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Ecology Memorandum forest restoration

South Korea Backs Forest Restoration in Kazakhstan’s Fire-Ravaged Abay Region

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.

Ecology Tree Nursery Kyrgyz-Chinese Initiative

Kyrgyz-Chinese Initiative to Establish Large-Scale Tree Nursery in Bishkek

Chinese partners from the city of Qingdao are working with the Bishkek municipality to establish a major nursery for tree and shrub saplings, aimed at greening the Kyrgyz capital. The initiative is part of a broader environmental restoration effort and represents a significant step toward improving the city’s ecological conditions. Over the weekend, Bishkek Mayor Aibek Junushaliyev visited the site of the future nursery, where more than 12,300 tree saplings and 9,000 shrubs have already been experimentally planted across five hectares. According to city officials, the total area of the nursery is expected to eventually span approximately 100 hectares. Initial cultivation efforts have focused on tall deciduous tree species, including Norway maple, Chinese acacia, linden, poplar, and beech. Once mature, these saplings will be planted throughout Bishkek to help restore its long-lost greenery. Historically one of the greenest cities in the former Soviet Union, Bishkek has lost much of its tree cover over the past three decades, largely due to rapid construction in and around the city center. Environmental experts have advised local authorities to shift away from the prevalent use of coniferous trees and instead prioritize tall, shade-giving deciduous trees that also offer better noise absorption. The new nursery is expected to play a crucial role in reversing urban deforestation and improving air quality in Bishkek. It also supports Kyrgyzstan’s nationwide “Jashyl Muras” (Green Heritage) campaign, launched in March 2022 by President Sadyr Japarov. The initiative aims to plant 5-6 million saplings annually across the country. In 2024, the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision reported that more than 8.1 million saplings were planted nationwide under the program.

Eco-activism Ecology forest restoration

Russian Eco-Blogger to Fund Forest Restoration in Northern Kazakhstan

A major reforestation campaign will launch later this month on the northwestern outskirts of Petropavlovsk, near the Voroniy Island neighborhood, to restore forestland damaged by fire. Approximately 10,000 trees will be planted with the help of local residents, volunteers, and activists. The initiative is fully financed by Russian eco-blogger Alexei Sibirsky. Grassroots Support and Cross-Border Solidarity The project was initiated by concerned residents of Petropavlovsk. Local activist Dinara Omurzakova reached out to Sibirsky after learning of his successful reforestation work around Semey, in the east of the country. Sibirsky responded positively, agreeing not only to fund the purchase of seedlings and soil preparation but also to take part in the planting personally. “I had been following Alexei for a long time. When I saw that he was involved in a similar project in East Kazakhstan, I wrote to him, and he agreed to come to us,” Omurzakova said. Eco-Activism Without Borders Alexei Sibirsky is among the most prominent Russian-speaking environmental bloggers, with a following in the millions. His initiatives span multiple countries, focusing on reforestation and the clean-up of water bodies. He funds these efforts through advertising and income from his eco-services platform, which offers tree planting and environmental clean-up. Sibirsky began his environmental mission following a life-changing accident. Since then, he has implemented green projects worldwide, including several in Kazakhstan. In 2022, after Russia’s partial mobilization, he relocated to Uralsk with his family. As a gesture of gratitude for the city's hospitality, he organized a clean-up along the Ural River. In 2024, he participated in a river clean-up in Almaty. A Collective Effort Toward a Greener Future The Petropavlovsk campaign will be the largest privately supported environmental initiative to date in the North Kazakhstan region. The local forestry authority will manage land preparation, while regional environmentalists, including activist Timur Zveryachenko, are also involved. Organizers are inviting community members to join the planting on April 26 and 27. “Every resident of our city can participate with their family and children. If this event is successful, we’ll definitely do it again,” said Omurzakova. Reforestation as a Strategic Priority North Kazakhstan region has one of the lowest forest coverage rates in the country, just 5.5%. The regional akimat (council) manages over 550,000 hectares of forest land. Since 2021, the region has been implementing a long-term reforestation program that runs through 2027, aiming to plant 122 million seedlings across 20,000 hectares. From 2021 to 2023 alone, 28.2 million trees were planted. The Voroniy Island reforestation effort is not just a standalone event but part of a broader strategy to tackle one of the region’s most pressing environmental challenges. Support from both grassroots activists and private benefactors adds critical momentum to these efforts.

