Post on 04-Sep-2020
Research and study tour on participatory forest management in
Central Asia: A Kyrgyzstan exchange visit (June 2015)
Documentation of Exchange tour
on participatory forest management in Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan 21.06.2015-28.06.2014
I. Background
With major sector reform and investment projects upcoming in the forest sectors of
Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, it becomes increasingly important to investigate and
exchange experiences on institutional reform processes. In the past years each of the
Central Asian Countries has gone a different ways in the forestry sector. This includes
the development of the institutional set up of the forestry administration, the challenge of
developing capacities of governmental staff and the private sector and integrating the
demands of the local population into forest management. In this context, Uzbekistan is
in process of development and promotion of participatory forest management, such as
pistachio plantation and agroforestry. This situation offers the possibility of mutual
exchange on strategies and best practices between the different countries.
Within the context the EU FLERMONECA project and the GIZ Regional Programme on
Sustainable Use of Natural Resources in Central Asia, it is therefore suggested to
organize exchange visits between interested stakeholders in forest management of
different countries. In 2014 the study tour was organized in Tajikistan. This year study
tours were planned in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.
Benefits
In this way, the exchange can contribute to:
• fostering the exchange of experience between all levels of the Forestry
Administration within and between countries, including support institutions and
implementing organizations involved in forest management
• analyzing the lessons learnt of different approaches to forest management an
institutional reform processes which can be fed into the political dialogue by the
FLERMONECA project
• fostering the development of contacts between stakeholders in Central Asian
countries with on-the-ground experience in participatory forest management and
institutional reform (Community of Practice)
• giving ideas for the adaptation of existing approaches
Frame and Guiding Questions
An introduction and conclusion workshops will be conducted to prepare the participants
for the research at the beginning and respectively share the findings among participants
at the end of the tour. Each individual or group interested in the same topic presents
their own experience and interest in the respective field. It is planned that every topic
provided during the study tour should be discussed and other country experiences
should be exchanged.
Guiding questions that are expected to be answered during the visit can be:
- What role should support institutions play in the forestry sector?
- How can strong donor coordination and policy dialogue contribute to the reform
processes?
- How can the private sector and communities be integrated into forest
management (e.g. nursery management, Forest management planning etc.)? What
benefits can be expected?
- What is the link between piloting forestry reform in certain leshozes and
investment funds coming to the forestry sector?
II. Study tour in Kyrgyzstan
2.1 Information about participants
Following people from Central Asian countries were participating at the study tour in
Kyrgyzstan:
Kyrgyzstan:
1. Adylbek Ormonov, director of Department of Forest ecosystems and Protected
areas, the State Agency on Environmental Protection and Forestry (SAEPF)
2. Ruslan Termeev, chief specialist of Department of Forest ecosystems and
Protected areas, SAEPF
Kazakhstan:
3. Turukbayev Daniyar Zhumadilovich, Deputy Head of the production department
of Kaslesproekt, Committee of Forestry and Wildlife, Ministry of Agriculture of the
RK.
Tajikistan:
4. Saidov Davlat – Forest enterprise of Farkhor district, main forester
5. Ibroimov Ismoil – Forest enterprise of Khovaling district, main forester
6. Khayrulloev Sattor – Forest enterprise of Romit district, director
7. Izzatov Akbar – Forest enterprise of Tavildara district, director
8. Azami Khayriddin – Agency for Forestry and hunting under the Government of
the RT, leading specialist
Uzbekistan:
9. Bekzod Zulpukorov – Senior Inspector, Buruchmulo forest enterprise;
10. Biytemir Ergashev – Senior Inspector, Zaamin National Park;
11. Nodir Nodirov – Chief, Protected Areas Department, State Inspection on Flora
and Fauna Protection
GIZ:
12. Sulaiman Berdikeev, FLEG National Coordinator of FLERMONECA
13. Nicole Wegner, Programme Responsible for Kyrgyzstan of GIZ Regional
Programme on Sustainable Use of Natural Resources (NR)
14. Ute Fischer-Zujkov, Head of Biodiversity Conservation and Poverty Reduction
through Community-based Management of Walnut Forests Project
15. Server Ganiev, Expert, Biodiversity Conservation and Poverty Reduction through
Community-based Management of Walnut Forests Project
16. Indika Kochkarova, PR specialist (NR)
17. Sholpan Imanalieva, GIZ consultant (NR)
18. Baktygul Stakeeva, Junior professional on climate change issues (NR)
19. Mars Cherikchiyev, assisstent PR professional (NR)
20. Kamila Alykulova, PR Officer, Biodiversity Conservation and Poverty Reduction
through Community-based Management of Walnut Forests Project
21. Gulnara Pazylova, Administrative Professional, Biodiversity Conservation and
Poverty Reduction through Community-based Management of Walnut Forests
Project
2.2 National Policy developments
22.06.2016. - Day 1, Bishkek. The Inception workshop had been launched by
introducing of participants and welcomed speech of Adylbek Ormonov, Nicole Wegner,
and Ute Fischer-Zujkov. Then Sulaiman Berdikeev also welcomed participants and
outlined the objectives as well as spoke on the Agenda of the Exchange tour.
