Kyrgyzstan

The unique fruit and nut forests of Central Asia have declined by 90 per cent over the last 50 years and are still under threat from grazing, hay making, over harvesting, illegal tree cutting and firewood collection.

FFI and our partners are helping the local forest service and communities to plan together to manage the forests. Through seminars and events we are raising awareness of the global importance of the forests, the conservation issues and practical solutions to address threats, such as solar cookers and heaters.

FFI is actively conserving the endangered Niedzwetzky apple, one of the trees identified in The Red List of Trees of Central Asia. We are increasing knowledge and protection of the tree in areas where it occurs and building capacity amongst local forest service, protected area staff and local communities to protect and reinforce the populations through propagation in nurseries for subsequent planting out. We aim to expand the project to include other threatened species and engage school children in nurseries and other conservation activities.

The Central Tien Shan mountain range is a crucial refuge for the charismatic but highly threatened snow leopard. FFI has been working there since 2005, helping the staff at Sarychat-Ertash Reserve to combat poaching, monitor snow leopards, and engage communities, with input from the Snow Leopard Trust. FFI has expanded its focus to include working with the Naryn Reserve, another snow leopard stronghold in the Central Tien Shan, to strengthen its technical capacity. We aim to enable both reserves to deliver more effective management, as well as improved community outreach in support of snow leopard conservation.

FFI has been instrumental in the establishment and development of a network of 138 community-based organisations linked together through three regional associations. These grass roots groups have implemented local community initiatives which have brought sustainable livelihood and environmental benefits to rural mountain communities. FFI aims to strengthen the long-term effectiveness and sustainability of these organisations by providing them with the training and targeted experience exchanges needed to improve their ability to manage, plan and implement community development activities.