Kazakhstan and Other Central Asian Countries Plan Green Shield of Trees to Address Desertification and Protect Against Dust Storms

 

      Kazakhstan has proposed a regional “Green Shield of Central Asia” initiative to fight desertification and dust storms. They proposed this at the recent Regional Ecological Summit 2026. Researchers from Uzbekistan noted that desertification is increasing in the region, and about 9 square meters of land are desertified per minute in Central Asia. No doubt, they have been influenced by China’s success at greening some of its desert areas.

“Kazakhstan’s Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Yerlan Nyssanbayev said the initiative builds on the country’s experience in large-scale reforestation projects under harsh climatic conditions.”

“This result confirms that even in areas previously unsuitable for forestry, ecosystem restoration is possible when relying on science, long-term planning, and the professional work of foresters,” Nyssanbayev said, referring to the forest belt around the capital that has expanded to 102,000 hectares since 1997.

     The Aral Sea continues to shrink and evaporate, creating a source of exposed sand and soil, salts, and debris that can become fuel for dust storms. To combat this, the country has deployed large-scale planting of saxaul and other salt-resistant species on the dried seabed in recent years.

“To date, saxaul plantations and other salt-resistant species have been established on an area of more than 1.1 million hectares. This is not only a national project. It is a contribution to reducing transboundary dust storms, stabilising the regional ecological situation, and improving living conditions for the population of neighbouring countries,” Nyssanbayev said.

     Kazakhstan envisions a coordinated regional initiative where specific problems are identified and addressed. Forest belts will be planted to form a unified ecological barrier. He also noted that the plan will include measurable targets, implementation stages, and monitoring mechanisms, and tied it to broader sustainable development goals.

“Each country determines its own priority areas. Together, they form a unified regional system of green barriers capable of changing the ecological dynamics of Central Asia,” he said.

     As noted, Kazakhstan has already succeeded in reforesting areas around its capital city, Astana, where the summit was held. The country’s current greening projects include the planting of 2 billion trees in the state forest fund and 15 million trees in populated areas.

     According to the Central Asian Climate Foundation:

“Together with colleagues from Central Asia, significant preparatory work has already been carried out: a draft resolution has been prepared and sites for creating forest plantations have been identified. The participants of the initiative include Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and the Kyrgyz Republic. As key international partners, we consider relevant international organizations and ecological funds,” said Minister Yerlan Nyssanbayev.

“This initiative is directly linked to the Sustainable Development Goals, including food security, climate change adaptation, sustainable natural resource management, and the development of regional partnership.”

      The summit was attended by representatives of Kazakhstan, China, Central Asian countries, as well as FAO, UNDP, GIZ, AFoCO, UNCCD, and other international partners.

 

References:

 

Kazakhstan proposes regional 'Green Shield' to combat desertification in Central Asia. Clare Nuttall. IntelliNews. April 24, 2026. Kazakhstan proposes regional 'Green Shield' to combat desertification in Central Asia

Green Shield of Central Asia: Regional System of Protective Forest Belts and Green Barriers (2026–2035). Central Asia Climate Foundation. April 23, 2026. Green Shield of Central Asia: Regional System of Protective Forest Belts and Green Barriers (2026–2035) - Central Asia Climate Fundation