The workshop was continued by the presentation of Adylbek Ormonov on Piloting
Forestry Sector reform in Kyrgyzstan. Mr. Ormonov highlighted the problems in the
forestry sector and told about the rationale for forestry sector reform in Kyrgyzstan. The
aim of the envisaged reform is to increase the total forest area and to foster its
ecological functions as well as economic benefits through sustainable forest and
pasture management. Key elements of the reform are based on decentralization and
partnership between public sector (leskhoz, aiyl okmotu, rayon administration), the
private sector and communities. The reform process in planned to be conducted in 2
phazes: 1st phaze is piloting forest sector reform in certain pilot lekhozes (2015-2017)
and 2nd phaze is reforming the whole forest sector based on piloting results. The
Government of the Kyrgyz Republic approved the piloting process in the forest sector
(decree of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic dated 16 June 2015 #367).
Piloting will be implemented (i) at the national level and (ii) at the pilot leskhozes levels.
At the national level, the Coordination and Consultative Council, comprised of relevant
government agencies, international organizations, and civil society representatives, is
operational. It is responsible for guiding and coordinating the pilot reform efforts. At the
pilot leskhozes level Participatory Forest Management Councils (PFMC), comprised of
representatives of pilot leskhozes, aiyl okmotu, pasture committee, resource users
(forest, pasture, fruits, herbs, etc.), local communities, NGOs, international
organizations and other stakeholders, are established.
Following results of the piloting process are expected:
At the national level:
- Lessons and experiences will be compiled and documented. These will serve as a basis for the development of the policy document in order to reform the whole forest sector.
- Legal amendments to legislation and by-laws.
At the pilot leskhozes level:
- Creation of conditions for achieving environmental (е.g., an increase in forest cover, decrease in degradation, conservation of biodiversity), economic (generating more leskhoz income, increased employment for the local population) and social (tourism development, provision of ecosystem services) objectives of sustainable forest management.
- Improved communication and coordination. - Introduction of innovations in natural resource management. - Participation of local authorities, communities and the private sector. - Clarification of roles and responsibilities of stakeholders. - Enhanced transparency in management and use of forest resources.
The piloting is being supported by international partners via following projects:
- EU-FLERMONECA project (FLEG issues) - FAO/GEF project “Sustainable management of mountainous forests and land
resources under climate change conditions” - GIZ Regional Programme on Sustainable Use of Natural Resources - GIZ/EKF project "Biodiversity Conservation and Poverty Reduction through
Community-Based Management of Walnut Forests and Pastures - World Bank project “Integrated Forest Ecosystem Management” - JICA Project “Development of the Rural Business with Forest Products in the
Kyrgyz Republic” - IFAD pasture management project (forestry pastures)
After the presentation, participants discussed the reform process details and a current
structure for forest management and exchanged on ongoing reform processes in
participating countries.
…………………….
The next presentation “The main results of the tour organized in Tajikistan” of
Sulaiman Berdikeev provided information on the tour which was organized last year in
Tajikistan and the main results of the tour as well some of the current participants who
joined mentioned tour provided their impression and thoughts. The workshop continued
by discussions and in the afternoon by information exchange on reform processes in
other Central Asian countries.
The organizational and logistics issues followed by the end of the first day of the tour,
where it was explained that at the end of each day the participants are able to assess
and evaluate the day filling out the questionnaire developed on each day separately and
on the final day the assessment of logistics will be included.
