Forest resources of Tajikistan consist of 200 species of trees and bushes, including rare, relict and endangered species. Tugai forests, broad-leaf forests, birch and poplar mixed forests, xerophytic pistachio light forests, desert forests and juniper forests are the mayor types of national forests.

Juniper forests are evergreen low productive forests and light forests consisting of various juniper-tree species and they occupy the biggest area comparing to other types of forests in Tajikistan. Important tree species in these forests are Juniperus semiglobosa, Juniperus turkestanica and Juniperus seravschanica. In high-mountain areas on altitudes 3,500-3,700 meters above sea level there are sparse grounded Juniperus species. Juniper forests accommodate honeysuckle, dogrose and other bushes. Herbal cover consists of various plant species such as fescue, sagebrush and other flora. Main juniper forests in Tajikistan are located on Turkestan, Zeravshan and Gissar mountain ridges, mainly on their northern slopes. Area of juniper forests is 150 thousand hectares. Average wood volume in juniper forests ranges from 10 to 120 cub.m/ha.

Bio-geographic isolation is a certain feature of Tajikistan’s juniper forests. On Turkestan mountain ridge the Juniperus turkestanica (2,300-3,100 masl) dominates. On Zeravshan and Gissar mountain ridges the Juniperus seravschanica (800-2,000 masl) and Juniperus semiglobosa (1,400-2,500 masl) are dominant.

The highest productivity is observed in juniper forests with tree density 0.4-0.6. In view of specific biological features of junipers (slow growth, longevity) and severe environmental conditions they exist in, changing of junipers by other tree species practically does not happen. Immense juniper rootlets reliably defend soil against erosion processes. Junipers potentially decrease mudflow risk; play important water regulation, water security, soil protection and flooding prevention roles. Their deterioration results in landslides, mudflows and active erosion processes. Juniper forests are objects of strict nature protection.

Broad-leaf forests in Tajikistan are situated at the altitudes from 1,200 to 2,500 meters above sea level and consist of temperate and moisture-loving broad-leaf trees with predominance of walnut Juglans regia, maple Acer turkestanicum and apple-tree Malus sieversii. Broad-leaf forests in Tajikistan are usually mixed with roses and bushes. They mainly occur on the southern slopes of Gissar mountain ridge as well as on Darvaz ridge and Peter I ridge, in upper reaches of Yakhsu and Kyzylsu rivers. Average wood volume of Tajikistan’s broad-leaf forests is 90 cub.m/ha; natural increment about 0.9 cub.m/ha while average tree density is 0.5. Mountain brown humidified soils, abundant precipitation 1,000-1,500 mm/year, mean air temperature +11°C +13°C are vital conditions for sustainable growth of broad-leaf forests. These forests restrain avalanches, stop erosion and flooding, prevent landslides, regulate runoff and form local climate. They are sources of timber and raw resources. Broad-leaf forests are extremely rich in biodiversity. More than 40 species of mammals (brown bear, wild boar, badger, fox, wolf, ermine, jackrabbit, Siberian ibex and etc), 200 species of birds and 10 species of reptiles inhabit this area. Broad-leaf forests are objects of strict nature protection.

Small-leaf forests grow within Tajikistan’s mountain rivers at the altitude from 2,300 to 3,500 meters above sea level and consist of trees with predominance of white willow Salix alba, Tian-Shan birch Betula tianschanica, Tajik poplar Populus tadschikistanica and Pamirs poplar Populus pamirica, tamarisk Tamarix laxa, black currant, etc. Herbal cover consists of various plant species such as sedge, clover, alfalfa, astragal, blue grass, etc. Small-leaf forests cover Badahshan, Zeravshan, Gissar-Darvaz, and partially East Pamirs i.e. all Tajikistan’s area. Small-leaf forests spread within valleys of Pyanj, Vanch, Yazgulem, Bartang, Gunt, Muksu, Obihingou, Zeravshan, Fandarya, and Iskanderdarya rivers. Average wood volume of Tajikistan’s small-leaf forests is 60-150 cub.m/ha; natural increment about 3-8 cub.m/ha, average tree density is 0.5-0.7. The area of small-leaf forests is 12-15 thousand hectares. Small-leaf forests have important coast protection, water security, mudflow preventing and ecological values. Small-leaf forests are objects of strict nature protection.

