Kazakhstan and South Korea have launched a joint initiative to restore forests in the Abay region of eastern Kazakhstan, which was severely affected by large-scale wildfires. On April 22, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources signed a memorandum of understanding with the Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCO) and South Korea’s KT&G Corporation to implement the project.
Scheduled to run through December 31, 2027, with potential for extension, the initiative is part of KT&G’s Green Globe program and focuses on three key components:
- Reforestation: Pine saplings will be planted in burned areas, with participation from local communities and KT&G staff in Kazakhstan.
- Technology Transfer: Korean information and communication technology (ICT) tools will be introduced for monitoring and preventing wildfires. Training sessions and seminars for forest service professionals are planned in Almaty.
- Prevention and Awareness: Public education campaigns will promote fire prevention practices and aim to reduce human-caused fire risks.
The project builds on an earlier agreement signed in June 2024 between Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Ecology and the Korea Forest Service. That memorandum covered broader cooperation areas, including forest legislation reform, biodiversity protection, and ecosystem restoration.
As part of this growing partnership, Kazakh forest specialists have undergone training in South Korea, learning advanced techniques in reforestation and fire prevention.
Officials expect the new project to boost Kazakhstan’s efforts in sustainable forest restoration, enhance environmental resilience, and reduce climate-related and human-induced ecological threats.
