Chapter 22. Central Asia

Figure 22-1. Central Asia: forest cover map

The countries included in this subregion are Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan (Figure 22-1).[37]

Kazakhstan is a large, sparsely populated country. A significant part of the country is desert but the northern regions, where the forests are located, are ecologically similar to southern Siberia. Kyrgyzstan is a mountainous country with a predominantly agricultural economy. The forests of Mongolia are mainly located in the northern part of the country along the Russian Federation border, forming a transition zone between the Siberian taiga forest and the central Asian steppes. The taiga forests are mainly larch (Larix sibirica) and cedar (Pinus cembra var. sibirica), with Pinus silvestris and Betula spp. also relatively common. There are also significant areas of arid shrub land in the southern and southwestern parts of the country, mainly saxaul (Haloxylon ammodendron) forest. Tajikistan is a landlocked, mountainous country. All its forests are classified as not available for wood supply, most of them reserved for conservation and protection reasons. Turkmenistan is located to the east of the Caspian Sea. Its terrain consists of flat or rolling sandy desert with hills and mountains to the south. The climate is continental, with very low precipitation and extremes of temperature between summer and winter. Uzbekistan's terrain consists of flat or rolling sandy desert with broad, intensely irrigated valleys and steppes in the east.

The steppes and deserts of Kazakhstan are virtually treeless. They are drought-resistant native, although grain crops have largely supplanted native vegetation in the northern steppes. Scrub plants are common in the Qyzylqum desert. Thickets of elm (Ulmus spp.) poplar (Populus spp.), reeds and shrubs grow along the banks of rivers and lakes. Coniferous trees grow in thick forests on the mountain slopes in the extreme east and southeast.

Animal life varies by zone. The country is home to the extremely rare saiga antelope, protected by government decree. Various animals thrive in the deserts, including gazelles, rodents such as gophers, sand rats and jerboas and reptiles such as lizards and snakes. Wild boars, jackals and deer are found near the rivers and lakes. The mountains are home to ibex, lynx, wolves, wild boars and brown bears as well as the endangered snow leopard.

The eastern steppes of Mongolia are of great ecological importance because, unlike most other grasslands in Central Asia and the rest of the world, there has been relatively little modification by human use. Eastern Mongolia is also home to vast herds of migratory Mongolian gazelles that were once widespread throughout Mongolia and neighbouring areas of Russia and China but are now limited owing to the disruption of migration routes. Mongolia is divided into six basic natural zones differing in climate, landscape, soil, flora and fauna. Mixed coniferous forest is found on cooler, moister northern slopes while steppe vegetation predominates on other aspects. Whereas taiga species are predominant in the mountain forest steppe of the Khangai and Khentii, steppe species dominate the mountain forest steppe of the Altai. Providing habitat for species from both the steppe and the taiga, this zone has a high degree of biological diversity. Wide river valleys separate the hilly terrain characteristic of this zone. Desert steppe occupies a large band, more than 20 percent of Mongolia's area, extending across the country between the steppe and desert zones. The climate is arid with frequent droughts and an annual precipitation of 100 to 125 mm. Frequent strong winds and dust storms strongly influence the vegetation. Still, many of Mongolia's nomadic herders occupy this zone (United Nations 2001).

Table 22-1. Central Asia: forest resources and management

Country/area	Land area	Forest area 2000					Area change 1990-2000 (total forest)		Volume and above-ground biomass (total forest)		Forest under management plan
		Natural forest	Forest plantation	Total forest
	000 ha	000 ha	000 ha	000 ha	%	ha/ capita	000 ha/ year	%	m3/ha	t/ha	000 ha	%
Kazakhstan	267 074	12 143	5	12 148	4.5	0.7	239	2.2	35	18	12 148	100
Kyrgyzstan	19 180	946	57	1 003	5.2	0.2	23	2.6	32	-	1 003	100
Mongolia	156 650	10 645	-	10 645	6.8	4.1	-60	-0.5	128	80	-	-
Tajikistan	14 087	390	10	400	2.8	0.1	2	0.5	14	10	400	100
Turkmenistan	46 992	3 743	12	3 755	8.0	0.9	n.s.	n.s.	4	3	3 755	100
Uzbekistan	41 424	1 669	300	1 969	4.8	0.1	5	0.2	6	-	1 969	100
Total Central Asia	545 407	29 536	384	29 920	5.5	0.5	208	0.7	62	40	-	-
Total Asia	3 084 746	431 946	115 847	547 793	17.8	0.2	-364	-0.1	63	82	-	-
TOTAL WORLD	13 063 900	3 682 722	186 733	3 869 455	29.6	0.6	-9 391	-0.2	100	109	-	-

Source: Appendix 3, Tables 3, 4, 6, 7 and 9.

Turkmenistan is the third largest country in Central Asia, after Kazakhstan and Mongolia. The entire central part of the country is occupied by one of the largest sand deserts in the world, the Garagum. About four-fifths of the country is steppe (semi-arid grassy plain) that is part of the southern portion of the vast Turan lowland. Freshwater resources are scant in Turkmenistan, and extensive canal systems are crucial conduits for irrigation and drinking-water. The mountain streams dissipate upon reaching the arid sands and parched clay of the Garagum, so Turkmenistan's only significant water sources are rivers that originate in other countries. Plant life is sparse in the vast, arid desert, where only drought-resistant grasses and desert scrub grow. The mountain valleys in the south support wild grapevines, fig plants and old forests of wild walnut trees. The mountain slopes are covered with dense thickets called tugai. The wildlife in the mountains includes the caracal (or Persian lynx), goats, cheetahs and snow leopards. In the desert, gazelles, foxes and wildcats thrive. In the tugai live jackals, wild boar and the rare pink deer. Reptiles are abundant and include the central Asian cobra, the desert monitor, several species of gecko and a tortoise. Migratory birds, such as ducks, geese and swans, inhabit the Caspian shore during winter.

