Promoting Community Joint Forest Management in Kyrgyzstan

Fast Facts   Realization period: 2010-2012   Areas:  Chon-Kemin and Kok-Oirok aiyl okrugs, Chui oblast and Ak-Sai, Ak-Tatyr and Samarkandek aiyl okrugs, Batken oblast   Donor: The Christensen Fund, USA   Partners: Kok-Oirok Jamaat, Batken leskhoz, Chon-Kemin National Park   Contact: uzholdoshova@rdf.in.kg

Project aim

to develop, test and distribute the sustainable model of forest management jointly with local communities based on traditional ecological local knowledge, as well as best world experience in the field of sustainable forest management.

 

This model has been implemented in the forestry of Batken rayon in the south of Kyrgyzstan and the State National park of Kemin rayon in the northern part of the country.

 

Project objectives

- to research needs, expectations and preferences of local communities in their ability and willingness to participate in the natural resource management;

- to assist local communities in developing and implementing the Community Forest Management Plan;

- to provide micro-grant program to local communities of two project areas to facilitate the execution of the Joint Forest and Bio-cultural Diversity Management Plan;

- to transmit the gained experience and knowledge to public authorities in order to improve the legal framework for managing forests and parks with participation of local communities.

 

Project is funded by The Christensen Fund, which was been established in 1957. The Christensen Fund supports initiatives, which preserve bio-cultural diversity in several countries of the world.

 

Projest area

Development and testing of the pilot model with pasrticipation of local communities will take place in two forestries in the south and north of Kyrgyzstan. This model will be implemented in the forestry of Batken rayon in the south of Kyrgyzstan and the State National park of Kemin rayon in the northern part of the country.

 

 

Project partners

- National Agency on Local Self-goverment of Kyrgyz Repiblic;

- State Environment Protection and Forestry Agency under the Government of Kyrgyz Republic;

- Pasture Department of Ministry of Agruculture of Kyrgyz Republic;

- Rayon and oblast state administrations;

- Local Self-government bodies;

- Local communities.

 

Project main activities

- We will assess the needs and expectations of local communities in regards of participation in joint forest management. In particular, we will conduct the situational rural assessment and community research on traditional ecological knowledge in using and managing forest resources. In addition there will be conducted the community mapping of natural resources with GPS and survey of forest resources users, as well as the value chain analysis of wood and other forest resources.

- We will progress the process of Community Forest and Bio-cultural Diversity Management Plan development. It is planned to develop an instrument for joint development of Management Plan. In this regards, RDF will provide the technical and organizational support on each stage of Plan development and implementation.

- There will be micro grant program developed in assisting to implement Community Forest and Bio-cultural Diversity Management Plan.

- We will develop and implement Information strategy and disseminate the experience and knowledge gained within the Project among interested people, develop recommendations for improving legal base of joint management of forest resources.

 

Project expected results