FAO and the Forestry Service of Kyrgyzstan planted trees in honor of International Day of Forests
Bishkek – In honor of International Day of Forests, celebrated annually on March 21, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), together with the Forestry Service under the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic, conducted a tree planting event. Over 200 seedlings of fast-growing trees such as catalpa, maple and sycamore were planted in the foothills on the southern outskirts of Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. In the future, this area will become a park zone.
The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 21 March the International Day of Forests in 2012. The Day celebrates and raises awareness of the importance of all types of forests. On each International Day of Forests, countries are encouraged to undertake local, national and international efforts to organize activities involving forests and trees, such as tree planting campaigns. This year, the theme of International Day of Forests is "Forests and innovation – new solutions for a better world."
"Forests are our ecological shield," said Kuvatbek Bapaev, Technical Adviser and Acting Deputy Representative of FAO in Kyrgyz Republic. "The current climate change requires us to scale up efforts to conserve forests. It is particularly important to actively educate society about responsible environmental stewardship."
The tree planting was organized as part of the FAO/GCF project "Carbon Sequestration through Climate Investments in Forests and Rangelands in the Kyrgyz Republic." The project aims to promote the development of a low-carbon economy and climate-resilient practices.
Every Tree Planted Matters.
Forests and trees contribute much more to human livelihoods than commonly thought; they play a crucial role in ensuring food security, clean water, renewable energy sources, and rural economic development. They provide about 20 percent of income for rural households.
The eight-year FAO/GCF project aims to increase forest cover and pasture productivity. Thanks to a grant from the Green Climate Fund and financing from project partners (including the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republıc, the Russian-Kyrgyz Development Fund, and the Kyrgyzstan Community Development and Investment Agency), activities will be carried out to restore forests and pastures, thus increasing carbon sequestration and ensuring the stability of natural ecosystems.
It is expected that over 19.8 million tons of CO2 equivalent will be sequestered over 20 years because of project implementation, accounting for 7.6 percent of the country's total emissions and 22.6 percent of agricultural emissions. According to the Paris Agreement, Kyrgyzstan has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 15.97 percent by 2030, and this project will be key to achieving these goals.
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