of unique ecosystems and endemic species. The Tajik government is taking action. Under the Bonn Challenge, the country has committed to restoring 66,000 hectares of degraded forests by 2030. Plans include planting drought-resistant species, such as pistachio, walnut, and saxaul. The national forest sector development program for 2022-2026 aims to modernize nurseries, expand seedling production, and establish industrial plantations. The goal is to restore 15,000 hectares of forest, double forest productivity, and reduce livestock grazing in forest areas by 30%. Community involvement is key to sustainable forest management. In the Sangvor and Shokhin districts, local residents, with support from the FAO, participate in regulated harvesting of berries and medicinal plants. Tajikistan’s forests...