Day 2, 23/06/2016
Balykchy Leskhoz is located in Balykchy city which is on the western part of Issyk-Kul
oblast and at the crossroad of Issyk-Kul, Chuy and Naryn oblast and an elevation of
about 1,900 metres It is the smallest and poorest leskhoz of the country with 5000 ha
area which characterized with riparian, fruit and fast-growing plantations. In 2014 own
income was more than 3 Mio soms with opportunity to grow until 60-100 Mio soms after
10-15 years later.
The participants safely arrived to Balykchi leskhoz and were welcomed by its director
Kanat Zhantaev who gave a broader view on ideas and approaches for reforming
leskhoz from the local perspective (riparian forests and apricot plantations) and
exchange on current reform developments at the leskhoz level (obstacles,
decentralization, lessons learnt) in his presentation “Proposals for reforming forest
sector of Kyrgyzstan”, raising problems of leskhozes and approaches to change the
system. Then there were discussions and exchange on reform processes and forestry
related issues with colleagues from other CA countries.
Nodir, Uzbekistan representative made a presentation on Uzbekistan forestry sector
and reform issues where the forestry system and current national strategies on forestry
were described. After the presentations and followed discussions, participants went to
field visits.
Day 3, 24/06/2015
Aksu lesnichestvo (forest unit/area)
Aksu forest unit is located on the eastern part of Issyk-Kul oblast
Bakyt Ybykeev, director, gave a short overview about the lesnichestvo, its history,
differences from leszhozes, pros and cons. The main task of this forest unit is to protect
and to restore the forest without running the economic activities; delivery is contracted
out to a local business LLC Almaluu. Due to these differences they were able to reduce
timber cutting about 10 times. The characteristic feature among the country’s other
leskhozes and forest areas is the uniform of the 18 people staff which was designed
and adopted only in Aksu lesnichestvo.
Then the participant from Kazakhstan presented the video about the Almaty Nature
Park.
After visiting local museum of Aksu lesnichestvo the participants went to the nursery of
4 ha where the staff showed and outlined the process of the seeding production and
also discussed with the participants the specific technical questions during the tour
around.
Day 4, 25/06/2015
Bazar-Korgon district, Jalal-Abad region
Workshop on forestry activities in the framework of the EKF project in the Southern
Kyrgyzstan
On the fourth and fifth day for Study tour participants, an informational trip to the South
Kyrgyzstan was organized. There they were acquainted with the activities of the project
«Biodiversity Conservation and Poverty Reduction through Community-based
Management of Walnut Forests and Pastures in the Southern Kyrgyzstan». For
participating and giving information to other Central Asian colleagues Directors of 5
Bazar-Korgon Leskhozes were invited. During the workshop (seminar) they told to the
colleagues about the forest management in local conditions and implemented activities
in the framework of the project. The Head of the project Ute Fisher-Zujkov and Project
officer Server Ganiev told to them about three main components of the project as a
whole. For more detailed information on the work carried out and implemented in
forestry field, Zakir Sarymsakov, the biodiversity specialist from the «Lesik-South»
Public Ecological Association was invited to the study tour. He told about activities
implemented in, advantages of such forestry technologies agroforestry, drop irrigation
and hydraulic ram, reforestation, afforestation, and of growing film planting material.
Also, he told about new reforestation model which was developed by GIZ project team
and «Lesik-South» specialists for the further biodiversity conservation. The project
assisted in the fencing of tenants by providing the necessary materials to Leskhozes -
metal posts, barbed wire and cement. For a deeper understanding of this model, each
participant received booklets which describe the mechanism of the conclusion of two
major contracts:
1) the lease of forest land for 5 years (can be prolonged) 2) the receipt of materials for the fence for a period of 5 years, during which
tenants have to return the sum of the cost of materials to Leskhoz, and then becomes the owner of the fence
according to the 2’nd agreement, Leskhozes can use received money for purchasing
new fencing materials and then give to other forest land tenants for 5 years.
This issue has caused a great interest among the invited foresters, and, according to
them, in the future, this reforestation model adopted can be a great impetus for the
creation of sustainable resource management and the conservation of biodiversity in
forests. For an explanation of many legal technicalities and details, the lawyer was
invited to the seminar too.