Uzbekistan is a landlocked country. Mountains dominate the landscape in the east and northeast. To the west of the mountains, Uzbekistan is generally low in elevation. More than two-thirds of Uzbekistan's territory is covered by desert and steppe (semi-arid grassy plains). One of the largest deserts in the world, the vast, barren Qyzylqum, lies in north-central Uzbekistan and extends into Kazakhstan. In northeastern Uzbekistan, southwest of Tashkent, lies the Mirzachol desert. Uzbekistan's mixed topography provides divergent wildlife habitats. In the steppes the endangered saiga antelope can be found as well as roe deer, wolves, foxes and badgers. The desert monitor thrives in the Qyzylqum desert, along with a type of gazelle and a number of rodent species. The river deltas are home to wild boars, jackals and deer, with a variety of pink deer living in the Amu Darya delta. The endangered snow leopard lives in the eastern mountains. The mountains are also home to several types of mountain goat, including the alpine ibex (characterized by enormous back-curving horns), as well as lynx, wild boars, wolves and brown bears. Plant life is equally diverse. Drought-resistant grasses and low shrubs cover the steppes except in areas that have been cleared for crop cultivation.

FOREST RESOURCES

With the exception of Mongolia, the countries of this subregion were included in the report Forest resources of Europe, CIS, North America, Australia, Japan and New Zealand (industrialized temperate and boreal countries), published as the UNECE/FAO contribution to FRA 2000 (UNECE-FAO 2000). The original data were collected at the national level on the basis of national definitions and sampling techniques. It was necessary to adjust the national data to fit the international definitions. This adjustment, while increasing the comparability and internal consistency of the international data set, reduces accuracy by introducing an additional source of error[38] (UNECE-FAO 2000).

The data for Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan come from country submissions and are summarized in the above-cited report. Data for Mongolia were provided by the Ministry for Nature and Environment and consist of one data set. The reference year for the estimate is also uncertain although inventory work began around 1963.

Forest and other wooded land in Central Asia accounts for just 5 percent of the total land area, which is less than 1 percent of the world forest cover. Turkmenistan has the largest percentage of forest cover while Tajikistan has the lowest percentage (see Table 22-1, Figure 22-2). Plantation areas are significant in Uzbekistan. Mongolia is the only country which shows a net forest cover loss. The forests of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are not available for wood supply, mainly for economic reasons, although forests are important for environmental reasons, notably soil and water protection. On the other hand, Turkmenistan reported more than 90 percent of its forest area as available for woody supply (UNECE-FAO 2000). Mongolia shows the highest production of volume and biomass in the region.

FOREST MANAGEMENT AND USES

Apart from Mongolia, all the countries in Central Asia provided national-level information on the forest area managed (Table 22-1) applying the definition used by industrialized countries of forests managed in accordance with a formal or an informal plan applied regularly over a sufficiently long period (five years or more). They all appear to have followed the recommendation of including areas where a conscious decision has been made not to undertake any management interventions and reported that 100 percent of their forest area was being managed according to the above definition.

All countries reported that forests play an important role in soil and water protection and watershed management. Collection of non-wood forest products is of importance for the local population. The demand for forest products is met by imports, mainly from the Russian Federation.

Mongolia has a relatively large land area under formal protection in a network of around 48 parks and reserves. Fires destroy significant areas of forest and steppe woodland each year. Sawmilling is the main forest industry in Mongolia.

CONCLUSIONS AND ISSUES

This subregion contains a small percentage of the world's forest area. Nevertheless, the forest functions of water and soil conservation are important for all the countries and a good reason for the protection of forested areas.

Figure 22-2. Central Asia: natural forest and forest plantation areas 2000 and net area changes 1990-2000

Forest degradation is of special concern in Tajikistan. In the last few years the development of new territories, the establishment of new villages and a lack of fuel have led to destructive deforestation. As a result of these processes the area in forests has diminished and, more important, the number of valuable and endemic types of plants has declined. Systems for monitoring their condition are in place which will allow the development of concrete measures for their protection and rational use. Urbanization and deterioration of the socio-economic situation have resulted in additional impact on the fauna. Three nature reserves fell within the zone of war actions. At present, the situation in these nature reserves is normal but in order to bring them to the level of 1985 to 1990 considerable effort and expenditure will be required (Environmental Information Systems undated).

There was limited information related to forest use in this subregion, which makes it difficult to predict trends as to the area and quality of the forests. Governments are making efforts to promote sustainable management of the forest areas, and the current shortage of water and increased tourism could be incentives to promote the further protection of forest resources.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Environmental Information Systems. Undated. Republic of Tajikistan.
www.grida.no/enrin/htmls

UNECE-FAO. 2000. Forest resources of Europe, CIS, North America, Australia, Japan and New Zealand (industrialized temperate and boreal countries). Main report. Global Forest Resources Assessment 2000. New York and Geneva.

United Nations. 2001. Mongolian wild heritage.
www.un-mongolia.mn/wildher/desert-steppe.htm

World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC). 1992. Protected areas of the world. A review of national systems. Mongolian People's Republic.
www.wcmc.org.uk/cgi-bin/pa_paisquery.p