Info: State of the Environment Tajikistan 98 - Forest

During much time, the experiments were made in the republic on cultivation of tree species not typical for Tajikistan. For this purposes several botanical gardens and stations were created in the various altitude belts of the republic. Unfortunately, these botanical gardens are in grievous and unsatisfactory state. Research institutions have worked out measures on clearcutting and afforestation. One of central tasks of rational use of forests is definition of computative clearcutting for each district. Another key task in the field of conservation and protection of forests is afforestation. The temps of natural forest accession in Tajikistan are very low. Consequently, forests need man assistance. In 1999 the 120-years-old anniversary since the beginning of widespread afforestation in Central Asia will be celebrated. Aforestation is continuously conducted in Tajikistan. According to official information, in 1986 afforestation was carried out on the territory of 4285 hectare, but in 1996 did not exceed 2900 hectare. Frequently, afforestation turned out to be unfortunate, because of the discrepancy of the tree species to the local type of soils and climatic conditions. Notwithstanding the afforestation, summary forest cutting exceeds summary accession. Due to climatic conditions and economic difficulties the natural recovery of main tree species (juniper, pistachio, almond etc.) do not practically exist. The forest recovery is provided completely by mean of afforestation. In 1998 the afforestation of a territory of 3 thousand hectares is planned to carry out. During the period of 1995-1997 the afforestation has been carried out on the territory of 8,8 thousands hectare. During this period (1995-1997) about 10 million trees, including 9 millions fruit trees and about 1 million poplar trees have been planted. Up to the present time each year special forest streaks (against wind erosion) were planted on areas of 200-300 hectare. Currently special forest planting has practically stopped. Existing special forest streaks are being cut by population, due to the lack of fuel (coal) import and construction materials deficit.