In addition, within an interactive part of the tour to Bazar-Korgon district participants
have visited some local sightseeing places: the small waterfall, local bazaar, Arstanbap-
Ata’s mausoleum.
Day 5, 26/06/2015
Tour to the fenced area and plantations located in Artsanbap-Ata Leskhoz’s
territory.
On July 26, 2015 fenced areas and plantations with seedlings planted nuts on them
were shown to Study tour participants. As an exemplary work of forest plantation,
project team demonstrated to participants the chosen area in the territory of one pilot
forestry where already fencing works and creation plantations have been started. In
order to maintain the plantation the project assisted in the fencing by providing forest
enterprises the necessary materials - metal posts, barbed wire and simple cement.
After visiting fenced area, all participants went to Arstan-bap-Ata Leskhoz’s office, and
the director Nazikbek Shamshiev told to them about omplemented activities in the frame
work of the project and the role and participation of local community in project
realization.
Demonstration of solar dryer in Oogan-Talaa village, Achi Leskhoz, Mogol ayil-
okmotu
During the 2’nd day of the trip to the Southern Kyrgyzstan all participants were told
about the 3’rd component of the project the main purpose of which is to support local
community to find alternative income sources and reduce the poverty. As one of
actitivites in the framework of this component the project team jointly with «AgroLead»
Public Association conducted a competition on agro business project among local
entrepreneurs and farmers, by results which 10 winner groups received from the project
solar dryers. As a demonstrational example, one of these solar dryers was shown to the
Study tour participants. The leader of this group, resident of Oogan-Talaa village Nuradil
Subanov told about his experience of use this dryer and showed some types of dried
mushrooms. It is expected, that using such new solar dryers local entrepreneurs will be
able to increase an efficiency processing forest products, improve its quality and get an
access to foreign markets, and it will give to them an opportunity to increase their
incomes.
Day 6, 27/06/2015
The final discussions on lessons learnt and gained experiences as well as the
evaluation of the tour days and logistics took place on the last day of the tour. Moreover,
the participants on the base of these discussions gave inputs and recommendations for
the following questions:
Question Joint recommendation
How the local communities and private
sector can be integrated into forest
management issues (e.g.nursery
management, planning etc.)?
What benefits could be expected?
Development and implementation of
mechanisms (payment, pricing, pricing
negotiation, grazing management,
monitoring and control, the interests and
incentives, capacity building and training
of the population, the contractual price for
sale at nurseries, qualified staff in
leskhozes, increase of salaries and social
benefits for foresters) for the integration
of the local community and the private
sector into forest management
What contributions can make a strong
coordination and political dialogue to the
reform process?
Redistribution of the project budget for
reducing the training costs, for specific
actions (e.g.repeteadly organize tours)
and controlling costs, allocation of
resources, depending on the conditions
and leskhozes development (area,
weather conditions, etc.), The delay in
project implementations, education and
training courses for young professionals
provided by the projects
What is the relationship between forest
piloting reforms in individual leskhozes
and investment funds attracted to the
forest sector?
We need to spread the experience on the
specific implementation
What role development partners should
play in the forestry sector?
