In these spring days, supporting President Emomali Rahmon's initiative to turn Tajikistan into "Green Country", employees of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) and its Agencies active in Tajikistan in cooperation with the Khurоsоn district authority and the Forestry Agency under the Government of Tajikistan have held a tree planting ceremony along the side of the Dushanbe-Bokhtar highway near the village of Fakhrobod, says press release issued by the AKDN Office in Tajikistan.

The goal of this initiative is reportedly also to facilitate the effective implementation of Tajikistan’s reforestation program designed for 2022-2026, which is aimed at improving climate stability through forestry and planting activities.  The tree planting ceremony has also been dedicated to the celebration of Navrouz festival in Tajikistan and demonstrates deep commitment to issues of environmental and sustainable development.

During this joint effort, over 3,000 juniper seedlings were planted along the side of the Dushanbe-Bokhtar highway.  This marks an important step towards creating a greener and healthier environment for the local population and future generations.

This successful tree planting is part of a larger strategy to improve the environmental situation in the region.  In total, the Aga Khan Foundation Tajikistan in partnership with the Local Development Committee, the Forestry Agency and industrial enterprises aims to plant over 300,000 trees by the end of 2024 and double this number every year in other cities and districts.  We encourage everyone to participate in this important initiative and continue their efforts in creating a green district.

In this process, AKDN agencies in cooperation with the Forestry Agency under the Government of Tajikistan and other partners aim to demonstrate the importance of cooperation in solving global environmental problems and emphasize the importance of protecting forest resources for the well-being of our planet, the press release says.

Recall, the ambitious National Green Country Program adopted by the Tajik Government last year provides for planting 65 million trees and shrubs in the country on an area of more than 4,000 hectares until the end of 2025.

A total cost of this program designed for 2023-2027 is 129.875 million somonis (more than 11.8 million US dollars).