Swiss company initiates a significant reforestation project covering 14,500 hectares in the Akmola region
A Swiss company has launched a pilot project in the Akmola Region, with the objective of reforesting an area of 14,500 hectares. This was announced by Kazakh Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Yerlan Nyssanbayev during a government meeting chaired by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov on October 8.
During the meeting, Nyssanbayev emphasized important measures aimed at preserving and expanding forested areas in Kazakhstan. He noted a growing interest from large global companies in establishing forest plantations within the country. To facilitate these projects, the ministry has prepared amendments to the legislation, allowing for implementation on the territory of the state forest fund. This initiative aims to provide a new impetus for forest planting through investor participation.
According to the Prime Minister’s press service, nearly 970 million seedlings have been planted throughout Kazakhstan since 2021, resulting in a 267,000-hectare increase in the country’s forested areas over the past five years.
Nyssanbayev reported that forest restoration efforts over the last four years have encompassed 651,000 hectares, including 413,000 hectares on the dried bed of the Aral Sea. By the end of 2027, an additional one billion seedlings will need to be planted and nurtured to achieve the country's reforestation objectives.
The leadership of Kazakhstan has set a goal to plant two billion trees.
“This will increase the territory of the country’s forest fund to 14.5 million hectares. Expanding the area of forests and parks, preserving biological diversity for future generations are one of the important priorities in improving the environmental situation. This is a very complex and long-term work, so it is important to pay constant attention to it. Every effort must be made both to increase the forest fund and to preserve the existing forest,” said Bektenov.
