The first forest climate project is kicking off in
Kazakhstan. The country’s Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov met with
representatives of the British company SEFE and Kazakhstan’s SAFC to discuss
its implementation. The parties signed an agreement under which the British
company will invest in forest planting in Kazakhstan. The project will allocate
1,500 hectares for the planting of over three million trees, including poplars,
elms, birches, ash trees, and rosehips. It is projected that the average annual
reduction in emissions will be 26 tonnes of carbon dioxide per hectare, with
more than one million tonnes of CO2 expected to be removed over 30 years. In
addition, the project promotes the development of agroforestry and ecotourism.
This initiative is unique not only for Kazakhstan but also for the entire
Central Asian region. Bektenov highlighted the importance of collaboration with
businesses to ensure environmental balance. He emphasized that the Head of
State pays special attention to environmental issues and that forest
restoration is paramount here.
«A pilot project is being implemented in the Almaty region.
Degraded pastures near Lake Kapshagai will be transformed into a forest
ecosystem. This ecosystem will absorb carbon dioxide, enabling the sale of
carbon units and generating additional revenue over the next 30 years. As part
of the test phase, 200,000 trees have been planted, with a total of around 3.3
million native saplings planned for the area,» said Yuri Kim, Director of SAFC.
«We are very pleased to participate in this project, as we
see immense potential in Kazakhstan. Our primary focus is ecology. From the
perspective of a new industry, Kazakhstan has significant opportunities. The
demand for carbon units is expected to grow, and Kazakhstan is strategically
well-positioned to supply these units to the market,» said Alexander Demidov,
Vice President of SEFE Marketing & Trading Limited.
Web-editor: Гайни Жумабек
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