Investing without intermediaries, direct
work with donors, financial and technical
support, the introduction of new
production technologies and equipment
for processing with further local
manufacturing of equipment vocational
requalification and focus on the current
experienced staff in leskhozes
Besides, the completed questionnaires received from the participants during all these
days were evaluated and assessed. Each questionnaire contains YES (liked) and NO
(disliked) options on activities of the day and the results are:
Day 1
Activities YES/NO Liked/Disliked
Presentation of Adylbek
Ormonov on Piloting
Forestry Sector reform in
Kyrgyzstan
All YES
Information on Joint forest management
in KG, debates of the specialists on
forestry, broad information on forestry
from the governmental worker
Presentation “The main
results of the tour organized
in Tajikistan” of Sulaiman
Berdikeev
All YES Agreements on JFM where 30% belongs
to leskhoz and 70 % to forest users, well
being informed in KG about the situation
on forestry in TJ
Discussions on exchange
on reform processes in
other Central Asian
countries
All YES let do such discussions in other countries,
it is interesting to know what is happening
in other CA countries
Adoption All YES in Tajikistan programme on forestry is in
the process of implementation
Your proposals to
strengthen cooperation
between forest specialist
All YES Repeatedly or two times in a year to meet
with forest specialists and exchange on
experience, joining of foresters from
European countries, to share the
information on technologies for forest
rehabilitation and forest production
processing
Day 2
Presentation of Kanat
Zhantaev “Proposals for
reforming forest sector of
Kyrgyzstan”
All YES The future of the targets is very are
promising, information on riparian forests,
it interesting to see riparian and apricot
plantation as well as the drip irrigation,
ideas of the director should be
established by laws which to be created
Discussions and exchange
on reform processes and
forestry related issues with
colleagues
All YES The reform in the forestry was in time
Presentation of Nodir …..”” All YES Forest reforms where there is a
punishment for cutting a tree, laws and
forest legislation system
Field visits in Balykchy
Leskhozes
All YES All activities in Balykchy leskhoz were
undertaken with wisdom, apricot
plantations and rental fee for the land in
state property, poplar plantations
Adoption All YES Experiences and views of Balykchy
Leskhoz director in our leskhozes can be
adopted esp.apricot and poplar
plantations
Day 3
Aksu lesnichestvo
(introduction, ideas and
reform approaches with
local perspective (spruce
forests))
All YES It was interesting to see spruce forests,
nursery, museum, office. The director’s
ideas about the reforms are needed,
qualified staff and team in uniform and
their approach to forestry running.
Discussions and exchange
on reform processes and
forestry related issues with
colleagues
All YES
Presentation and video from
Kazakhstan
All YES Unique environment of Kazakh reserve,
Field visits in Balykchy
Leskhozes
All YES The best nursery in CA and growing
methods, recommendation to plant
walnut
Adoption All YES Archa and nursery must be adopted in
our leskhozes
Day 4-5
What was the most
interesting for you during
the trip to the Southern
Kyrgyzstan (Bazarkorgon
rayon)?
EKF walnut project in
Kyrgyzstan: plans and
activities
Majority
YES
NO (1)
We liked very much the aims of EKF
project: reforestation, plantations, value
chains, pasture management
But there is no natural forest increment
which leads to devastation of forest land,
the gov.resolution No482
Field visits in the walnut
forests to:
Reforestation area Majority
YES
NO (1)
Density of forest, we saw forest diversity
and minimization of anthropogenic impact
on ecosystems, protection and walnut
planting
There is no diversity of forest
Ageing forest area Belterek All YES Grazing livestock on this area destroys
forest decreasing natural increment
Demonstration of natural
reforestation area
All YES Fencing forest areas leads to natural
reforestation
Solar dry All YES Such innovative approaches should be
disseminated
Value chain and sertification All YES Public is beginning to gradually realize the benefits
Exchange on approaches
and practices
All YES A lot of information
Presentation from Tajikistan
colleagues (GBAO)
All YES
Adoption All YES Many approaches can be adopted that
we learned in walnut foretsts
Evaluation Inception
workshop
Balykchy
Leskhoz
Aksu
Leskhoz
Bazarkorgon
Leskhoz
The most
interesting
GIZ project,
Presentation on
reforms
Low salaries of
foresters
Lack of financing
Director’s
ideas on
apricot
gardens,
nursery, their
experience
Nursery,
spruce
forests,
management
in nursery,
museum of
forest unit
Walnut forests
and their
leskhozes,
solar dry
Adoption
possibility
Apricot and
almond
plantations,
drip irrigation
Nursery and
various tree
species,
museum
Walnut
plantations,
solar dry
The best Day
Agenda (1 –
best, 4-worst)
1 1 1.13 2
19
EVALUATION of LOGISTICS
Grades/Votes (1-5) 1 2 3 4 5
Tota
l
1 2 3 4 5
Tota
l
1 2 3 4 5
Tota
l
Workshop venues and accomodation
Bishkek Issyk-Kul Djalalabad
- Room 5 5 4.13
- Service 4.5 4.88 4
-Food 4.63 4.75 4.63
-Conference Facilities 4.75 5 3.75
Organization of event
Bishkek Issyk-Kul Djalalabad
- Organization of Arrival and Departure
by plane 5 5 4.88
- Organization of Arrival and Departure
by car 4.75 5 4.88
- Provision of information on the event 5 5 4.88
- Duration of the event 4.88 5 4.88
-Design and format of the event 5 5 4.88
-Transport 5 5 4.88