Xerophytic light forests mainly consist of dry-resistant leaf-fall tree formations with predominance of pistachio Pistacia vera, almond Amygdalus bucharica, Punica granatum and other species. Main xerophytic light forests in Tajikistan are spread on the south at elevations from 600 to 1,700 meters above sea level. Xerophytic light forests in Tajikistan cover an area of 80-90 thousand hectares; pistachio plantations comprise 80% of that. Formerly, according to the Tajik expedition held in 1932, the area of pistachio forests was 170 thousand hectares. Average tree density of pistachio forests is 0.3-0.5. Natural pistachio plantations are usually 70 to 120 years old, artificial plantations are from 30 to 60 years old. Average wood volume of xerophytic light forests is 3-12 cub.m/ha and natural increment about 0.3-1.2 cub.m/ha.

Characteristic of pistachio forests is sparse tree position in contrast with dense rootlet combination. Herbal cover consists of various ephemeral plant species. Pistachio forests are the source of valuable fruits and timber. Average pistachio productivity in Tajikistan makes 70-80 kg/ha, and in some areas exceeds 300 kg/ha. Xerophytic light forests, in particular pistachio forests, have enormous ecological, soil protection and mudflow prevention importance. Pistachio, almond and other fruits are used for food and medical purposes. For these reasons forest cuttings for commercial purposes are forbidden. Only sanitary cuttings can be implemented.

Tugai forests grow in the hot flooded lowlands of Tajikistan, alongside riverbanks and islands at elevations from 300 to 600 meters above sea level. Tugai forests consist of poplar Populus pruinosa, oleaster Elaeagnus oxycarpa, tamarisk Tamarix laxa in combination with reed grass, liana, bulrush and other plant species. Tugai forests are well preserved in the lower reaches of Vakhsh River within “Tigrovaya balka” nature reserve as well as in Pyanj, Kafirnigan and Zeravshan rivers. Tugai forests are characterized with high groundwater level, periodically flooded areas during spring-summer season, humid microclimate with high annual air temperatures. Tugai forests play big water security and coast protection functions and serve as habitats for many species of animals and plants. Tugai forests are objects of strict protection.

Desert forests (saxaul forests) grow on the south of Tajikistan. Tree plantations basically consist of white saxaul Haloxylon persicum and black saxaul Haloxylon aphyllum. Largest saxaul forests in Central Asia are in southern Kazakhstan (over 7 million hectares) and Turkmenistan (3.7 million hectares). The area of saxaul forests in Tajikistan is about 10-12 thousand hectares. Height of saxaul trees can reach 12 meters and age 100 years old. Average tree density of saxaul forests in Tajikistan is 0.3-0.5, while natural increment is only 0.3-1 cub.m/ha, depending on environmental conditions. Saxaul forests play significant role in soil protection, sand fortification and serve as local spring and autumn pastures. Clamping the huge masses of sand and clay, saxaul trees protect oases, channels, roads and communications from sand filling and raise pasture productivity.

Forests in Tajikistan play important water-security, erosion prevention, coast protection, sanitary-hygienic functions as well as serve as habitats for many animals and plants. Rational use of forest resources is a basis for sustainable development of the country.

Natural features of Tajikistan’s territory encourage cattle grazing; on other hand it is one of the main pressures on the state of forest resources. More than 70% of forestlands are in long-term agricultural use. Accordingly, forest authorities cannot provide effective protection and reproduction of forest resources because of intensive pasturing in many forested lands.

As a result of anthropogenic pressures, Tajikistan’s forests have essentially changed for the last 70 years. Before industrialization and agricultural development, the area of forests exceeded today's area 2-3 times. The reduction of forested area and tree density promoted the development of natural disasters in 1992-1999. Since the 1970s, the area of Tajikistan’s forestlands did not vary significantly, although the average wood stock has been reducing and now it is only 70-80% comparing to the former period. Artificial plantations comprise about 8% of all forests.

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Last update 03/03/2003
V. Novikov, N. Safarov