The Fourth Meeting of the National Steering Committee of the FAO CS-FOR Project was held in Bishkek
On April 7, 2025, the fourth meeting of the National Steering Committee of the FAO project "Carbon Sequestration through Climate Investments in Forests and Rangelands in the Kyrgyz Republic (CS-FOR) was held in Bishkek. The project is being implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) together with the state operational partners - the Forest Service under the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Community Development and Investment Agency of the Kyrgyz Republic (ARIS) and the Russian-Kyrgyz Development Fund (RKDF), with financial support from the Green Climate Fund. The project is aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions - the main cause of climate change, by improving forests and pastures. The event was attended by key members of the Steering Committee - representatives of the Ministry of Emergency Situations and the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic, heads and deputies of district state administrations of target districts, representatives of civil society and scientific institutions, as well as development partners and project implementing partners. On behalf of ARIS, the meeting was attended by ARIS Executive Director M.D. Naspekov and other project specialists.
"A unique feature of the CS-FOR project is a broad partnership that unites key players from different sectors - government agencies, international organizations and financial institutions," said Oleg Guchgeldyev, FAO Representative in Kyrgyzstan. The project envisages the restoration of 6,000 hectares of forests, including the planting of new forest and fruit plantations on an area of 3,440 hectares, improved pasture management, and the development of climate-sensitive value chains, which will significantly increase the sequestration potential and lead to the absorption of 19.8 million tons of carbon over 20 years of implementation following the capitalization of the project.
"Within the framework of the current year, preparatory work and the planting of forests and fruit trees on 172 hectares in the Suzak, Toguz-Toro, Ak-Talaa and Uzgen districts have already started," said Aibek Baidaliyev, Deputy Director of the Forest Service under the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic, National Project Coordinator. During the meeting, FAO and key technical partners from the Forest Service and ARIS presented the project activity report for 2024, the current status of implementation, the Integrated Natural Resource Management Plans developed by the Landscape Management Community Groups, the investment guidelines, and the participatory work plan for 2025. All documents were reviewed and approved. The meeting was held in an atmosphere of constructive dialogue, with active discussion and questions from the participants. All parties confirmed their full readiness to continue cooperation and assistance to each other in the coming year.