Ecology Saiga Culling Environment

Kazakhstan Considers Resuming Saiga Culling Amid Ecological and Agricultural Tensions

Kazakhstan’s Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, Yerlan Nysanbayev, has addressed the growing debate over the potential resumption of saiga culling, acknowledging that while no decision has yet been made, consultations with scientists and environmental experts are ongoing. Conservation or Population Control? Speaking at a government briefing, Nysanbayev emphasized the complexity of the issue. “We expect a second meeting. Science needs time to comprehensively study the situation, assess obligations, and determine whether population regulation is necessary or if alternative measures are viable,” he said. The minister acknowledged that the conflict between wildlife and agricultural interests is becoming increasingly apparent. “There are epizootic risks involved. A very balanced decision is required here,” he added. Regulation Methods: Culling or Capture? When asked about potential population control methods, Nysanbayev responded candidly. “It could be corral-based capture or shooting, what other options are there? But the final decision is still under scientific review.” The idea of regulating saiga populations first stirred controversy in 2022 when farmers in West Kazakhstan and Akmola regions reported widespread crop damage caused by the animals. Fields were trampled, fences destroyed, and harvests consumed. Some farmers even called for a state of emergency. By autumn 2023, saigas were added to the official list of animals subject to population control. Authorities initially aimed to capture 200,000 saigas, but technical challenges led to a shift toward culling. Meat processing plants began producing canned saiga meat for local consumption. Shifting Policies and Political Pressure However, on February 10, 2024, the Ministry of Ecology suspended the population control initiative following consultations with Kazakh and international experts. In April, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev declared his intent to ban saiga culling altogether, calling the antelope a “symbol of the Kazakh steppe”. Yet the issue resurfaced in March 2025 during a meeting of the National Kurultai. Tokayev again urged the government to reassess the situation, citing appeals from the AOYL political party and local residents. “Agriculture is suffering. Epizootic risks are growing. Overall, pressure on the ecosystem has increased,” he said. Global Context and Local Dilemma According to Energyprom.kz, global wildlife populations have declined by an average of 73% over the past 50 years. While Kazakhstan’s saiga population has rebounded significantly thanks to anti-poaching efforts and conservation policies, the country now faces a new dilemma: how to reconcile ecological preservation with agricultural stability. Minister Nysanbayev confirmed that a final decision will be made later this year but what form it will take remains uncertain.

Gold Deposit Kumtor mine Ecology

Kyrgyzstan’s Largest Gold Deposit: Environmental Disaster on the Horizon?

