KHOROG, April 5, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- More than 6,000 seedlings have been planted on ten hectares near the village of Qozideh in Ishkashim district, Gorno Badakhshan as part of actions to mark the International Year of Forests.

The year 2011 was declared the International Year of Forests by the United Nations to raise awareness and strengthen the sustainable forest management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests for the benefit of current and future generations.  The Secretariat of the United Nations Forum on Forests is the focal point for implementation of the International Year in collaboration with Governments, the Collaborative Partnership on Forests and other relevant organizations and processes.  Governments, regional and international organizations and civil society organizations are expected to create national committees and designate focal points in their respective countries to facilitate organization of activities in support of the International Year of Forests.

The action was initiated and held by the GBAO forestry agency, the GIZ project, Sustainable Management of Natural Resources in Gorno-Badakhshan, and local forest farmers.

Local residents expressed gratitude to the GIZ Project for its considerable contribution to rehabilitation of forests in Gorno Badakhshan.

Qozideh resident Jumakhon Oshourbekov told Asia-Plus that the forest near their villages had been fully destroyed in the 1990s due to lack of electricity and fuel.  “We began to rehabilitate the forest two years ago with support from the GIZ Project and the regional forestry agency,” he noted.

The GIZ Project has supported construction of three irrigation canals and three water-directing dams as well as forest fencing in the villages of Qozideh.

In all, 16 canals with a total length of more than 33 kilometers and 14 dams have been built in Gorno Badakhshan under the GIZ project, Sustainable Management of Natural Resources in Gorno-Badakhshan.

One of the project approaches is the restoration of flood plains in Gorno Badakhshan Reforestation is one of components of the project.  Reforestation is being achieved with the support of the forestry authorities, by introducing a forest management system that also involves the local forest users.  The local, formerly illegal users receive long-term property and usage rights based on lease contracts and management plans that have been developed with their own participation.  This in turn motivates them to invest in the restoration of the forest resources.