UNDP congratulates forestry workers of the Kyrgyz Republic on today's professional holiday - Day of Forest Workers. In partnership with the State Agency for Environmental Protection and Forestry, UNDP continues to actively protect the country's forest resources, preserve its unique biodiversity, and develop forest ecosystems. 

Within the framework of the joint implementation of the UNDP-GEF project on biodiversity conservation in the Western Tian Shan, work is being carried out to restore degraded forests and expand forest areas. As a result, according to preliminary data, over 200 thousand seedlings of walnut, pistachio, larch, pine, and Tian Shan spruce have replenished the forest fund of Ak-Sy, Toktogul, and Toguz-Toro forestry enterprises in the Western Tian Shan.

With the assistance of national and local partners, SAEPF and UNDP are planning to undertake silvicultural reforestation work in  ​​500 hectares and regenerate approximately 5 thousand hectares of degraded forests in the Western Tian Shan as corridors for the wildlife, including the snow leopard and its prey base.

To strengthen the material and technical base of the leskhozs and increase foresters' potential, UNDP has equipped them with field equipment, communication, and optical means, which are necessary when conducting raids in remote and hard-to-reach areas. Tents, sleeping bags, walkie-talkies, GPS-navigators, binoculars, backpack fire extinguishers, uniforms, and office equipment are designed primarily to facilitate the forester's work to preserve the green wealth of wildlife.

Undoubtedly, the profession of forest workers deserves universal respect and, to a large extent, forest workers work by vocation. We wish them on this professional holiday health, well-being, and perseverance in achieving their goals and objectives in preserving and increasing the country's unique green wealth.

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The "Conservation of globally important biodiversity and associated land and forest resources of Western Tian Shan mountain ecosystems to support sustainable livelihoods" Project is implemented by the SAEPF and UNDP with the support of the GEF. It aims to promote a landscape approach to the protection of globally significant biodiversity, promoting the conservation of rare and endangered species of flora and fauna, as well as the sustainable management of land and forest resources of the Western Tian Shan.