Concerns over a potential environmental catastrophe at the Kumtor mine, Kyrgyzstan’s largest gold deposit, have gained traction following a recent statement by Adilet Usupbaev, an ecologist from the National Academy of Sciences. According to Usupbaev, a waste dump at the high-altitude mine is shifting toward the Kumtor River, which feeds into the Naryn River and, eventually, the Syr Darya River, raising fears of severe contamination if waste reaches the waterway. Ecologist Raises Alarm in Parliament Speaking in Parliament, Usupbaev explained that waste rock dumps, formed as a byproduct of mining operations, are gradually shifting. While several such dumps exist at Kumtor, one in particular is now edging closer to the Kumtor River. “If the dump reaches the Kumtor River, it will be a disaster. We need urgent measures to stop its movement, planting Caragana shrubs, for instance. As an experiment, we planted them in the area, and they took root. The shrubbery won’t stop the dump entirely, but it’s at least an attempt,” Usupbaev said. He warned that waste accumulation at mining sites across the country is increasing each year, potentially leading to widespread environmental damage if proper land reclamation is not implemented. Many dumps, he noted, contain harmful chemical compounds. Mining Company Rejects Claims The Kumtor Gold Company dismissed the ecologist’s concerns, asserting that his claims lack an objective basis. The company emphasized that the movement of waste dumps is occurring at a slower rate than anticipated. “At present, actual displacement is within our 2023 forecast and does not yet match the projected values for 2025. The dump remains 160 meters from the 2025 boundary and roughly one kilometer from the Kumtor River,” the company stated. Kumtor officials insisted that continuous scientific monitoring allows them to assess and manage geotechnical risks, preventing potential hazards such as dump collapses or water contamination. They further argued that the dumps consist solely of waste rock mass, free of harmful chemical elements. Has This Happened Before? Kumtor has previously been the cause of significant environmental issues. In 1998, a traffic accident led to almost a ton of cyanide spilling into a river near the village of Barskoon. In terms of waste dump movements, in 2013, shifting rock masses threatened residential areas, administrative buildings, and a weather station, forcing the company to demolish and relocate infrastructure. According to Isakbek Torgoev, head of the Geoecological Monitoring Laboratory at the Kyrgyz National Academy of Sciences, the movement of waste rock dumps is a constant process at Kumtor due to the thawing of permafrost beneath them. “These dumps are always moving, sometimes faster, sometimes slower, but Kumtor’s geotechnical service closely monitors them. The Lysyi Glacier dump is currently the closest to the Kumtor River, but it is still about a kilometer away,” Torgoev told The Times of Central Asia. Torgoev recalled visiting the mine a decade ago as part of a government commission tasked with inspecting the dumps. At the time, authorities stated that all waste dumps should be stabilized by the mine’s closure, a goal that...

Red List Hydroelectric power plants Rare Fish River Ecosystems Ecology

Dams Threaten Central Asia’s Rare Fish and River Ecosystems

A recent study by the international environmental coalition Rivers Without Boundaries has identified key river basins in Central Asia critical for biodiversity. However, many of these ecosystems face significant threats due to dam construction and small hydroelectric power plants, which disrupt natural habitats and endanger migratory fish species. Using geographic information system (GIS) technology based on the ArcGIS platform, researchers found that only 12% of Central Asia’s rivers remain in their natural state, supporting rare and endemic fish species. Another 7% of heavily altered freshwater areas are classified as critical habitats for endangered species, including the Amu Darya Shovelnose and Ili Marinka. Endangered Fish and Disrupted Ecosystems “We analyzed more than 50 endemic fish species across five major river basins in Central Asia,” said Eugene Simonov, lead researcher and international coordinator of Rivers Without Boundaries. “Of these, 21 species are now classified as threatened on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Our study also examined the condition of tugai forests, rare floodplain plants, and key water-dependent species such as the Asian otter.” The river network in Central Asia is increasingly fragmented due to dam construction, with the study documenting data on 650 existing and planned dams. As a result, migratory fish species are losing access to their spawning grounds. Some species, such as the Syr Darya false killer whale and Aral salmon, may have already disappeared. Conservation Efforts and Solutions To prevent further environmental damage, experts have developed a GIS-based tool to assess the impact of hydraulic structures on river ecosystems. “This technology can help plan conservation strategies and protect valuable river systems,” said Eugene Egidarev, a GIS specialist at Rivers Without Boundaries. Environmental scientists emphasize the urgent need to protect the remaining intact river sections, where rare fish species still survive. They also call for the preservation of floodplains and riparian ecosystems, which are essential for maintaining biodiversity. Conclusion As hydropower projects expand across Central Asia, balancing energy needs with environmental conservation remains a critical challenge. Experts warn that without stronger protection measures, the region risks losing more of its unique freshwater biodiversity, including species that have existed for millennia.